Ain't She Sweet?

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

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redemption

quirky characters

small southern town setting

mean girl protagonist

humorous prose

emotional turmoil

personal growth elements

drama and romance blend

complex relationships

layered character development

accelerated pacing

forgiveness

high school dynamics

'Ain't She Sweet?' by Susan Elizabeth Phillips follows the story of Sugar Beth Carey, a former mean girl who returns to her small town in Mississippi after fifteen years with three failed marriages behind her. She is broke and desperate to retrieve a valuable painting left to her by an aunt. The novel explores the complex relationships and dynamics between Sugar Beth and the people she left behind, including her former high school teacher Colin Byrne. The plot is filled with interesting and quirky characters, turbulent emotions, and themes of redemption, forgiveness, and change.

Characters:

Characters are deeply layered and evolve throughout the story, showcasing themes of redemption and the implications of past actions.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is humorous and engaging while blending drama with romance, enriched by character perspectives and flashbacks.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a formerly mean high school girl returning to confront her past, navigate relationships with those she wronged, and seek redemption.

Setting:

Set in a small Southern town, the setting plays a pivotal role in shaping the narrative and character dynamics.

Pacing:

The pacing begins leisurely to establish characters and relationships before accelerating as tensions rise, maintaining reader engagement.

The wild child of Parrish, Mississippi, had come back to the town she’d left behind forever. Sugar Beth Carey gazed from the rain-slicked windshield to the horrible dog who lay beside her on the passe...

Notes:

The main character, Sugar Beth, was a popular mean girl in high school.

Sugar Beth once got her high school teacher, Colin, fired by lying about him.

Now grown up and broke, Sugar Beth returns to her hometown to find a valuable painting she hopes to inherit.

Colin, now a successful author, owns the house where Sugar Beth grew up.

The story explores themes of revenge, redemption, and personal growth.

Sugar Beth faces disdain from the townspeople she once tormented.

Colin initially seeks revenge but eventually recognizes Sugar Beth's change.

The book has both comedic and dramatic elements, making it a layered read.

A significant subplot involves Sugar Beth's relationship with her half-sister, Winnie.

The book is set in a small Southern town, adding to its charm and conflict.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of bullying, manipulation, infidelity, and emotional distress.

Has Romance?

The romance is a central focus of the story, with substantial development between the main characters.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

The girl everybody loves to hate has returned to the town she'd sworn to leave behind forever. As the rich, spoiled princess of Parrish, Mississippi, Sugar Beth Carey had broken hearts, ruined friendships, and destroyed reputations. But fifteen years have passed, now she's come home - broke, desperate, and too proud to show it.

The people of Parrish don't believe in forgive and forget. When the Seawillows, Sugar Beth's former girlfriends, get the chance to turn the tables on her, they don't hesitate. And Winnie Davis, Sugar Beth's most bitter enemy, intends to humiliate her in the worst possible way.

Then there's Colin Byrne...Fifteen years earlier, Sugar Beth had tried to ruin his career. Now he's rich, powerful, and the owner of her old home. Even worse, this modern-day dark prince is planning exactly the sort of revenge best designed to bring a beautiful princess to her knees.

But none of them have reckoned on the unexpected strength of a woman who's learned survival the hard way. Ain't She Sweet? is a story of courage and redemption...of friendship and laughter...of love and the possibility of happily-ever-after.

Ratings (32)

Incredible (10)
Loved It (9)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (4)
Did Not Like (4)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (50):

Read It (34)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (8)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (6)

1 comment(s)

pq9rex696

Incredible

5 months

Southern charm with a regency Buck hero. Swoon.

What can you read after
Ain't She Sweet??

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