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The Big Sugarbush
The Big Sugarbush is a lesbian romantic comedy, set in a drug rehab center in Vermont. Ten wealthy lesbians have thirty days to get their lives on track and their careers re-rolling. Sugarbush, a gay rehab center for LGBT women, seems just the place, quiet and therapeutic, until the dykes arrive, and the drama begins. The Big Sugarbush is a feel good romantic romp that chronicles the hilariously intertwined love lives and romantic interludes of an ensemble cast of high-achieving women, including a British Pop Music diva, a writer of bodice-ripping best-selling romance novels for heterosexual housewives, a stud muffin pair of Olympic snowboarding twins (one of whom is on the fast train to Trannytown), a femme plastic surgeon, a LGBTQ political activist who is a pain-in-the-ass to today’s fun loving queers, a Wall Street bond maven, a gun-toting CNN war correspondent, a spoiled Senator’s daughter, and a tomboy installation artist whose signature sculptures include such provocative works as a giant-sized “Big Pink Pussy”, modeled on her own genitalia. Love and humor abound as the women of Sugarbush struggle to stay away from drugs, alcohol, and intoxicating late night booty calls. Getting sober has never been so much fun.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2016
6 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Ana B. Good
1 book19 followersGoldie award winner as "Best Dramatic Fiction" 2017 by the Golden Crown Literary Society. Ms. Good was also shortlisted as "Best Debut Novel Author." Ana B. Good's debut novel, The Big Sugarbush, is a contemporary lesbian romantic comedy / soap opera, is set in a rehab center in Vermont. Ms. Good has written for over 300 publications, ranging from Salon and CNN, to LGBT media, On Our Backs, Out Magazine, and Common Lives: Lesbian Lives. Her short stories have appeared in Storming Heaven’s Gate: Women on the Spiritual (Penguin) and the anthologies Love’s Shadow and Breaking Up Is Hard to Do. She is a three time winner of Romance Writer of America chapter contests: Launching a Star contest, The Heart of the West competition, and the Yellow Rose contest for contemporary and historical romance fiction. Twice, she won the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s short story contest.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 11, 2017
3 1/2 Stars. This is a story about a bunch of lesbians in rehab, in Vermont. As a Vermonter, I notice our little state doesn't get a lot of play. Not many books or movies are ever set here. I once met a women in Washington D.C., she asked me if Vermont was located in Canada. People talk about Vermont as in skiing/snowboarding, maple syrup, and that's it. So to have a lesfic book set here, I bought this book just for that:)
This book is a comedy first and foremost. You can't take anything too seriously, a lot of this book is out there. It also does have a slight romance. You have a cast of 12 lesbians. 10 in rehab and the 2 owners of the retreat. At first it is a lot of names and people to remember. Luckily Ana B.Good, writes really well. All of her characters are flushed out and unique. Personalities different enough, to remember who everyone is. With a cast of characters that large, there were a few I didn't care for. But there was plenty I got behind, and wanted them to beat their addiction. Poppy and Storm, were great, and I also thought Nan was well written.
I do have to mention, comedy is not my favorite genre of lesfic. So I think some people might enjoy this more than I did. I did connect with the characters enough, that I will absolutely read book 2, or something else Good writes. If you like out there comedy, with a bit of romance, give this book a chance.
This book is a comedy first and foremost. You can't take anything too seriously, a lot of this book is out there. It also does have a slight romance. You have a cast of 12 lesbians. 10 in rehab and the 2 owners of the retreat. At first it is a lot of names and people to remember. Luckily Ana B.Good, writes really well. All of her characters are flushed out and unique. Personalities different enough, to remember who everyone is. With a cast of characters that large, there were a few I didn't care for. But there was plenty I got behind, and wanted them to beat their addiction. Poppy and Storm, were great, and I also thought Nan was well written.
I do have to mention, comedy is not my favorite genre of lesfic. So I think some people might enjoy this more than I did. I did connect with the characters enough, that I will absolutely read book 2, or something else Good writes. If you like out there comedy, with a bit of romance, give this book a chance.
January 9, 2017
This is a light, happy, lesbian romcom, framed by the serious themes of addiction and rehab in a lesbian-only facility.
I fell in love on the first page when we were introduced to Nan, the successful middle-aged lesbian. My favorite couple though was Poppy and Storm, the popstar and war correspondent, respectively.
