I really enjoyed reading this novel! It was well written and had a great plot. I loved the characters and how the main character was a blogger. The only thing that set me off is the introductory pages seemed to go too much in detail but besides that it was great and worth while!

Plot:
A well-developed story with a compelling core that makes readers want to keep reading. I was easily enthralled by my curiosity to find out what happens at the end of the story with CC and Thorn and especially with the mayor and Sugar Lump. Edgy at one point and sweet at another. Sugar Lump's tempting pull and the brewing romance between CC and Thorn make the novel for an enjoyable fast-paced read.

Setting:
Sugar Lump is a tempting carefree perfect town that people are drawn to and are unwilling to leave but beneath that perfection lies secrets. The conflict surrounding Sugar Lump was the main attraction of the novel. It was what I was focused on and interested in.

Characters:
CC: a travel blogger who always has a witty comment locked and loaded.
Thorn: the love interest who was willing to help CC in her quest to dig up the secrets buried within Sugar Lump. He is another mystery package in the story which I had fun unwrapping.
All the characters, even those not mentioned above, added to the thickening mystery of the plot even further making the reader even more curious to what the characters are hiding.

Writing: Simple and easy to read. It did not contain any over-simplistic or formal language. I did not like it. I prefer books that challenge my diction which this book did not satisfy.

Negative Points: Too many pages were wasted introduction of the setting and characters. The ending was unsatisfactory and vague. If this was some sort of series or if the story was longer with more complexity to it than the ending would have been fine, but since it was such a short story the ending was unsatisfactory.

Overall:
This is no exceptional book but it has the originality to it which is the main. It is simply a good and well-told story with nothing that has not been written before.

This book wasn't right for me so DNF.
The writing was ok and the story line (new town, new friends etc) was ok too but the characters were stereotypically annoying. It turned into a cookie cutter book pretty quickly with the token gay friend, OTT black girl for diversity purposes but completely one dimensional and the obvious love interest who is tall, attractive and of course brooding. I found it to all be quite juvenile and boring so not for me.

I was approved for this and it was immediately archived. Never had the chance to download it for a review.

I am such a sucker for road trip books, especially with summer quickly approaching. Sugar Lump was exactly what I needed. It is rare for a YA book to focus on a father-daughter relationship and I really appreciated Megan Gaudino for featuring it. I liked CC for knowing nothing and no one is perfect, even if it seems that way. As I always say, I love a good bad boy. With a name like "Thorn", what could be more B.A. about that?

This had a fun Veronica Mars feel to it. I loved all the characters in this fun ya mystery. I read this book straight through and I loved the twists and the romance. The ending was not what I excepted and I love it when a book can keep me on my toes guessing what is gonna happen next.

CC is a travel blogger, mainly because her dad loves to take them from place to place and she never gets to settle anywhere. That all changes when her dad gets his absolute dream job! He gets a job as a baker in a town called Sugar Lump and it happens to be the wedding capitol so he is sure to be very busy.

CC is nervous and hopeful when they arrive to Sugar Lump. She makes new friends fast and as soon as she sees Thorn she develops a massive crush on him. Then she starts noticing things are a little off. Everything is too perfect and she knows that's not realistic. She starts a journey to figure out what is up with this town when she overhears something condemning that helps direct her and drives her suspicions that everything is not what it seems.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for and honest review.

This was such a fun book, and perfect for a quick and light read. The city of Sugar Lump, and all of it's residents had me intrigued from the very first chapter. The book has a perfect amount of drama, mystery and even YA relationships. I couldn't wait to see what the city was collectively hiding from the main character CC, so I read it cover to cover in one sitting to find out. Quite enjoyable, and I will certainly be recommending to my YA loving friends.

I have received a much appreciated digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sorry but this was just,, not great. The writing wasn't very good and the telling instead of showing started to drive me crazy, especially because a lot of it felt like it had already been said a bunch of times. The characters were flat and stereotypical (token gay friend who I found very over the top, brooding love interest), there are a lot of things left unresolved and the mystery? SUCH a let down.

There were quite a few characters, most of which I had no idea who they were except for the main ones. I almost actually screamed 'WHO ARE YOU' multiple times because?? Confusion?? I have the memory of a goldfish so if it had taken me a while to read this I would've blamed in on myself, but it was only a few days.

