Sugar by Layla Frost

Sugar by Layla Frost kicks off her new Gilded series with a sizzling age gap romance that promises steam, intrigue, and a secretive BDSM underworld. I went in expecting bold kink and an immersive club setting. However, what I got was more of a tease than a full deep dive—and that left me slightly underwhelmed.

Easton Wells, the hero, is all power and precision. He’s a high-powered attorney with an ironclad need for control—both in and out of the bedroom. It’s clear he knows what he wants, and he wants Madeline Baker. Even when he doesn’t want to admit it, so he suggests a sugar baby scenario. Madeline is a college student that knows she wants more in the bedroom, but hasn’t met the right person. Until now. The chemistry? Off the charts. The emotional build? Solid.

Where Sugar faltered for me was in the BDSM club element.

Gilded is an elite, behind-closed-doors kind of place, and I expected it to play a bigger role in the plot. Instead, it hangs in the background—intriguing, but never fully realized. If you’re hoping for a strong BDSM romance vibe, this leans more toward light kink adjacent.

There’s also a mystery subplot that simmers beneath the surface. It adds tension, but the execution didn’t fully deliver for me. It worked—technically—but didn’t pull me deeper into the world the way Layla Frost’s stories usually do.

That said, the supporting characters are what really kept me invested. Frost introduces enough complexity and shadow in her side cast to make me curious about what’s coming next in the Gilded series. I’m already eyeing book two to see who gets the spotlight next.

While Sugar wasn’t my favorite Layla Frost book, it’s still an enjoyable read with compelling leads, sharp dialogue, and just enough heat to keep the pages turning. If you’re into dominant heroes, college heroines, and slow-burn romantic suspense with an edge, this one’s worth the read—even if it didn’t fully hit all my expectations.

POV: Dual 1st Person
3rd ACT BREAK-UP: No
TROPES: Age Gap, Instant Connection, BDSM Club, Slow Burn
SERIES: Gilded Book 1
TYPE OF SERIES: Series of Standalones
RELEASE DATE: July 1st, 2025

Want more Layla Frost?

Check out this Author Spotlight
Read this Review of Little Goddess
Listen to this Quick Shot of Romance for Little Dove
Read this review of Finding Mayhem
Read this review of Damaged