It does well as a zany lesbian romcom, but I have to admit my imagination couldn't quite cover some of the very serious situations that were set to comedy and silliness. There were some serious addiction issues in the book, but the recovery was only touched on. There was a seriously dangerous situation that Storm deals with that I really couldn't wrap my head around as comedy, even though it was obviously supposed to be silly and the antagonists were like cartoon characters. But I can't put my uncomfortable feelings on the author, I think this is just one of the weaknesses that my very logical, serious brain experiences sometimes when reading books like this.
Overall it was the silly, light, fun little book I had wanted to read. It doesn't pretend to be anything more, and in these serious times, it is what I needed.
I fell in love on the first page when we were introduced to Nan, the successful middle-aged lesbian. My favorite couple though was Poppy and Storm, the popstar and war correspondent, respectively.
It does well as a zany lesbian romcom, but I have to admit my imagination couldn't quite cover some of the very serious situations that were set to comedy and silliness. There were some serious addiction issues in the book, but the recovery was only touched on. There was a seriously dangerous situation that Storm deals with that I really couldn't wrap my head around as comedy, even though it was obviously supposed to be silly and the antagonists were like cartoon characters. But I can't put my uncomfortable feelings on the author, I think this is just one of the weaknesses that my very logical, serious brain experiences sometimes when reading books like this.
Overall it was the silly, light, fun little book I had wanted to read. It doesn't pretend to be anything more, and in these serious times, it is what I needed.
January 10, 2017
I'm conflicted over this book. It took me awhile to warm up to the characters, but once I did I couldn't wait to see how they(well, everyone but Bunny, Dylan, and Betty) would grow and handle temptations related to their addictions. This story was very funny and quite humorous, at times.
There were a few issues though...
1. Dylan's guardian angel??? that came out of nowhere. There had been no magic or anything before that point in the book, and besides the angel, there was no other mention of anything magical... so that left me a little confused.
2. The first half of the book was funny and light, and then the second half of the book had scenes with rape and attempted suicide. It just... made the book feel very unbalanced to me. IDK. And I just wasn't expecting such heavy scenes based on the tone set earlier in the book.
3. Dirk decides he wants surgery and to transition, but then everyone keeps referring to Dirk using she/her pronouns. It's not until the very end of the book, in the epilogue, that Dirk finally is referred to with male pronouns. It made me sad for Dirk. Or maybe Dirk was okay with people referring to him with female pronouns?
But over all, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next in the series!
There were a few issues though...
1. Dylan's guardian angel??? that came out of nowhere. There had been no magic or anything before that point in the book, and besides the angel, there was no other mention of anything magical... so that left me a little confused.
2. The first half of the book was funny and light, and then the second half of the book had scenes with rape and attempted suicide. It just... made the book feel very unbalanced to me. IDK. And I just wasn't expecting such heavy scenes based on the tone set earlier in the book.
3. Dirk decides he wants surgery and to transition, but then everyone keeps referring to Dirk using she/her pronouns. It's not until the very end of the book, in the epilogue, that Dirk finally is referred to with male pronouns. It made me sad for Dirk. Or maybe Dirk was okay with people referring to him with female pronouns?
But over all, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2017
Couldn't put it down.
This is a totally new approach to a rehab center. Not based on conventional wisdom or current treatment models. No, this is an approach like no other. There are so many humorous moments, too much to mention. You have to check for yourself. In the beginning I struggle to remember all the characters and their backgrounds but along the way you become familiar with them. We are introduced to the residents, one by one. Ten crazy lezzies of all stripes and flavors with all their drama, addictions and emotional baggage. You'll be laughing out loud at the bad-mouthing, the yodeling, the cucumber, the disorderly group sessions, sometimes the total chaos and so much more. Definitely a refreshing writing style and amazingly funny with a bit of romance. This book is a keeper and I can recommend it to everyone.
This is a totally new approach to a rehab center. Not based on conventional wisdom or current treatment models. No, this is an approach like no other. There are so many humorous moments, too much to mention. You have to check for yourself. In the beginning I struggle to remember all the characters and their backgrounds but along the way you become familiar with them. We are introduced to the residents, one by one. Ten crazy lezzies of all stripes and flavors with all their drama, addictions and emotional baggage. You'll be laughing out loud at the bad-mouthing, the yodeling, the cucumber, the disorderly group sessions, sometimes the total chaos and so much more. Definitely a refreshing writing style and amazingly funny with a bit of romance. This book is a keeper and I can recommend it to everyone.
