In the small, suffocating town of Port County, Ellie Mae's life has been defined by secrets and shadows. The annual Covered Bridge Festival may glitter with tradition, but beneath its surface lies the weight of a family unraveling. Ellie Mae dreams of escape, but the silence in her home-and the fear that binds her-keeps her tethered to the cracks of a house she can't call home. Her older sister, Maddie, was the first to leave. Branded a rebel, Maddie walked away from Port County with nothing but a suitcase and her determination to survive. Years later, Maddie returns, not as the girl who left but as a woman ready to confront the past-and take Ellie Mae with her. Together, the sisters embark on a journey of healing and resilience, leaving the ashes of their childhood behind to forge a new life in Greensdale. But even as they find freedom, the shadows of their past linger, forcing them to confront painful truths about family, forgiveness, and what it means to rebuild from brokenness. Sugar and Ashes is a poignant and heart-wrenching debut about two sisters bound by love and survival. With evocative prose and deeply drawn characters, this novel explores the enduring power of hope and the strength it takes to stand in the light after living in the dark. Perfect for fans of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, Sugar and Ashes is a story that will stay with you long after the final page.