I really liked that CC was a travel blogger, but we never actually see her blog? She's just taking pictures all the time, and at first that was fine, because she had just moved to a new town, but as us bloggers know, blogging takes up a lot of our time and we constantly think about it. Considering she has a huge following, surely it's a big part time of CC's life too? So why don't we see that?

I loved the relationship between CC and her dad - pretty much the only saving grace of this book, but the 'mystery' completely ruined it as her dad just went along with it and didn't tell her about it.  It's such a shame too because her dad was such a sweetheart and they had such fun interactions? Like when Thorn, the love interest, is there to pick her up and asks if she's ready, he accidentally says that she's been sitting ready for forty-five minutes waiting for him:

<blockquote>Dad came through the living room with an expression on his face that matched my insides.
''I'm sorry I said that.'' He crouched next to me on the floor like we were both hiding from Thorn. ''What do we do now?'' he whispered.</blockquote>

And then when Thorn asks if she can go to the lake:

<blockquote>''She can't.'' Dad clutched my elbow and pulled me closer. ''CC's grounded for... for... knocking over a licquor store.''
I shook my elbow free. ''Are you having a stroke?''
Dad laughed in a totally fake way then pulled me in close again. ''I don't know if you want to go with him or not, and I wanted to say you did something cool to make up for before.''</blockquote>

SEE? Such a nice dad I loved him. But the mystery bnfshdg Okay we'll get there, let's get to the romance first. The love interest is of course a broody bad boy, who everyone is telling CC to stay away from but she's immediately intrigued and wants to 'tame the wild beast' I shit you not. She constantly refers to him as a 'wild beast' like???

It's also insta-love and honestly was very annoying to read about.

And now, finally, the mystery. Like I said, it was SUCH a let down. It was ridiculous and over the top and just... Not realistic? This a big spoiler but I need to rant about it, so read at your own risk

SPOILER

The big secret that everyone is keeping is that everyone is signing contracts to not get a divorce. The mayor is offering them a huge sum of money in return, because she wants to keep up the zero divorce rate of the town to attract more people to get married there. Because of these contracts people are getting married to someone they have a good platonic relationship with, and then just cheat on them with someone they love akndgjhs The mayor even offers CC, a 17-year old, a million dollars or something to marry her son Thorn, give birth to his children and become the next mayor. Oh and when people want to get divorced or just don't want to live there anymore, they have to either pay back the money or fake their death and start a new life as someone else jghjsfgb CC's dad knew about all of this before they moved there and though he doesn't want to cheat on his future wife, he's just?? A-okay with all of this?? Plus he never tells CC about it, even when she's getting really worried that something weird is going on. The ending just makes this whole thing worse, because CC and Thorn solve everything by blackmailing the mayor into resigning and helping Thorn, who hasn't even graduated high school yet, become mayor instead even though he has no skills or qualifications to be a good mayor dkngsjh And then they just ride off into the sunset singing Kumbaya. This whole thing is just so ridiculous and weird and over the top to me. It makes no sense?? The author made it sound like something terrible was going on and then I got this instead.

SPOILER OVER

The writing and characters weren't that great, so finding out what was going on was the only thing that kept me going. To say I was disappointed is an understatement.

Did not finish. Did not love the first few pages and quickly got disinterested.

Seventeen-year-old CC is tired of hopping from town to town with her father. So, when they finally settle in a town her dad swears will be the final one, she feels glad and relieved. Sugar Lump is the country's capital of weddings. Beautiful, pleasant, it seems like the place to be. Her life seems dreamily completed with two smart and quirky friends and Thorn, the smart and incredibly charming son of Sugar Lump's Mayor. But the town seems perfect. Almost too perfect, for that matter. And perfect doesn't actually exist, right?

When CC overhears the Mayor talking about "taking out" a person, she is finally sure that something is terribly wrong with this town. But everyone seems reluctant to help her, shrugging off all her questions and worries. Thorn is the only one who looks sincere. Whom can she actually trust? When even her father doesn't reveal what he knows, can CC and Thorn save this town on their own?

