Unfortunately I have to give this book a one star review as I have tried twice to read it and I find my interest dwindling very quickly. It feels like a combo of Desperate Housewives and Why Women Kill but not executed as well as it could have been sadly which is a shame.

Literally in love with this book. What a great unlikable narrator, really well done. I sped through it in less than a day, could not put it down!

What starts as a fast paced narration by a cold and calculating woman who kills her husband becomes an over written bitch fit. I was really hyped by the first 5% but then I’m skimming paragraphs before the next 5%.
I think this could be loved by people who relate to the struggle of dissatisfaction and the feeling of isolation. That’s just not me. Thank you for the opportunity to read this, but I had to move on.

I'm not sure what to make of this. At first I was extremely intrigued and I love a good horrible person main character. For the most part the plot was a bit far fetched and then it got explained at the end in honestly a little bit of an insane and dumb way. The ending is where it lost me.

The writing style and pacing was good though and I'd be intrigued as to the authors next steps.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher!

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you mixed Basic Instinct, a love potion, and a touch of witchcraft, Sugar is your answer. This dark, deliciously twisted tale of love, betrayal, and murder will leave you questioning not just your relationships, but possibly your entire existence. Oh, and if you're like me, it'll also make you wonder if you need to up your game in the "disposal of treacherous men" department...KIDDING!

Meet Satara Stratton, a woman who's totally at peace with her dark side — she’s disposed of men before, with the kind of nonchalance most people reserve for picking out produce at the grocery store. But when her husband, Dean, cheats on her with her best friend Lilah (a betrayal so juicy I could hear the gossip swirling), Satara doesn't just cry into her wine glass—oh no. She takes it to a whole new level and dabbles in witchcraft to get what she wants. Because why not mix a little black magic with your revenge, right?
"I wasn't a murderer-I was just a woman wronged."

In a sick & twisted way, I loved Satara. She’s the kind of anti-heroine that gets under your skin (and maybe in your nightmares). She’s cunning, manipulative, and so damn good at bending people to her will that you can’t help but cheer her on… even though you know she's, uh, maybe not the best influence. And just when you think she couldn’t get more captivating, enter a Love Witch. The spells? Too tempting to resist. The chaos? Just getting started.

The 1970s suburban backdrop gives it that anything-goes vibe and let me tell you—nothing is off-limits here. We’re talking emotional manipulation with a side of psychological terror wrapped in a neon-colored, psychedelic haze. It’s like if your mom’s book club invited a few murderers, witches, and, you know, a dash of acid to the meeting.

Also, there's something so deliciously feminist about Satara’s quest for power in a world that constantly underestimates her. She’s out here proving that women can be just as messy, vengeful, and unapologetically hungry for love (and more) as anyone else. But it’s not all about the drama; the book really digs deep into what happens when you give into the darker sides of yourself. Is love worth all this mess? To Satara, it is...love and to be loved in return is all she's ever wanted.
"This is how I viewed love: not just as the most important thing, but as the singular narrative thread weaving through the tapestry of my life. It was a strange, almost clinical obsession, a need to have my identity mirrored and validated by the man who occupied my thoughts. When I looked at a photo of myself, I could tell exactly which man had been the center of my universe at that moment."

Bottom line: Sugar is the kind of book that keeps you reading well past bedtime, questioning whether or not you should start practicing your own witchcraft. It's deliciously dark, wild, and oddly charming. Highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, femmes fatales, and anyone who enjoys a little witchy chaos in their reading life. The reason this got four stars vs five is the ending felt rushed. I did not see that twist coming, but it all happened so fast and I just craved MORE! Other than that, so good.

Just… maybe don't trust the Love Witch. Or anyone. Ever again.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Galaxy Press, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based on an uncorrected proof that did not sway my opinion either way.

I really enjoyed Sugar. Unique and dark - great for someone who likes a mix of lit fic and horror. Looking forward to seeing what comes next from Mia Ballard.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It took a complete turn that I was not expecting. Stars was a character that I loved to hate and honestly her story was super intriguing and interesting. The pace of the book was fast and I didn’t want to put it down. The ending OMG!! I didn’t anticipate that and my jaw was on the floor

Thank you to Mia Ballard, Galaxy Press, and Netgalley for the ARC!

So. This was something!

One time, I watched a Jenny Nicholson video where she dramatically read published Jeff the Killer fanfiction. This book felt exactly like that! The twists and turns were similarly bonkers and the writing style was juvenile. It felt like something I would've written when I was 15 and trying too hard to be emo. Strangely and probably because of this reason, it's kind of fun! Fun in a similar way that staying up late on a school night reading off the wall Wattpad stories was when I was a teenager.

