Sweet Like Brown Sugar: A New Dawn Spicy Short

by Shay Dawn

Boy meets girl… Boy EATS girl… Boy puts girl through the mattress.

Genres: Romance, Spicy

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2026

Reviews

[Kimmy’s Reads! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brown Sugar

The playlist at the front of this book was absolutely perfect and set the tone for what I’d like to say was not only a fun book but had the right amount of loving and compassion you’re looking for in a novella. The way Benni and Graham loved each other was sweet and sexy and it makes you see that real black love is still a thing!

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is how you write an EROTICA!!!! This is absolutely not a favorite genre of mine due to the lack of a plot most times, BUT the way Shay Dawn crafts a good storyline with this genre, I can say she is gifted. The spice in here was done right. I felt the chemistry. So, while they were getting freaky, and they were getting freaky a lot, lol... there was substance that I long for in a book. This is all that I want in any genre, give me a little more. She did that. Love her pen game!!! And also this qualifies as a rom-com, so while you're getting hot and bothered, you will come out laughing too. Read the book!

[Cardi Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bennnnniiiii

Them intrusive thoughts are mine because yes daddy. Graham really a patient big dawg while she overthinks. And puts her thru the mattress.

[castinareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

This was so cute and SPICYYY! I really love Shay’s banter between her couples every time! Such a perfect ending. I’ll be falling down the next set of stairs I see just to test this theory 🤣🤣.

[Shaniece · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️🌶️ these two started out hot and heavy. Their physical attraction with instant. Benni was so full of it and everyone knew it. The way she craved graham was hilarious. These two seemed to naturally fall in step with each other. It was a cute short read.

[Danni Phantom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me go find some stairs to fall down so I can find me a Graham

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was short, spicy, and straight to the point. I liked both characters, and I’m always a fan of an “I lift heavy” kind of MMC. 💪🏾🔥

[JazzReads · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This was a fast pace erotica and I like it. Overall a good read

[TwinTLC · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

3.25⭐️: A quick spicy read!! Good chemistry between Graham and Benni!

[Shamoya Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Shay for the early copy ARC
If you've met Shay, then you know her books are a good time. When I saw she wanted to release a spicy short I was so excited.

This was exactly what it was, a spicy erotic short story, neighbors to lovers. Shay had me hooked from the first page because what do you mean you fell down the stairs and your fine ass neighbor had to pick you up and carry you up the stairs? You have the FMC Benni who likes to run when things get serious. Then there is Graham who is not the best at communicating what he is feeling. These two love story was a little chaotic but so relatable and real. I was laughing and kicking my feet the entire 67 pages, and the spice was spicing. Another banger from Ms. Shay Dawn.

[*Ebony I* · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

This was a situation ship turned love story that almost didn't happen.

Beignet had a habit of self sabotaging and not seeing things through. Graham was sweet, well mannered, and usually very intentional. It was clear he had a thing for Bennie, but he didn't push her instead he treated her well and fkd her brains out as often as she wanted. When things shifted...Bennie was on her bs,but Graham finally made his feelings known and it was up from there. A cute, quick read.

[Mrs Book Bae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good and sexy read!

I read it when it was released as the web exclusive amd was so happy to get into it.

Graham is definitely a book bae 😝 that man is tew fine.

Loved the chemistry between him and Benni. As usual you're gonna have a good laugh and feel all the feels cause the hunching is always top tier in Shay's books.

Definitely get into this one!

[Bookishwith_mariee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, Sweet, and Spicy!

This novella was straight to the point! Graham and Beignet are neighbors whose instant attraction quickly develops into a genuine connection, love, and marriage. Their chemistry was off the charts, and the spice was through the roof. This was a fun, satisfying read that delivered exactly what I wanted from a short and sweet novella. A good time was definitely had!

[Tanesha Abernathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shay never misses! I was an instant fan from the first book. This was a short but it did not disappoint. Point me in the direction of New Dawn because these types of men don’t exist where I am…

Love both characters, they were funny. They matched each other’s energy. The side characters weren’t shabby either…even Benni’s mama!