August 14, 2017
The Big Sugarbush by Ana Good is fun and entertaining novel. The author utilizes her characters, and they are plenty of them, in an enjoyable way yet she tackles the theme of addiction successfully. I would love to say that I have a favorite character but it is impossible since all of them stole my heart. Nan and Birge with a relationship in the verge of collapsing, Dylan a defiant artist, Poppy the rock star, Dirk and Thumper the twins with the incredible bodies, Storm the daring reporter, Wee Gee the romance author looking for inspiration, Betty the activist, Bunny the Senator’s only daughter, Candice the doctor who sculpture faces and bodies, and lastly Lily and Babe who run the rehab center. All the characters come together to hate and love each other as they try to kick their addiction. It is tragic and comical to see all these women interacting together in a tight environment. Do they break the rules? Do they complete the program? Do they succeed when in the outside world? All these questions crossed my mind as soon as I began reading it. Not surprising that I finished it sooner than I expected craving to see what happened to my beloved characters. Also a good dose of drama, comical hookups, and a lot of love. Yep, I can’t wait for the next one.
April 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I was able to relate to a few of the story lines. It was a book I had a hard time putting down.
March 7, 2017
What a wonderful, funny, poignant novel about the trials and tribulations of addiction. Each character had a place in my heart. I can't say enough about the characters. They were all funny, flawed people with issues that were upsetting the course of their lives but they muddled through and love triumphs. I do have to say Poppy was my favorite. It was great read. As a warning don't eat or drink while reading this book. It could be hazardous.
May 20, 2017
This was my first lesbian romance and I have to say, I quite enjoyed it. I needed some lighthearted reading and this fit the bill. Even though the topic of rehab and addiction is serious, the author had a way of showing that without bringing me down. I'm looking forward to reading more from Ana B. Good.
April 30, 2017
Sugarbush - a rehab centre for LGBT women - receives its new intake of 10 wealthy and diverse lesbians. From a pop diva to a plastic surgeon and a political activist to a Wall Street money maker, each of the characters is larger than life and seemingly, larger than the power of Babe, co-owner of Sugarbush, to control them, despite her firm rules of no sex, no drugs, no smoking. The following 30 days of ‘rehab’ is a wild romp of sex, drugs, self discovery, trans-journeys and a dollop of romance for good measure.
This is, undoubtedly, a funny book. There are is a nearly non stop rollercoaster of laugh out loud moments with slapstick comedy, biting wit and clever observation. Once past the opening scenes of arrival the plot unfolds into a comedy/farce/romance/drama worthy of the big screen. A series of personal journeys that becomes a progression of mini-plots loosely held together in the setting of the rehab centre.
The 10 main characters plus the therapist and varied friends, family and ex's all well drawn, distinctive and effective. Some are very stereotypical, but for good reason, and others, who could be left as nothing but background get odd pockets of depth. The dialogue is extremely well done. All the characters have a distinctly separate voices and those individual voices and points of view are always clear. Despite managing such a large cast list it all flows and makes perfect sense, quite an achievement in the chaos going on.
The writing is witty and clever, the setting well drawn and distinctive and the who flows with a mad cap pace which can leave you breathless. I did think the editing let it down, i found the opening scenes repetitive past the amusing and there were typos and editing errors which was a shame.
I have to admit it took me a while to get into this but when the opening scenes were over and we started to develop an understanding of the characters, watch them interact and bounce off their own histories and each other it became intriguing. Full of silliness and humour but also a real story of personal growth. It reminded me of “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and it's easy to imagine it filmed with a huge cast of great women actors. I ended up really enjoying it.
This is, undoubtedly, a funny book. There are is a nearly non stop rollercoaster of laugh out loud moments with slapstick comedy, biting wit and clever observation. Once past the opening scenes of arrival the plot unfolds into a comedy/farce/romance/drama worthy of the big screen. A series of personal journeys that becomes a progression of mini-plots loosely held together in the setting of the rehab centre.