I think if you're just wanting a quick, female-rage type of story to satisfy some sort of craving this would do the trick. A lot of it doesn't make sense- the plot, pacing, characters, and twists basically change on a dime- so you'd really have to suspend your belief going in. It's not a terrible book, but it could use a lot more editing and preliminary story plotting. It's a (self-published) debut so there could be some better stories in the future. I'll honestly keep my eye out because I'm curious about what this author will do next.

So unhinged and such a riot. The ending was a fantastic twist which I didn’t see coming at all. I love an unhinged female story so this was right up my alley.

A brilliant horror novella with an absolutely unhinged female main character. Has serious grit in the writing that leaves you curious and intrigued.

Unfortunately the writing didn’t quite hook me like the cover did. It felt overwritten and hard to follow.

This book has the most unhinged FMC ever, and I mean that in the best possible way. This was SO FUN!

the review that said this was good for a fans of a certain hunger were so right. think of the housemaid meets a certain hunger. acid filled muderland!

This was so incredibly unhinged. I couldn't put it down. I feel wrong for having enjoyed any of this book, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. It reminded me of a dystopian 70's sitcom where the main character is a psychopath with a tendency to kill when she gets upset. The twist at the end was great, and one the characters may be even more psychopathic than Satara. I would 100% check trigger warnings because there is a ton of disturbing scenes - really the entire book is a disturbing scene but if you are in the mood for horror and women behaving badly give it a go! Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC!

I LOVED THIS. FEMALE RAGEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! no notes. keep doing you babe. whatever you do, I do not blame you and they deserved it anyway.

Sugar pulls no punches—it dives headfirst into its dark and twisted narrative, making it nearly impossible to put down. From the first chapter, Mia Ballard hooked me with this fast-paced, high-stakes story.

We follow Satara Stratton, a protagonist so unapologetically unhinged that you can’t help but root for her, even as she spirals further into chaos. Scorned and betrayed, she embarks on a path of destruction that is equal parts dark and compelling. Satara’s rage, cunning, and raw vulnerability make her one of the most unforgettable femme fatales I’ve read in a long time.

Ballard crafts a world where betrayal and witchcraft collide, exploring the messy, complex dynamics of love and revenge. The result is a story that feels both visceral and unsettling—perfect for fans of psychological thrillers with bold, morally ambiguous female leads.

If you’re looking for a fast, addictive read with an edge of darkness and a protagonist you won’t forget, Sugar is a must-read.

I went into this book very excited because unhinged female rage is top tier. This book started out strong but it was hard to keep wanting to come back to it. Some of the plot just didn't mesh and it felt like too much going on but with little time to flesh it all out.

This one was a hell of a psychological thriller! The cover alone gravitated me to add this to my TBR. Set in the 1970s, Sugar tells the story of Satara as she deals with her husband having relations with her best friend. You get scattered memories throughout the book about the protagonist’s teenage years to her 35 year old self. This books has everything you would love to read in a thriller. A female serial killer that kills for the love of blood. It’s a page-turning, nail-biting experience as her life unravels under your own eyes. The blood. The carnage. All starts to make sense through the patterns from her memories. But that ending! The ending alone should make you want to grab this book immediately to read!

I had very little knowledge of this novel prior to reading it, and I think it was the best thing I could've done. This book really packed a punch and I genuinely didn't have a clue about the direction it was heading.

The dark humour laced throughout moved the narrative on really well and it engaged me until the very end. I found the backstory to be particularly insightful, and it spurred me on to attempt to figure out exactly what happened to Satara and how her life unravelled. The twist totally shocked me and, to be honest, I am pleased that it totally took me by surprise. It felt like such a gasp aloud moment in the best way and I genuinely think it MADE the novel.

I am shocked to hear this is Ballard's debut novel and I will be reaching for more of her fantastic work in the future.

Not at all what I was expecting but this was a surprisingly refreshing read! Fast-paced and very entertaining!
Female rage and unhinged decisions - truly such a treat! I was incredibly engrossed in the story while reading this even while fully knowing Satara had a few loose screws!
Satara was a strong female MC and I found myself rooting for her success despite knowing her unhinged behaviour was villainous and vain.
There were events that seemed a bit too easy, connections too coincidental and the plot twists too predictable but overall such a fun read. Came across many plot holes and sentence structure errors but the feminine rage and murderous intent made up for it all!
Would definitely recommend this to my thriller loving gorlies!