The Sugar Queen

This is the first book I've ready by Sarah Addison Allen and I loved it.

It was a quick read and it made me smile numerous times. I liked the characters and their interractions with each other. It was very easy to figure out which characters you were supposed to like and which you were supposed to hate.

The story begins when Josey wakes up to find Della Lee hiding in her closet. Josey lives a sheltered life, waiting on her mother and trying to repent for the meanness she showed to her moter and the town as a child. Josey's father, Marco Cirrini, made the town of Bald Slope well know for it's skiing and winter activities and everyone in town knows Josey as the spoiled daughter of a self-made rich man. Poor Josey. Enter Della Lee, who starts sending Josey out on odd errands for sandwiches, and then turns down the sandwich when Josey returns, thus resulting in Josey eating the sandwich.

These particular sandwiches are made by Chloe, who owns the small dining shop in the courthouse and who has just broken up with her deputy district attorney boyfriend, Jake, whose father is also a prominent figure in Bald Slope high society. Poor Chloe. She not only has to deal with the fact her boyfriend cheated on her, but she has several persistent books chasing after her. Josey has a woman in her closet and Chloe has books following her around. That right there says that this is not going to be a normal encounter for these two young women.

Della Lee then assists Chloe with attracting the attention of the local mailman, Adam, who Chloe has been “mooning” over ever since he started delivering her mail. Della Lee encourages Josey to wear makeup, attend the annual town fair with Chloe and even have a conversation with Adam. All of this advice comes from Della Lee as she sits in Josey's closet.

Josey and Chloe both discover things about themselves and the town that they did not know and they both begin to face secrets they weren't ready to face, and that's in part thanks to Della Lee. These three women are connected but it isn't until the end of the book that you truly discover what that connection is and why Della Lee decides to take up residence in Josey's closet.

Old wrongs are righted and past mistakes are forgiven. In the end, Josey and Chloe find the happiness they deserve and accept the history of their lives, while developing a truly wonderful friendship.