Published by Gallery/Scout Press on 30 Jul 2019
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Natalie, a young art student in New York City, is struggling to pay her bills when a friend makes a suggestion: Why not go online and find a sugar daddy—a wealthy, older man who will pay her for dates, and even give her a monthly allowance? Lots of girls do it, Nat learns. All that’s required is to look pretty and hang on his every word. Sexual favours are optional.
Though more than thirty years her senior, Gabe, a handsome corporate finance attorney, seems like the perfect candidate, and within a month, they are madly in love. At least, Nat is... Gabe already has a family, whom he has no intention of leaving.
So when he abruptly ends things, Nat can’t let go. She begins drinking heavily and stalking him: watching him at work, spying on his wife, even befriending his daughter, who is not much younger than she is. But Gabe’s not about to let his sugar baby destroy his perfect life. What was supposed to be a mutually beneficial arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession, and, when a body is found near Gabe’s posh Upper East Side apartment, murder.
I would never consider being a sugar baby because social interaction is scary and sugar daddies seem creepy, but oh, how nice would it be to have someone sponsor your Manhattan penthouse apartment?
The story started fun with a playful amount of danger, and the writing was very easy and readable. I was teetering between a 4 and a 3 star rating--leaning toward a 4--but the end was completely lukewarm, settling my rating at a solid 3. I won't say more on the end because I don't want to spoil anything!
But I will say--just to get it off my chest--Nat and Gabe are both psychotic, and I don't feel bad for either of them.
Reading buddy: Tegan's review