The 10 main characters plus the therapist and varied friends, family and ex's all well drawn, distinctive and effective. Some are very stereotypical, but for good reason, and others, who could be left as nothing but background get odd pockets of depth. The dialogue is extremely well done. All the characters have a distinctly separate voices and those individual voices and points of view are always clear. Despite managing such a large cast list it all flows and makes perfect sense, quite an achievement in the chaos going on.
The writing is witty and clever, the setting well drawn and distinctive and the who flows with a mad cap pace which can leave you breathless. I did think the editing let it down, i found the opening scenes repetitive past the amusing and there were typos and editing errors which was a shame.
I have to admit it took me a while to get into this but when the opening scenes were over and we started to develop an understanding of the characters, watch them interact and bounce off their own histories and each other it became intriguing. Full of silliness and humour but also a real story of personal growth. It reminded me of “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and it's easy to imagine it filmed with a huge cast of great women actors. I ended up really enjoying it.
April 17, 2017
Ok this book was simply downright funny. Good has created a remarkable cast of oddball lesbian characters who come together in rehab to get sober but of course end up colliding with each other's repressions and projections. This is not your mother's lesbian fiction about nice suburban spinster school teachers and peace core volunteers. It's all about being human -- and that sometime means being bad and non-PC. Very sharp wit, quite a bit of heart-warming wisdom and love for anyone who's been through sobering up.
March 7, 2017
What a fantastic book! It was like a breath of fresh air. I loved how lesbian stereotypes were presented then smashed. Delightful, funny, witty, and intriguing. a cast of characters that you loved and some you even loved to hate. Wonderful.
April 14, 2017
I found this book through a review in The Lesbian Review. This book is both a romantic comedy and a soap opera. I wanted to laugh, and I got what I came for. The Review warned me that "this is not your pc-perfect lesbian romance, it is a crazy fun ride that felt like a big drink of water for this thirsty for something that goes down easy for a change reader." She was correct. She also said "I smiled, I snickered, I laughed out loud, I loved this book." I'm definitely in her boat on all accounts. The characters are unique and the dialogue snappy and laugh out loud, brave and poignant. Ana B Good can actually write .. not always the case in pulp lesfic. This is a excellent beach read book full of lesbians behaving badly, and enjoying every minute of it. One word of caution: if you are easily offended by pc-incorrect behavior or you lack humor about your pc positions read the free excerpts first. If you love to laugh (especially at yourself) put this book on your summer "must read" list.
April 18, 2017
I really enjoyed the diverse characters in this book, all of them searching for love (often in the wrong places). The short, character-driven chapters, and bright, lively writing, reminded me of Maupin's classic Tales of the City. An easy read. Great comedy along with heart warming insights into sobriety and the challenges of finding love as a modern day lesbian. My heart especially went out to Poppy and Storm, my fave characters in the whacky ensemble cast. Waiting impatiently for another book in the Sugarbush series. I'd definitely read more books from this debut author.
dnf
November 29, 201677,000 words, 84 chapters
Some of the cast - Poppy, Nan, Wee Gee, Betty Frump, Thumper McGraw, Bunny, Storm Waters, Candace, Dirk, Babe*not as in an affection term an actual character name.
I can see why some readers will love this story, however it's not my cuppa funny.
If you're unsure about this one, you can read the free sample here - http://www.thebigsugarbush.com/single...
Some of the cast - Poppy, Nan, Wee Gee, Betty Frump, Thumper McGraw, Bunny, Storm Waters, Candace, Dirk, Babe*not as in an affection term an actual character name.
I can see why some readers will love this story, however it's not my cuppa funny.
If you're unsure about this one, you can read the free sample here - http://www.thebigsugarbush.com/single...
December 23, 2018
A fun romp with more character depth than I expected. Things become a bit too unbelievable by the end, but who really cares about that?
June 1, 2025
Aranyos történet egy leszbik által üzemeltetett, leszbiket fogadó elvónóról, valahol messze északon, az isten háta mögött, persze karácsonykor, mert úgy érzelmesebb. Kicsit össze-vissza az egész, de nem könnyű 10+ szereplőt mozgatni, szóval ez valahol érthető.
Nem is akartam először, csak 3 csillagot adni neki, de olyan magától érthetően tálalta, hogy a leszbik mind zizik kicsit, köszönhetően a sok sz@rnak, amin keresztülmentek, és nyilván ettől lettek leszbik is. Nem igazán woke kompatibilis gondolat, de a tapasztalat visszaigazolja. Igen, LMTQXYZS személyek is lehetnek függők, akár menthetetlenül is, ugyanúgy elcseszik az életüket, és néhányan még maximális segítség mellett sem képesek kikapaszkodni a gödörből.
