Sugar was quite the page turner. I was on board for the first 70% of the story, but the final twist felt far reaching and rushed. I also feel like the characters’ queer identities were under explored and it felt like a plot device thrown in for shock value and no real meaning. Despite these issues, I found myself enjoying Sugar as a nice palette cleanser. Thank you Mia Ballard, Galaxy Press, and Netgalley for early access to Sugar!

Others may have, but I did not see the twist coming at the 7/8ths mark of the book. Also, that very last twist at the end- equal parts tragic and brilliant. 5 stars for keeping m on my toes. Love it.

An amazing thriller that had me hooked from the start! If you love thrillers I highly highly recommend!

This story was a blast! “Love, betrayal, murder, and witchcraft”, what more does one need? This book was easy to get into and was a wild ride. I look forward to seeing how Ballard’s writing matures and what she releases in the future, I will certainly stayed tuned for her next project.

I honestly did not finish this book. Based on the cover I thought this was going to be up my alley. I kept trying to read it and after a chapter could not finish it. It didn’t grab me or my attention. Some books aren’t for everyone just a specific audience. I wasn’t that audience. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this.

This was addicting! And it’s under 300 pages so it’s perfect to add to your TBR if you’re trying to hit your reading goal (like I am). Can’t wait to read more from this author.

(3.25 stars)
Reading this book was like having a super sweet dessert that tasted delicious at first but then the sugary taste become too much. I think this book left me with a toothache. Is that to say that the book wasn’t enjoyable? Not at all. I found myself having fun reading this. That said, I do think there are people who would enjoy this more than I did.

There weren’t many dull moments in this book. The action starts right away and the story from there moves along pretty quickly. If you prefer books with a fast pace, this is for you. This is a book for those that love books about women’s wrongs. Satara is unhinged and delusional. It made for an interesting character and a story that kept me guessing what would happen next.

Although I liked how unhinged the main character was, I sometimes found it hard to empathize with her. She’s what some would call an “unlikable female character.” I didn’t mind that aspect of her character at all. What I found irritating was that she’d constantly do things to make her situation worse. Like putting herself under more suspicion by acting a certain way. The story is supposed to be set in the 1970s but it didn’t really feel that way, apart from the mention of acid, sunken living rooms, shag rugs, and other random items. The characters and the setting felt modern, even if they didn’t use cellphones. The story goes back and forth in time as we see how Satara became a serial killer. While it was interesting to see her origins, the narrative felt a little messy at some points. Almost as though the author was trying to fit in as many plot points as possible. In my opinion, we could have used a bit more connective tissue between the different time periods in Satara’s life. Otherwise the transitions between points in her life feel jarring.

The ending gave me flashbacks of another book in which the author put in twist after twist. I figured out a part of the big twist and the rest seemed unnecessary in my opinion. Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I’d recommend this to those who enjoyed Maeve Fly, The Eyes are the Best Part, The Love Witch movie.

Thank you to NetGalley, Galaxy Press, and the author for providing me with an ARC for review.

Adored this read, totally drawn in by the cover art! Excellent choice of artist. Reminded me of Night Bitch or Tender is the Flesh. Will defo read more from the author

3.5 stars. Totally bonkers. The main character is on acid most of the time, and the more I got engrossed in this book, the more I felt like maybe I was on an acid trip too.

Satara is a love addict and she deals with the men who disappoint her by murdering them. After impulsively murdering her husband, she has to deal with not getting caught while also engaging the services of a Love Witch to help her secure her next romantic target. It's a wild ride, and everything wraps up in a completely crazy way I couldn't have predicted. If you like books from the POV of a serial killer, this one's for you.

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡.

Unhinged female character✅
American Psycho/Aileen Wuornos vibes✅
Buuutttt, too many concepts ❌

Unaliving men that have done Satara wrong, she begins to turn into this obsessive woman.

𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲.

Except- the story just didn’t work for me, this was so strong in the beginning, I loved it. But it just got mundane. Too many big words, too many changes in topics.

I found myself not wanting to read this 50% through the book.

Tada, there ya go.

I love when the main character is totally unhinged and Satara is a full on psycho killer and I loved her! She's a woman wronged out for revenge and boy is it sweet!

Who among us hasn't wanted to cast a spell to make someone fall in love with you? And who hasn't been so mad at a man that you want to chop him into little pieces?

Satara is the best friend I wish I had, but also I'd be a bit afraid of getting on her bad side...

*Sugar* by Mia Ballard is a wild, twisty thriller that dives headfirst into the raw power of feminine rage. Satara, the unhinged main character, will have you hooked from page one—she’s dark, unpredictable, and completely captivating. With sharp writing and jaw-dropping twists, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat, but fair warning—it’s not for the faint of heart!

Book Review: Sugar by Mia Ballard
Rating: 4.25/5

Mia Ballard’s Sugar is an unflinching, electrifying exploration of women’s rage, resilience, and the fight for empowerment in a world that often seeks to silence them. Through vivid storytelling and complex characters, Ballard captures the emotional and social weight of being a woman in contemporary society while unapologetically celebrating the strength found in shared struggles.

The protagonist, a fierce and multifaceted heroine, serves as both a rallying cry and a mirror to readers grappling with their own frustrations and desires for justice. Ballard writes with a fiery honesty, addressing themes of systemic inequality, power dynamics, and the transformative nature of rage. The raw, unfiltered energy in her prose feels cathartic and necessary, inviting readers to confront uncomfortable truths and reimagine the possibilities of female solidarity.

What makes Sugar stand out is its balance of anger and hope. While the novel doesn’t shy away from portraying the injustices women face, it also offers moments of empowerment and triumph, reminding us of the unyielding power of community and self-belief.

At times, the pacing falters slightly, with certain subplots feeling underexplored, but this doesn’t detract from the overall impact of the story. Ballard’s ability to channel rage into a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant is nothing short of remarkable.

Sugar is a bold, defiant, and inspiring read for anyone passionate about women’s rights and the ongoing fight for equality. It’s a testament to the fact that anger, when harnessed, can be a catalyst for change—and that stories like this have the power to ignite revolutions, big and small.

wow! haven’t a read a book like this in so long! can’t wait to read more from the author, this was too good!

Sharp. Biting. Alluring. Sugar is set to be a hit. Love, despair and feminism all collide in this brilliant novel.

I had a fab time reading this book
I would say for some always check triggers but for me it was fine.
Also if you picked this thinking it was horror you might be mildly disappointed as it’s definitely a thriller!
A unhinged female serial killer sign me up!
Overall I thought it was great but there were bits in it for me personally that I felt weren’t gelling for me.
But overall I had a great time reading
Thanks so much for allowing me to read this

I definitely went into this one thinking it was horror and based off the cover as well. But it was definitely more of a dark psychological thriller, which don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed!! Cheating husband + Love Witch + 70s atmosphere...LOVE!!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. This was a fun read. A Wildly OOC narrator, dark premise, dark humor. I found the pacing to be a little uneven but overall, a delight.

Really enjoyed this Love Witch-esque story about a female serial killer! Once it got started, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.

I was so enthralled throughout this, and the ending? JAW. DROP. Pearl vibes through and through and I'm so here for it.