The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Sarah Addison Allen is my new favorite author. She is an amazing storyteller and the magical realism in her books adds a charming element to her stories. I loved Garden Spells so I was excited to see that she had a new book out. I just finished The Sugar Queen and I have to say that I was not disappointed. How could you not love a book about a girl who has a secret stash of candy and romance novels in her closet? But beware, you may have an attack of sugar cravings while reading this book. Seriously, if you buy only one book this summer, make it Garden Spells or The Sugar Queen. You won't regret it. Here's the book cover blurb:

Josey, at 27, doesn't go out except to do chores for her mother, she doesn't wear clothes that her mother says don't suit her, and she eats, secretly, as a substitute for the life she's not living. One morning, when she goes to her closet to raid her secret stash of sweets, she finds a woman sitting there. Della Lee, on the run from something in her own life, has decided to take up residence in Josey's closet. Thus begins Josey's quest to get this madwoman out of her closet, and along the way she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom any time -- even for her.

Update: You can read an interview that Sara gave in 2007 to Bookreporter.com here.