Hey friends! I recently read Bitter and Sweet and couldn’t wait to share my thoughts. Lately, I’ve been stumbling upon books that I might not have noticed otherwise—ones that don’t necessarily have the biggest buzz. And more often than not, I end up enjoying them. I actually got one of Rhonda McKnight’s audiobooks, The Thing About Home, through the Libro influencer program but I ended up diving into her latest release first. This is my first book of hers I’ve read.
My thoughts
Bitter and Sweet weaves together the stories of three women: sisters Sabrina and Mariah, and their great-great-grandmother, Tabitha. Set in South Carolina, the novel alternates between the present day and the 1920s. The story begins when Sabrina and Mariah receive a cryptic text from their grandmother, asking them to come home. Despite being estranged and living vastly different lives, the sisters reunite to try to save their grandparents’ restaurant.
The author masterfully explores the strength of family, sisterhood, and the empowering knowledge of one’s history. Tabitha’s story was the heart of the novel for me. Her journey is both powerful and uplifting, and I often found myself eager to return to her narrative. The novel truly embodies the essence of its title—bitter, then sweet, in perfect succession.
Although the conclusion ties up a bit too neatly, it’s a closure I welcomed. Themes of family, motherhood, resilience, sisterhood, loss, grief, food, and love are explored, making Bitter and Sweet a poignant and inspiring read.
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