Elvileg ennél pozitívabb lenne a végkicsengése a történetnek, mert romkomnak készült, de nekem ez jött le belőle. Kissé amatőr írás, de azért cinikus leszbiknek mindenképp ajánlott.
Nem is akartam először, csak 3 csillagot adni neki, de olyan magától érthetően tálalta, hogy a leszbik mind zizik kicsit, köszönhetően a sok sz@rnak, amin keresztülmentek, és nyilván ettől lettek leszbik is. Nem igazán woke kompatibilis gondolat, de a tapasztalat visszaigazolja. Igen, LMTQXYZS személyek is lehetnek függők, akár menthetetlenül is, ugyanúgy elcseszik az életüket, és néhányan még maximális segítség mellett sem képesek kikapaszkodni a gödörből.
Elvileg ennél pozitívabb lenne a végkicsengése a történetnek, mert romkomnak készült, de nekem ez jött le belőle. Kissé amatőr írás, de azért cinikus leszbiknek mindenképp ajánlott.
Read
April 4, 2020I wanted to give this 5 stars most of the way through the book. I enjoyed her style of writing and most of the banter and fun between the characters. There were moments in the first few chapters that repeated themselves with every introduction. But once it got going it was good. But then we got to the end of the rehab and the track that the characters took, for the most part, were ridiculous. I won't go into details, but fake, fake, fake. But I still think 4 stars is fair for the amount of easy reading enjoyment I got.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2018
Oh my god. This book is a scream. If you love wit and sarcasm done with heart get this book. Better yet, if you’ve been to rehab get ready to laugh yourself silly. What a soap opera. Hope this becomes an ongoing series. I wish the lesbians I knew acted more like these characters and lightened up a little on all their kill joy PC.
February 2, 2020
**stares unseeing into the infinite abyss**
What the hell was this???
2.5 stars. There's stuff I liked about this—a pretty decent cast of characters, a lesbian rehab in VT—but I think my biggest problem with the book is that it's basically a farcical comedy, which I didn't realize when I picked it up. Comedy isn't my favorite genre of movies, and it isn't my favorite genre of books. And I mean comedy like Dumb and Dumber and Old School and that kind of nonsense that I have no patience for. Haha. I do have a sense of humor, I promise, it's just not sated by that type of humor. So, that's basically what's going on with this book. And honestly, I was still kind of enjoying it...and then the last 25% got sooooooo crazy and dumb that I don't even know what to do with myself.
(And I did have other issues with it. One is that although the writing is good, the POV switching is just...constant and exhausting. I have no desire to be in the heads of 10 different characters in a single book. No, thank you.)
I 100% understand how the general rating for the book is so good—I think most readers (who know what they're getting into!!) will really enjoy it. It just wasn't the book for me.
What the hell was this???
2.5 stars. There's stuff I liked about this—a pretty decent cast of characters, a lesbian rehab in VT—but I think my biggest problem with the book is that it's basically a farcical comedy, which I didn't realize when I picked it up. Comedy isn't my favorite genre of movies, and it isn't my favorite genre of books. And I mean comedy like Dumb and Dumber and Old School and that kind of nonsense that I have no patience for. Haha. I do have a sense of humor, I promise, it's just not sated by that type of humor. So, that's basically what's going on with this book. And honestly, I was still kind of enjoying it...and then the last 25% got sooooooo crazy and dumb that I don't even know what to do with myself.
(And I did have other issues with it. One is that although the writing is good, the POV switching is just...constant and exhausting. I have no desire to be in the heads of 10 different characters in a single book. No, thank you.)
I 100% understand how the general rating for the book is so good—I think most readers (who know what they're getting into!!) will really enjoy it. It just wasn't the book for me.
September 12, 2021
Sometimes it never too late and say, yes I am!
Follow along as the story unfolds of a group of women with addiction struggles to realize they may need help. Enjoy!
Follow along as the story unfolds of a group of women with addiction struggles to realize they may need help. Enjoy!
June 1, 2023
Who knew that rehab could be this much fun? Lots of characters to keep track of, with quite a bit of mad-cap comedy. This was a fast, fun read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews