50 pages 1 hour read

Ian McEwan

Sweet Tooth

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Ian McEwan's 2012 novel, Sweet Tooth, set in the 1970s, Serena Frome becomes embroiled with MI5 and the literary world, balancing power and navigating deceit as she is recruited to covertly support politically suitable writers. As her relationship with writer Thomas Haley develops, Serena struggles with the moral complexities and emotional turmoil of her secret professional life. Topics include manipulation and deceit.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Reviews of Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan highlight its clever blend of espionage and literary fiction. Positives include McEwan's masterful storytelling and complex character development. However, some critics find the narrative pacing slow and the romantic subplot unconvincing. Overall, it’s praised for its wit and engaging prose, despite occasional structural flaws.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Sweet Tooth?

Readers who relish literary espionage and intricate narrations in a Cold War setting will enjoy Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. Fans of John le Carré’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending will find the novel’s blend of suspense and introspection particularly appealing.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

British Literature

Topics

Relationships

Arts / Culture

History: European

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Love

Society: Nation

Values/Ideas: Literature