A review by readbetweendeelines
Sugar, Baby by Celine Saintclare

dark emotional informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Agnes is 21 years old, sneaking out, wearing makeup, partying, and doing everything her Pentecostal mother disapproves of. Tired of living under her mother’s strict religious regime, Agnes craves more from life. She quits her job as a house cleaner for the wealthy after the daughter of one of her clients introduces her to the world of being a sugar baby.

Through sugaring, Agnes gains access to a life of luxury—expensive shoes, designer clothes, lavish trips, gourmet food, and a steadily growing bank account. But along with these material gains comes a newfound perspective on life and herself.

This novel is as much about the glamorous sugaring lifestyle as it is about Agnes’ coming-of-age journey and the internal struggle between living a devout life or indulging in a worldly existence.

Through Agnes’ experiences, Sugar, Baby delves into deeper issues of identity, race, and class. As Agnes becomes more entangled in this world of wealth and allure, the novel raises important questions about what we are willing to sacrifice for money and validation.

I pulled this off the shelf from my local library on a whim, and thoroughly enjoyed it!