I was absolutely influenced to read this arc (my first arc!) and wow holy shit. The most unhinged woman story I have read so far.

Satara’s (love) life has been pretty messy and tumultuous since she was young and she doesn’t handle things well. Every relationship is toxic in her life. She’s hot and she knows it and she knows she deserves love. That’s why she goes to extreme lengths to always start over fresh.

I was sad for her. I was anxious for her. I was mad at her. I was horrified by her. I want her confidence and fortitude.

Also, Mia Ballard’s writing is delicious. It’s not over the top but it’s beautiful and terrifying. We really get to know Satara so well and so deeply in this book. I loved Sugar and highly recommend you check it out when it comes out!

Omg what a book. I received an arc copy of this book from netgalley which I'm very grateful for. As we are heading into the spooky season I wanted to read some horror, gore thrillers and everything weird and this book delivered. I went into this book only knowing it was in the horror/thriller genre and that the cover is absolutely stunning. I didn't read the description, I never do, I like to be surprised by books.The FMC is a complete psycho and I couldn't put this book down because I needed to know what she was going to do next. Sugar/Satara took us on a crazy ride. I'm not going to lie I was feeling a little let down by the ending it looked like the easiest ending to write and then I read the epilogue and the epilogue was everything I was hoping for. Really exciting read. Edit: it's been over a week and I can't stop thinking about this book. It's closer to 4.5 stars.

On paper, this book seemed like the perfect read for me: I am *always* looking for female rage, for the catharsis of women leaning into dark urges.

But I have to admit, I'm pretty shocked that the book I read is the same book everyone else is reviewing. I'm afraid I struggled with everything here. Despite Satara having been obviously wronged, I found it hard to support her or even care. The main aspect I struggled with is the writing; i could not connect with the voice/tone at all, and was constantly taken out of the story by the seemingly random change in tense. I feel like this could've benefited from another round of edits.

This is disappointing because I *wanted* to love this, but clearly, I seem to be in the minority so I'd recommend giving it a try if the plot interests you.

Sugar has such an eye grabbing cover, I knew I had to read it. I love a book about a woman scorned the more unhinged the better— and Satara is all of these things. But even given the time period of the 70s, I found her sloppiness hard to believe. I think her actions would have caught up with her way quicker in real life, so it takes a certain suspension of disbelief to get through this book. But if you like revenge, a strong woman and obsession this book is definitely for you.

When 35-year-old Satara Stratton discovers her husband Dean’s treacherous affair with her best friend, Lilah, she plunges into familiar territory: deceit and death. Having disposed of men before without a hitch, she finds a new thrill in this betrayal. But with Lilah on a crusade to expose her guilt, Satara must outpace everyone to keep her secrets safe. Her fate intertwines with a Love Witch whose tempting spells seem a perfect solution to Satara’s woes. With newfound power at her fingertips, she gleefully manipulates the affections of those around her. Yet, Satara's lust for love proves her ultimate vulnerability. She soon learns that while it’s easy to bend others to her will, controlling her own heart is a perilous art indeed. Prepare for a darkly compelling journey where the boundaries of desire and devastation blur, and the quest for love becomes Satara's most lethal game.

A story about a femme fatale hooked on love and acid in this gripping tale of 1970's suburban chaos where nothing is as it seems.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WTH!!! what a ride this book is! I will be buying this book because I want to re-read it and show it!

Who doesn’t love a book about an unhinged woman? This was one of my favorite unhinged female books I've read yet. Not only did Mia do wonders with the cover, but the story was a knock me out read and left my mind in a whirlwind right to the very last page.

I will definitely be looking for more works by Mia. Thank you Netgalley for this fab opportunity.

Oh this was such an awesome read!! I loved every page and was hanging on every word Mia Ballard wrote. Suspenseful, thrilling and had you questioning what was actually real.

Satara is a completely untrustworthy protagonist and narrator of this story, and you are waiting, poised for exactly what is going to happen next. You love Satara and you hate her all at the same time.

I loved this book and cannot wait to read more from this author! I rated this on 4.5 stars as I guessed a lot of what was going to happen, but DID not expect that twist at the end!!

I read this book in a matter of hours and i am OBSESSED, i loved everything about this book.

Satara our main female lead is unhinged but iconic in a crazy but exhilarating way, i was so intrigued learning about her past and also her current present. Do not get me wrong Satara isn't a good person at all but at times i really felt for her and would be lying if i said i wasn't rooting for her in some areas.

After finding out that her husband is cheating on her with her best friend she vows revenge and from there on out decides she's going to murder him and as the book progresses we delve more into her thoughts and the actions she will go through just to feel loved but i will warn you there is some moments i never saw coming in the second half and boy oh boy that ending WOW lol. Now that is how you do an ending, Mia Ballard is an author you will not want to miss out on.

Filled with revenge, murder and twists and turns you won't see coming, Sugar is a book you'll want to watch out for.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the copy of this amazing arc in exchange of my full honest review.