This is a very interesting fiction/YA novel.The plot is original and the mystery surrounding the town of Sugar Lump compelling. The story can get very tender and sweet at times, which only adds to the book. CC is a very interesting heroine, and her relationship with her father is absolutely beautiful. It's not just the main character, however. All the characters are very well constructed, collectively keeping a secret, making the reader more and more curious as the plot thickens.

The story leads to a smart and interesting resolution, leaving just a hint of unfinished details behind, so that the reader can finish some details the way they imagine it should. Pleasant, intelligent and a fast read, Sugar Lump is a book anyone can easily finish in a day or two, without ever getting tired of it.

I loved this book! The mystery behind the town had me at the edge of my seat. I just wanted to know what was going on! The character were also very lovable and interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to everybody!!!

3 stars—
I didn’t want to step away from the story once I started. And, I liked the characters (even if they have gone by different names in many YA books before). The idea of the novel is interesting and has a lot of potential. However, it takes 150 pages to describe the setting and characters before a conflict develops. Start The Story Already. The conflict is a town that is too perfect. And, if it’s too good to be true… The conflict involves money, arranged marriages, and a cult contract. <Squeal!!!> Such an exciting idea! The writing is better in the first 150 pages; As the story continues, I miss the long, drawn out details because they do create a connection that is missing in the second half. The end of the book feels rushed and wedged to fit some convoluted plot outline. If Gaudino would have taken as much time and detail in the conflict and resolution, it would have been a 4 star book for me. I flew through the last 70 pages because I was so interested in how CC and Thorn are going to resolve the conflict! I was beginning to wonder if there would be a sequel because the “happily ever after” seems so far away… Then, it happens.
...Meh…
Even with the letdown of an ending, less critical readers will enjoy Sugar Lump because it is full of witty CC comments and a dream team of friends. And, Sugar Lump makes one ponder exactly what you would be willing to sign away for a carefree life. There’s no denying it sounds like a pretty sweet temptation.

Sugar Lump by Megan Gaudino is a very unique YA book, with a lot of interesting and quirky characters. Once I started reading this book, I could not stop until I was done. CC, who is seventeen-years-old, has been traveling from place to place with her father, as he works bakery jobs. When they land in Sugar Lump, the wedding capital of the world, they start to set down roots. Something is just not quite right with this town, and the people who live in it. I will be reading more books by this author. I strongly recommend this book if you are looking for something different.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a strange but fun rollercoaster experience. I couldn't decide between 3 or 4 stars, so I'm giving Sugar Lump 3.5 stars. This doesn't mean I didn't like the story. I found the characters fun to read, I loved the relationship between Thorn and CC, and Megan's writing style is fun and accessible.
I think my only problem was trying to figure out what was going on. First, everything seemed to perfect, but then I realized that was a part of the story which gives begins to build a creepy, mysterious tone. Once I figured out I was supposed to be questioning the perfection of the small town (Sugar Lump), then I became even more curious to see how the conflict would resolve.
It's a short read, and there are fun conversations and one-liners, making Sugar Lump an overall entertaining read.

This was a fun book and I was all about the quirkiness. I like books that fall in the category of different because those books call to me! And that cover is freaking amazing!!! I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Sugar Lump
by Megan Gaudino
Evernight Teen


Romance , Teens & YA
Pub Date 17 Jan 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Sugar Lump through Evernight Teen and Netgalley:

C.C is a seventeen year old travel blogger who has been stuck on a never ending road trip with her wanderlust Father. But her Dad lands a job in Sugar Lump Wedding Capital of the world, C.C is finally able to have a place she can call home, complete with two quirky friends and a boy she crushes on. Sugar Lump is more shades of perfect than she could imagine.

But nothing about the town is what it seems. When C.C overhears the mayor threatening to take an employee out for not fulfilling a the terms of the contract, the towns idyllic facade falls apart, C.C is devastated at the possibility of having to move again.


I give Sugar Lump four out of five stars


Happy Reading!

So it was an interesting story. I couldn't stop reading. I loved the chemistry between CC and multiple characters. I just didn't like the ending as much. It felt rushed.

This novel was slow to start, then really picked up at the halfway mark. Our protagonist was real and honest and gave the book some real substance.

This was a fast-paced enjoyable read. Lots of intrigue and mystery.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own.