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Sarah MacLean | We Are All Sugar Beth
August 15, 2014
I am an unabashed Susan Elizabeth Phillips fan. I have been for most of my adult
life, since I read NOBODY'S
BABY BUT MINE, fell deeply in love with Cal, and never looked back. For romance readers, Susan is the kind of author who keeps you watching the
calendar, waiting for her latest release. For romance writers she is Babe Ruth,
Einstein, Meryl Streep (pick your comparison)—what I’m getting at is this: Susan
Elizabeth Phillips is the master, and we are lucky to get a chance to write
around her. I’m here today to talk about AIN'T SHE SWEET, which I
read at least once a year (sometimes more than once when I’m in that book slump
that its heroine, Sugar Beth Carey, is such an expert at getting the residents
of Parrish, Mississippi out of). I reread it for lots of reasons that you’d
expect—it’s hilariously funny, very sexy and a terrific example of a book that
just makes you feel good. But I also read it because we are all Sugar Beth. At first glance, you won’t believe me. You see, at the start of the book, Sugar
Beth is a downright bitch. You know the kind of girl I’m talking about—the mean
girl in high school. She’s spoiled rotten and exceedingly cruel. Not just any
old mean-girl, either. She’s the leader of them. But even at sixteen, she
manages up better than any Dale Carnegie follower you’ll ever meet. Parents love
her. Teachers love her. Well, except one teacher. Colin Byrne, young, handsome
English teacher who loses his job when Sugar Beth tells her mother that he
touched her inappropriately. She ruins his life. But karma…well, it’s more of a bitch than Sugar Beth. Our heroine returns to
Parrish fifteen years later, after three husbands. She cares for a
developmentally disabled daughter and comes back to live in a house left to her
by her aunt. The house in question sits on the land formerly owned by Sugar
Beth’s father, now owned by wealthy and famous writer Mr. Byrne, who decides to
humiliate her for her sins. And he’s our hero. What. As I said, there are lots of reasons to love this book (the inherent conflict in
Sugar Beth having to scrape and survive and live on the land owned by a man she
ruined, Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s brilliant wit, Colin’s evolution into a
dreamboat), but really, there’s only one reason to think it’s beautiful, and
that’s this: You start the book hating Sugar Beth, and you end up loving her. Because, you see, Sugar Beth is the embodiment of the adage: Every villain is
the hero of his own story. Suddenly, we see the truth of Sugar Beth’s past. Her
desperate desire to be loved, her fear of being nothing but the pretty girl. We
see her broken and bruised, but deeply committed to her step-daughter, who needs
her quite desperately. And we see her center of steel--when the rest of this
tiny town comes after her, desperate to see her fail, Sugar Beth doesn’t run and
hide, she stays and fights. Taking hits and delivering them like a prizefighter. We are all Sugar Beth. We’ve all made mistakes. Said things we shouldn’t have said. Done things we
shouldn’t have done. We are all the villain in another’s play (Full disclosure,
I might be the villain in more than one play). But ultimately, we are heroes, as
well. We have good qualities. We have strengths. And we, like everyone else,
deserve love…despite our past sins. Perhaps because of them. And when Sugar Beth and Colin finally, finally discover how they really feel,
it’s magic, because she’s not sure she deserves love either. “I was sure a long time ago. I’m very much in love with you.” She gripped the phone tighter. “Come home, Colin. Now.” “And put myself at your mercy again? I’m hardly that foolish.” “Then how are we going to settle this?’ “Inside a church in front of a minister. Take it or leave it." She jumped back up. “I’m leaving it!”
Silly Sugar Beth. Of course, it’s a romance novel…so she sees the light and everything works out
in the end…but we’ve all been there, right? Terrified of our pasts and our
futures…stuck in our present. We are all Sugar Beth. Thanks to Sarah MacLean for being our guest for this week of the SEP Read-Along! Remember,
this all leads up to the release of HEROES ARE MY WEAKNESS on
August 26! Comment below about Sugar Beth, AIN'T SHE SWEET?, or your
favorite SEP title, and be entered to win a Maine-theme basket from SEP!
Comments
27 comments posted.
Re: Sarah MacLean | We Are All Sugar Beth
I really enjoyed reading your posting, and your analysis of
Sugar Beth. I am currently dealing with a Sugar Beth in
real life, and my life is anything but pleasant. For now,
the best thing I can do is ignore her, although I need to
have a bit of contact with her every few days. Afterward,
my nerves have had it, and I am unable to eat for days!! I
truly believe what you've said about Sugar Beth, because I
can draw parallels between the character, as well as the
person I'm dealing with, but I will not stoop to another
persons' level, especially hers' when dealing with important
issues. It sounds vague, but I can't get into specifics.
Yes, we have all made sins, but some people, in this case
older than I am, will continue to make them, yet try to drag
you in their fray. Thank you for your insight!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:48am August 15, 2014)
Oh wow... Sugar Beth sounds like a really interesting individual... I like to see everyone get their chance at happiness and it looks like it takes her a while to get there. Thanks for sharing!