5 full amazing stars, i would give more if i could.. it was that good!!

oh she's sweet but a psychooooo! No but this book was so fun. It starts off so strong and just continues that way. Definitely a 5 star read. Thank you ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Galaxy Press

This book was a great combination of feminine rage, thriller and gore. I couldn’t read it fast enough! Some of the writing was a little overly descriptive but overall a really solid read with a great addicting ending! 4.5 stars overall.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Galaxy Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“My lovers, those lost obsessions, were etched into every aspect of my being, haunting my steps, my choices, my very breath.”

An obsessive search for love, SUGAR by Mia Ballard is the story of a woman out for revenge, while her sanity hangs on by a thread.


Flowery prose and poetic imagery are some of the hardest tools to wield in writing, and Ballard, in my opinion, manages to do so spectacularly.
I was hooked from the first page, falling into Satara’s life with little trouble, seeing her world unravel bit by bit while I came to the realisation that she was doomed from the start.

I screamed when the truth came to light, its seeds having been planted from the start. Looking back on it, there were some signs things weren’t how they appeared, but Satara’s obsession and desperation prevented her from seeing the flaws in her thinking. Her own mind actively worked against her from the start, her search for love an already poisonous goal.


This was an absolute wild ride and I’ll be thinking about this book for so long! An absolute banger of a debut! I’ll be looking forward to anything Mia Ballard writes next.

THE SECOND HALF OF THIS HAD ME HOOTING AND HOLLERING AND RIPPING MY HAIR OUT. MIA BESTIE BABE.....YOUR MIND!!!!

Insanely wordy and flowery prose, pretty much only at the beginning. By the time it hit past the first present day it finds it's groove and what the story wants to be. Then it sucks you in and I swear to God this is one of the best books I've read in awhile. And that's honestly my only complaint. The writing aside from that is wonderful and immersive. The cover?? gorgeous.

Sometimes weird woman horror books find themselves into two categories where it works, or it doesn't. They try too hard to make them crazy for no reason. This one doesn't fall into that. Satara fully believes in what she's doing. She even realizes she's not fully sane, but I don’t think she even realizes the extent to HOW insane she is. She's compelling in how awful and crazy she is. Almost relatable in her desperate need for love. I think when a fictional female character is horrid or less than perfect, you find yourself rooting for them in a weird way. Finding a connection with them.

This was like a wild mix of Go Ask Alice if Alice could somewhat handle her drugs mixed with You, The Love Witch and Killing Eve. I absolutely LOVED it. It wasn't overly gory either, which is a nice pace from some of the other stuff I've read lately. I can't wait to see what else Mia Ballard comes out.
A short and fast paced read. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea but for me - It was delicious.

MORE MOVIE PAPA!!!

Though this book was a page turner I felt that a lot of plot points were jammed in there for shock value that took no root in anything. While it was set in the late 70s there seemed to be a lot of anachronisms and the 70s setting was purely there for the vibe. Characters' motivations were super unclear and unbelievable. The writing was gorgeous and gripping but overall couldn't get over the issues presented within the plot.

(4.5/5, rounded up)

<i>Weird girl lit meets delusions of grandeur, with more energy than I could ever muster up. And obvi some horror.</i>

It's been a while since a book as made me feel like I've been taking the same drugs the MC is. My only complaint was losing a sense of time for a bit, when supposedly routine habits go unmentioned for pages and pages at a time. <spoiler> I still can't decide if that's done purposely to lend to the MC's erratic behavior, or if she truly stopped taking LSD some days (and still acted the same way, albeit a little less noticeably?).</spoiler> The more I read on the more the inconsistencies seemed irrelevant to the novel as a whole, so I only -.5 for it.

The horror comes out of NOWHERE and made me chuckle every time. Not my typical reaction to murder; that should tell you something about how well this book combines humor and horror. One second it's a casual paragraph, the next you're trying to digest the terrible methods by which crimes have been committed. Mia Ballard has nailed the definition of 0-100, real quick.

Standing out to me most was the way therapy and patient/therapist relationships are depicted. In my experience, therapy isn't something you can simply attend while in office, then get to leave behind when time is up. Your re-evaluation is done daily, always adding to your list of topics and questions to trudge through. A thought will pop into your head that you make note of to discuss. Therapy can be a solitary action. It's also done with another, someone providing a service. Therapy takes place out loud, using all different communication methods. It's also taking place in your mind, while silent to everyone else. Allowing Dr Maggie to remain a constant (other than the loss of a sense of time mentioned before) created that thread those in therapy are working to un-, or maybe sometimes re-, tangle.

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Mia Ballard, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Galaxy Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}

I loved this book! It is one of the most unique storylines I’ve ever read. Full of betrayal and deceit, magic and a badass FMC. For anyone who loves horror this is definitely for you

This novel was an absolutely batshit insane wild ride from start to finish. The kind of thriller that you can’t put down until you finish, and holy crap is that ending off-the-wall insane. It felt very pulpy, with the epitome of the unhinged FMC in full swing. I felt truly blindsighted by this book, not just because of the plot, but also because of Mia Ballard’s gorgeous first person prose that narrates the horrific events of the story. Very well-done, can’t wait to see what the author does next.

