The Best (and Most Anticipated) Fiction Books of 2024, So Far

Out now.

An elegant coming-of-age tale, Sugar, Baby follows Agnes, a 21-year-old sex worker swept up in the supposedly luxurious world of sugar daddies, where she finds a financial foothold if not, exactly, a home. As author Celine Saintclare’s dedication page suggests—quoting the iconic “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” line, “A kiss may be grand, but it won’t pay the rental”—Agnes has a lot more to worry about than her clients’ proclivities. Saintclare’s language is easy to soak in, even as her nuanced touch pokes and prods and asks—no, demands—real consideration of the reader.