(Colleen Conklin 1:15pm August 15, 2014)
You are so right, Sarah! That's exactly why Ain't She Sweet is one of my two favorite SEP books. We start out hating the mean girl and end up rooting for her to have her HEA. Great post. I may need to go back and reread this book. Thanks.
(G S Moch 2:25pm August 15, 2014)
SEP is one of my favorite authors. I love the sense of humor in her books. I guess my top favorite book of hers is It Had to Be You.
(Cheryl Castings 3:25pm August 15, 2014)
That is one thing with villains. We also hate them but when we find out why they are villains, we realize that they are often misunderstood and that they do have redeeming qualities.
(Kai Wong 11:44pm August 15, 2014)
Wow, what a great post, Sarah! I don't know how I missed this book, but I'm going to get a copy ASAP. I think we all can relate to Sugar Beth.
(Marcy Shuler 11:55pm August 15, 2014)
Great analysis of Sugar Beth, Sarah. I'm with Marcy, not sure
how I missed Sugar Beth's book. It's on my buy list now. :-)
(Glenda Martillotti 11:39pm August 16, 2014)
I haven't read this story yet... But I have to say that after reading your
description about Sugar Beth, I am extremely intrigued!!! Now I just HAVE
to read it!!! I love a good book that digs deep and that you can (in some
way) relate to.
(Angela Fisher 3:48am August 17, 2014)
Thank you so much for your post on "Ain't She Sweet". I had not heard of this one before. I adore I-hate-you/I-love-you stories and this one looks great. Into the TBR pile it goes.
(Debbie Kelly 11:20am August 17, 2014)
nice!
(Denise Holcomb 5:35pm August 18, 2014)
Great relatable post! Love the title too!
(Diane Pollock 1:12am August 21, 2014)
I love SEP's books! Thanks Sarah for reminding me about this one. I remember totally not liking Sugar Beth in the beginning and then hoping she'll get her HEA at the end!
(Anita H 1:57am August 21, 2014)
A friend gave me one of this author's books, but it's still on
my TBR pile waiting. This post has persuaded my to put it on
the top of the pile. Thank you.
(Irene Menge 6:36pm August 21, 2014)
Even the Sugar Beths of this world deserve some happiness and understanding!
Marilyn Collins
(Marilyn Collins 6:52pm August 21, 2014)
I've loved them all! Tho I have a special fondness for those
Chicago Stars - loved Phoebe & Dan in 'It Had to be You'
(Diane Sallans 8:58pm August 22, 2014)
Sugar Beth is the kind of girl you love to hate until you see the mommy,
daddy, Winnie reality of her life. SEP never fails, her characters- you hate
them, you love them, you tell them to smarten up, and then right before
your eyes they grow- amazing writer!! Love SEP!!!
(Dorothy MacDougall 7:51am August 23, 2014)
Have not read this particular book yet, but I am faithful fan
of the author, in love with the characters of the Wynette,
Texas series. Can't wait for the release of "Heroes are my
Weakness".
(Julia Levit 1:20pm August 23, 2014)
I did dislike Sugar Beth at first because I was one of the
nerdy/brainy girls who was the object of some ridicule in high
school, but I had faith that SEP would find a way to turn my
mind around about her.
(Janie Burke 4:47pm August 23, 2014)
Love your analogy of Sugar Beth and all of us. Ain't She Sweet
is one of my favorites, but so are all of Susan Elizabeth
Phillips' books.
(JoAnn Andrade 2:12pm August 24, 2014)
Sounds like an interesting read!
(Cheryl Lynne 2:45pm August 24, 2014)
Enjoyed your insight into SEP's Sugar Beth.
(Catherine Lemanski 4:16pm August 24, 2014)
had to add it to my tbr list thanks :)
(Jennifer Mathis 4:23pm August 24, 2014)
I, too, read "Ain't She Sweet" on a regular basis. I truly
adore Sugar Beth!
(Sandra Boen 4:58pm August 25, 2014)
I have to agree with you to a point that we are all Sugar
Beth to a point in our lives. Some by being mean and cruel.
Some by being the person that was trashed. But some by just
wanting to be loved more than anything. It is what we do
with our lives that makes us a Sugar Beth and how we cope
with it. I am just sorry that I have not read this book. I
have pretty much read every one of her books and somehow I
have missed this one. I am just gonna have to find me a
copy and read it. Thanks for the great review and I look
forward to reading the book.
(Tina Ullrich 12:42pm August 26, 2014)
Ain't She Sweet is one I haven't read yet, but after this
posting, will read it soon. Thank you!
(Jennifer McFalls 7:21pm August 26, 2014)
I have not read this book but I am really excited to!
(Denise Austin 8:40pm August 30, 2014)
Your intro sucked me right in, would love to see the rest. Thanks for a
great chance & giveaway.
(Janie Prather 4:06pm November 16, 2014)
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