This book immediately caught my interest with its synopsis and felt right up my alley. I have to say that I absolutely love an unhinged FMC (and I mean borderline deranged). Satara was absolutely wild as an MC and getting to learn about her past and her victims was so fascinating. Now hear me out, I’m not gonna fully condemn her actions on the first few murders, I do support women’s wrongs afterall. She really felt like a fully developed character that acted on this crazy war path of hers. I’m not usually a fan of reading books from the “villain” POV but this book made her so likeable with how unhinged she was. I feel in reality this is more of 4 star read but honestly I’m giving it 5 because of how much fun I had reading it and how much it made me root for a killer! I have to say I did not see that ending coming from a mile away- I was absolutely gagged. The author really said hold my beer and weaved everything together so so well. The final page was absolutely delicious and all I can say is karma is a b*tch.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. “Sugar” will be published October 29, 2024.

**Review of *Sugar***

*Sugar* is a tantalizingly twisted tale that expertly intertwines love, betrayal, murder, and witchcraft, all set against the vibrant backdrop of 1970s suburbia. Satara Stratton, our femme fatale protagonist, is thrust into a whirlwind of deception when she discovers her husband Dean's affair with her best friend, Lilah. What follows is a gripping exploration of revenge and desire, skillfully crafted

Satara’s reaction to the betrayal is visceral and familiar—she dives headfirst into the dark arts of deceit, a world she navigates with surprising confidence, given her past. The narrative’s pace is exhilarating as Satara's familiar territory of manipulation turns into a thrilling game of cat and mouse. The introduction of the Love Witch adds a layer of supernatural intrigue, allowing Satara to wield newfound power that she relishes. It’s a dangerous cocktail of ambition and vulnerability, reflecting her struggle to control not only those around her but her own heart.

The novel is reminiscent of *Big Little Lies* and *YOU*, skillfully combining psychological tension with a keen examination of suburban life where everything is not as it seems. The author paints a vivid picture of the era, immersing readers in a psychedelic world filled with colorful characters and moral ambiguity. Satara’s journey is both intoxicating and chilling, as her lust for love reveals her ultimate weaknesses.

What truly sets *Sugar* apart is its exploration of the fine line between desire and destruction. As Satara manipulates the affections of those around her, the consequences of her actions spiral out of control, making for a nail-biting read that keeps you guessing. The narrative is rich with dark humor and biting social commentary, ensuring that each twist feels earned and impactful.

In conclusion, *Sugar* is a compelling, darkly seductive novel that offers a fresh take on the femme fatale archetype. It invites readers into a chaotic world where love can be as lethal as it is sweet, and where the quest for power and connection can lead to devastating outcomes. If you’re looking for a read that blends psychological thrills with a touch of the supernatural, this gripping tale will undoubtedly leave you craving more. Prepare for a rollercoaster ride through love's darkest corners—you won’t want to put it down.

This was an amazingly fun horror ride. I love unhinged female rage and Satara Stratton is definitely going down in the books as one of the greats. Walking alongside her as she navigates her crimes versus her intentions had me feeling as if I fully understood and almost supported what she was doing. Also, this book was just beautifully written. Every sentenced was crafted with such care, I felt Mia Ballard’s love for her story on every page.

There were a few clerical errors - a typo here and there, and at one point the narration names Satara when the speaking character was actually Millicent (I believe this happens the first time Satara visits Millicent’s home, but I could be wrong). But those are easily resolved issues and didn’t detract from the story in any way.

I’m so grateful to have read this ahead of it’s official publishing and I will definitely be buying a physical copy to display on my shelf.

Oof 😅 what a chaotic, messy, and entertaining read. Vibes were like Big Swiss + a certain hunger level weird.
The writing is fast paced and captivating with plenty of dark humor, poetic reflections, and witty one liners.
— The main character is illogical and unhinged, making her amusing yet frustrating as her decisions become increasingly ridiculous.
—The nonlinear timeline, shifting between the present and the '60s/'70s, was a bit awkward at first, but ultimately, flows well.
—Some characters and plot points seemed irrelevant until later, which felt clunky midway through.
—While the ending felt VERY SILLY and left me conflicted, the overall writing and experience were enjoyable.

Strong 4.5 stars

“I wasn’t a murderer — I was just a woman wronged.”

Synopsis: After finding out her husband and best friend are having an affair, Satara Stratton seeks a familiar revenge and thrill. She’s used to disposing of men she comes across and destroying everything in her path. Enter a Love Witch, whose spells may be the solution to Satara’s troubles. Taking place between the 1950s-1970s, Sugar is quite the exhilarating page-turner.

Compelled by the book’s cover, I was intrigued by this one despite there being zero reviews for it when I began reading. The design and synopsis pulled me in, and the writing was *chef’s kiss*. This is a spectacular debut for Mia Ballard, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

This book is for you if… you liked A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers; love the “weird/unhinged girl book” lists that are popular on TikTok. This will be on a lot of TBR lists come fall.

TW: sexual assault, domestic abuse, grooming, graphic violence

Thank you to #NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of #Sugar. To be published Oct. 29, 2024.