[Gina Gibson-Ducheine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beignets with glaze.

They nasty lol! Not gonna lie I would be the old lady across the hall but I would have to invest in a ring camera to catch all the goings on in that hallway. Graham held out as long as he could. Real men want commitment eventually and at 34 they were too old to just be eating wings and hunchin everyday.

[Booked_Down · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brown Sugar Babyyy.

I want to fall and be helped, ANYTIME! Benni and Graham’s chemistry was there from jumped but my girl Benni and them intrusive thoughts? I get it. Graham, what a man, what a man, WHAT A MAN! This was a good ol’ spicy time! “You do a lot of talking about what you want, but when you get it, you punk out, Baby.”

[NubianJoí · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

All B/S ain’t Equal

Ummm, all B/S ain’t Equal🤭🤷🏾‍♀️‼️This brown sugar type was not the novella for me👀🥴🤨. Nevertheless, “Sweet Like Brown Sugar: A New Dawn Spicy Short” (3.50 ⭐️’s) was cute, entertaining & comical in banter. However, the mature content & language book 📚may be offensive to some readers.

[Lisareadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and freaky☺️

Well, that was 67 pages worth of yummy. And graham can put me through a mattress, any day. He was schlanging D*ck something fierce. I like this.I like this.She has such a fun writing style

[JackeeisBusyReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

a stroke of misfortune ain’t never paid off like this..

lol Benni lucked up all from a tumble down the stairs. A series of unfortunate events brings her an stallion. Shay Dawn had a way with making you chuckle and making you invest in her characters. Short, funny and erotic.

[Pia Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit!

Shay you are absolutely hilarious! This was a good time from start to finish. Graham and Benni were a match made from the start. I loved the nosey tail neighbor as well.

[Sassy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

😍😍😍😍😍😍

This was so cute… they had a meet cute with her falling in the hallway and the neighbor helping her… he carried her up the stairs, turned her every way but loose and they lived happily ever after 😂😂😂😂

[Toni Cookies · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍪Cookies Review 🍪

My girl, Shay. You is a nastyyyyy girl! Graham cracker took her through there! Beignet didn’t see it coming!! Ms. Willow! Loved her nosy self!! Overall, just bomb!! Getting the entire catalog at SHSK! Save my books! Thaaaangya!!

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella was a whole vibe! Benni had me hollering because sis was nasty and funny as hell. I really loved her and Graham together. Such a quick, spicy read that had me entertained from beginning to end!

[Taija Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graham and Beignet

Short and sweet, nasty and to the point!!! Siri, play “neighbors know my name” by Trey songz Lol 😂 Loved them together. I just needed to know why Bill was so scared of Graham. Had that man shaking in his boots 🤣

[Dalia Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as described

It is a spicy short like it says on the book cover. It doesnt have s lot of plot or thrills because its literally about 70 pages. If you want a quick erotic novella, this is it.

[Asiaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Cute

This was a quick, cute and hilarious read. I loved it! Can’t wait for the rest of the New Dawn books!

[DOM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and freaky☺️ The story short but the build up was fast but not too fast where it felt like a rushed read. Really liked!

[Stephanie H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and spicy Novella! Loved it! When the preface says “There is no plot other than boy meets girl… boy EATS girl… boy puts girl through the mattress over and over.” She meant that!

[Jada 🥀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Like Brown Sugar by Shay Dawn 🍫🤎

Shay Dawn is a new-to-me author, and Sweet Like Brown Sugar was a cute, quick little read! Bennie takes a fall, her fine ass neighbor Graham comes to the rescue, and apparently that was all the invitation these two needed. 😂

This was one of those easy, straight-to-the-point romances where the chemistry takes center stage. Bennie and Graham were hunching DOWN, caught feelings somewhere along the way, and gave us a sweet little happily ever after. 😂🤎 Sometimes you just need something quick, spicy, and cute, and that’s exactly what this gave!

[Dai Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe she put all that in 67 pages. I was mad but satisfied in the end.