**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**Sweet is a new young adult thriller/horror novel by Emmy Laybourne. When I was finished with sweet, I assumed it was a standalone, but goodreads says it is the first in the Sweet series. Now I am even more intrigued by the book than I was when I finished it, because I cannot wait to see what the author is going to do next with the series. It is going to be freakin' insane. 
 I really enjoyed Sweet. The idea behind it is scary as all get out...because of how realistic it seems. Solu is a brand new sweetener that is also a weight loss supplement. To celebrate the launch of this innovative new product that is promised to change the weight loss game, Solu pairs up with a luxury cruise line- bringing in celebrities along with normal cruise goers to partake in a luxury weight loss cruise! I love the idea of that, but what happens next is straight out of a horror film. (view spoiler)[And I can even count this as a kind of zombie-adjacent book. (which you may know that I hardly ever read.) Because that is what these people seemed like to me, after a few days taking solu. (hide spoiler)] I loved the idea behind the cruise taking a group weight and and after weight as a cruise theme. And the ship seemed first class, but everything else I want no part of. haha It made for a great read though! It was crazy seeing people trying to get more Solu. I thought it was brilliant the way Emmy Laybourne layered the undercurrent of addiction throughout Sweet. 
 Sweet is told in dual narrative between Tom and Laurel. Tom is the celebrity host of the cruise and Laurel is dragged along by her friend. Both Laurel and her friend can be called curvy, but Laurel's friend is obsessed with losing weight, and Laurel likes herself the way she is. I love how what a positive body image Laurel has of herself. And I really liked Tom's interactions with Laurel on this topic. Sweet was really interesting because on one hand, you had this crazy Solu epidemic, and on the other hand you have this really sweet budding romance between what seems to be an unlikely pair at first glance. The horror/thriller aspect of the book competed perfectly with the romance. It was a very entertaining pairing. 
 Sweet took me by total surprise. Once I started reading, and I got my first glimpse at what the solu was going to do, I didn't know how much I would end up enjoying Sweet. But I am so happy to say that this book surpassed all of my expectations. I really liked it and I want to read the short story prequel now. Not to mention that the ending, which I initially thought was a great ending to a standalone in this genre, now has me salivating for the next book. 
 This review was originally posted on Book Briefs