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Sugarcoated: Finding Sweet Release from Cravings that Control Us
All around the world, women yearn for a perfect life they can never grasp. They want to be successful, attractive, sexually fulfilled, and free from distress.
Rather than turning to God, too many try to feast on everything under the sun—diet pills, pornography, shopping sprees, one-night stands, and social media—anything to hit that sweet spot.
In the end, they are left with a deep sense of shame that can draw them further down into a spiral of bingeing, hiding, and emotional self-flagellation. They totally get Paul’s woeful lament, “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19).
Consequently, these women build a wall between themselves and God. They fear divine retribution for their chosen form of gluttony while simultaneously operating under the false assumption that God doesn’t want to have anything to do with them.
As author Angie Haskell notes, “This dangerous form of beratement worms its way into every facet of women’s lives. It burrows into their psyche, making them believe that demeaning treatment from others, as well as themselves, is perfectly normal. And if they dare throw caution to the wind, stepping out in their stilettos to stand up for what they need, it is often met with assumptions from others that their morals and values have flown out the window.”
These women feel alone, unseen and unsatisfied, but Angie wades into their despair. With disarming wit and boldness, she empowers readers to take a hard look at their secret cravings, understand where they are coming from, and get on a path that leads to emotional and physical health.
In a society that has become dangerously divisive, Angie reassures women that they’re still deserving of a relationship with God while also standing up for themselves and their needs.
Rather than turning to God, too many try to feast on everything under the sun—diet pills, pornography, shopping sprees, one-night stands, and social media—anything to hit that sweet spot.
In the end, they are left with a deep sense of shame that can draw them further down into a spiral of bingeing, hiding, and emotional self-flagellation. They totally get Paul’s woeful lament, “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19).
Consequently, these women build a wall between themselves and God. They fear divine retribution for their chosen form of gluttony while simultaneously operating under the false assumption that God doesn’t want to have anything to do with them.
As author Angie Haskell notes, “This dangerous form of beratement worms its way into every facet of women’s lives. It burrows into their psyche, making them believe that demeaning treatment from others, as well as themselves, is perfectly normal. And if they dare throw caution to the wind, stepping out in their stilettos to stand up for what they need, it is often met with assumptions from others that their morals and values have flown out the window.”
These women feel alone, unseen and unsatisfied, but Angie wades into their despair. With disarming wit and boldness, she empowers readers to take a hard look at their secret cravings, understand where they are coming from, and get on a path that leads to emotional and physical health.
In a society that has become dangerously divisive, Angie reassures women that they’re still deserving of a relationship with God while also standing up for themselves and their needs.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 21, 2024
I’m so honored to share my dear friend Angie Haskell’s new book, Sugarcoated. Available from Whitaker House February 27, 2024.
“I cannot stress this enough: there’s incredible beauty in having a best friend with whom you can bare your heart.”
Angie’s book is an intimate journey as she looks into obstacles towards a peaceful and fulfilling life. Warm, open and vulnerable, she shares her own story, and those of the many women she spoke to during her research. The first half lays out things like social media, affairs, and overspending. Cravings that seem to fill a void but only lead to emptiness and shame. Hold on, because the second half she’s going to speak to how these can and should be honored. Angie’s real world advice about meditation, exercise, therapy, medication, communication, and sister-circles all serve to give hope and actionable ideas.
Angie relies deeply on her faith and it’s authentically and unapologetically shared throughout the book. I believe her book speaks to a broad audience of women who are seeking meaningful changes, connection, reinvention and need encouragement. Her story is one of true strength, hope, tenacity, and an enduring belief in love.
Angie is an accomplished artist, a published author, taught for many years after a successful corporate career. She has been a single mother, raising two amazing daughters. By nature Angie is an extrovert and has never met a stranger. She is married to her soulmate, Bill, to whom this book is dedicated.
“I cannot stress this enough: there’s incredible beauty in having a best friend with whom you can bare your heart.”
Angie’s book is an intimate journey as she looks into obstacles towards a peaceful and fulfilling life. Warm, open and vulnerable, she shares her own story, and those of the many women she spoke to during her research. The first half lays out things like social media, affairs, and overspending. Cravings that seem to fill a void but only lead to emptiness and shame. Hold on, because the second half she’s going to speak to how these can and should be honored. Angie’s real world advice about meditation, exercise, therapy, medication, communication, and sister-circles all serve to give hope and actionable ideas.
Angie relies deeply on her faith and it’s authentically and unapologetically shared throughout the book. I believe her book speaks to a broad audience of women who are seeking meaningful changes, connection, reinvention and need encouragement. Her story is one of true strength, hope, tenacity, and an enduring belief in love.
Angie is an accomplished artist, a published author, taught for many years after a successful corporate career. She has been a single mother, raising two amazing daughters. By nature Angie is an extrovert and has never met a stranger. She is married to her soulmate, Bill, to whom this book is dedicated.
January 20, 2026
The ramblings of a privileged, middle-aged white woman. While I agree and relate to most things written in this book, I can't help but roll my eyes at the glance of Bible quotes being thrown at almost every paragraph. It would've served it's purpose without it. The author knew that right?
I wish the price tag hadn't covered the back of the book specifically labeling it as "Christian Living/Religion/Personal Growth". I blame the cover and title for making me think this was a book worth buying.
Each advice & “profound” revelation I read, I said to myself “isn’t this common knowledge? Surely people in their 40s already know about this shit.” Also, stop refering to your readers as “friend” or “girl friend”. God, it was unbearable to make it through parts that said that.
If I was a middle-aged white christian going through their 3rd divorce I would definitely rate this a 10/10.
I wish the price tag hadn't covered the back of the book specifically labeling it as "Christian Living/Religion/Personal Growth". I blame the cover and title for making me think this was a book worth buying.
Each advice & “profound” revelation I read, I said to myself “isn’t this common knowledge? Surely people in their 40s already know about this shit.” Also, stop refering to your readers as “friend” or “girl friend”. God, it was unbearable to make it through parts that said that.
If I was a middle-aged white christian going through their 3rd divorce I would definitely rate this a 10/10.
March 4, 2024
I enjoyed Sugarcoated by Angie Haskell. She provides support and guidance to women struggling with a variety of addictions. Angie explains all things women use as a coping mechanism and encourages them to overcome them using her personal journey along the way. She doesn’t pretend to be “better than thou”, but a friendly voice to find the love of God, strategies to stop the addiction cycle and also finding the appropriate professional support when required.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews