Member Review

Can anyone run away from their past? By the time Ruby became an adult, she had committed murder. More than once. Is she a serial killer? If not yet, is she at risk of becoming one during her life? And if someone close to her dies suddenly, did she kill them?

These are the dark elements brewing in Blood Sugar. On the surface, the story shows a young woman growing up and building her future while overcoming numerous obstacles. When someone attacks her or someone she loves, she lethally lashes out and covers her tracks. She makes major decisions for her future that show a willingness to build a solid life for herself, pursuing a psychology career and moving to Florida. Ruby can’t shake two people who know about her past and will destroy her future if they can.

I’m one of those people who not only yells while watching sports, but also yells at other TV programs as if I could be heard. There have been a few times when I’ve yelled at a book, and I did that a few times while reading Blood Sugar. I know it didn’t have any impact on the story, but I couldn’t just stay to the side silently while the plot unfolded. I was definitely engaged.

Ruby proves to be an interesting narrator as she tiptoes on the edges of legal and illegal behavior. Her plot is simple and often predictable, but her character is quirky enough to keep my attention. Even when mired in scandal, Ruby doesn’t play the victim. She doesn’t wait for someone to rescue her, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save herself.

I enjoyed Sascha Rothchild’s debut novel and hope she has another published soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing a copy of the book.