Sweet by Emmy Laybourne Pages: 288
Published by Feiwel & Friends on June 2, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Thriller
Source: Paperback ARC from Publisher
*People would kill to be thin.*
Solu’s luxurious celebrity-filled “Cruise to Lose” is billed as “the biggest cruise since the Titanic,” and if the new diet sweetener works as promised—dropping five percent of a person’s body weight in just days—it really could be the answer to the world’s obesity problem. But Laurel is starting to regret accepting her friend Viv’s invitation. She’s already completely embarrassed herself in front of celebrity host, Tom Forelli (otherwise known as the hottest guy ever!) and she’s too seasick to even try the sweetener. And that’s before Viv and all the other passengers start acting really strange.
*But will they die for it, too?*
Tom Forelli knows that he should be grateful for this job and the opportunity to shed his childhood “Baby Tom-Tom” image. His publicists have even set up a ‘romance’ with a sexy reality star. But as things on the ship start to get a bit wild, he finds himself drawn to a different girl. And when his celebrity hosting gig turns into an expose on the shocking side effects of Solu, it’s Laurel that he’s determined to save.
Emmy Laybourne, author of the Monument 14 trilogy, takes readers on a dream vacation that goes first comically, then tragically, then horrifyingly, wrong.
Sweet is a new young adult thriller/horror novel by Emmy Laybourne. When I was finished with sweet, I assumed it was a standalone, but goodreads says it is the first in the Sweet series. Now I am even more intrigued by the book than I was when I finished it, because I cannot wait to see what the author is going to do next with the series. It is going to be freakin’ insane.
I really enjoyed Sweet. The idea behind it is scary as all get out…because of how realistic it seems. Solu is a brand new sweetener that is also a weight loss supplement. To celebrate the launch of this innovative new product that is promised to change the weight loss game, Solu pairs up with a luxury cruise line- bringing in celebrities along with normal cruise goers to partake in a luxury weight loss cruise! I love the idea of that, but what happens next is straight out of a horror film. View Spoiler » I loved the idea behind the cruise taking a group weight and and after weight as a cruise theme. And the ship seemed first class, but everything else I want no part of. haha It made for a great read though! It was crazy seeing people trying to get more Solu. I thought it was brilliant the way Emmy Laybourne layered the undercurrent of addiction throughout Sweet.
Sweet is told in dual narrative between Tom and Laurel. Tom is the celebrity host of the cruise and Laurel is dragged along by her friend. Both Laurel and her friend can be called curvy, but Laurel’s friend is obsessed with losing weight, and Laurel likes herself the way she is. I love how what a positive body image Laurel has of herself. And I really liked Tom’s interactions with Laurel on this topic. Sweet was really interesting because on one hand, you had this crazy Solu epidemic, and on the other hand you have this really sweet budding romance between what seems to be an unlikely pair at first glance. The horror/thriller aspect of the book competed perfectly with the romance. It was a very entertaining pairing.
Sweet took me by total surprise. Once I started reading, and I got my first glimpse at what the solu was going to do, I didn’t know how much I would end up enjoying Sweet. But I am so happy to say that this book surpassed all of my expectations. I really liked it and I want to read the short story prequel now. Not to mention that the ending, which I initially thought was a great ending to a standalone in this genre, now has me salivating for the next book.
'People would kill to be thin.' @BookBriefs #Review Sweet by @EmmyLaybourne @FeiwelFriends Click To Tweet
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Note: this book satisfies COYER scavenger hunt #37- Read a book with water/or the ocean on the cover.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Cat @ A2H
Sounds interesting! I’m always in the mood for something scary. Adding this to the TBR list. Thanks! =)
Linda
This has a really lovely cover art! plus the synopsis sounds interesting as well, I definitely will check this book out since I really liked Emmy Laybourne’s Monument 14 trilogy! Great review as well! Happy reading!
Marcey
I’m intrigued! Thanks for your thoughts. Enjoy the week!
-Marcey @ Readical
Tracy (@Cornerfolds)
This is awesome!! I’ve seen pretty mixed reviews for Sweet, but I have it on hold at the library and have really been wanting to read it. I love a good thriller and now I can’t wait to get my hands on this! Great review!
Jazmen
The ending was everything! Great review, totally got the book. 🙂
Stacey Brucale
This one sounds really good. I might have an arc of it from Netgalley, I’ll have to check! Thanks for the great review!
Barb(boxermommyreads)
This books sounds really good and I may have to pick it up. I have read the first two books in her previous series- Monument 14 – and really enjoyed them. Hey, maybe I can find the last one on my Kindle and use it for the Scavenger hunt. Thanks for sharing.
Melissa
Definitely a fun read!
Stormi
Not heard of this one, but it sounds great! Got to check it out, great review!