(Sorry in advance for this review being all over the place)

First thing we need to talk about is her name. Linden?? Really?? You couldn't have picked a better name? There are thousands of name and in world and you pick LINDEN. Come on.

Also, the way Cole was introduced made his character so predictable. Like he is your basic golden boy.
And the tension between Cole and Linden was a lot. The writing made me feel the tension (which I liked).

I could barely follow the first like 60 pages. It felt like some of the writing was forced. I also didn't get why they included the "James Family Book Of Mountain Wisdom". If I'm being honest, I just skipped those pages. This book could have been so much shorter if Cole had just told her what was going to happen that night. Also, she had already told him her biggest, darkest secret and he was too scared to tell her? That just doesn't make sense. It felt like whenever there was like a supposed "major" plot twist, I wasn't that excited. Like the book kept me guessing, but I didn't really care about the answer. The way the twists come out, it seems very forced. Also, the ending sucked. I feel like she should have given up their love or something not just the diablerie. It just seemed anticlimactic.

The trope of backwoods witches, mysterious creatures, horrific sacrifices, and high school ex-lovers reunited feels a little overdone these days, But I did enjoy most of this novel about a clan of witches, food magic, missing kids, and a small town's dark history. I don't love the themed family names; the cutesy other names, like "Caball Hollow" (really?); and the lack of everyday things most people would have, like insurance on their businesses and such, but despite these things, the plot moved along well enough and the characters were fairly interesting and grew through the book. A fine summer read with a glass of blackberry wine and some lemon scones.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I really enjoyed this book, and did so just as much as I did House of Hollow. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book! This book was phenomenal, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. When reading, you could really understand and feel every emotion our main character Linden was feeling, which is a nice touch because that's her main ability. The plot twists and different turns this story took were insane, every time you thought you had figured something out, it turned out to be even crazier! I highly highly recommend checking out this book and giving it a chance!

The characters and world they live in are so vividly real, and beautifully described it makes me want to be transported into their magical place! I read this in one sitting, and it felt like I was reading about a friend’s adventure-cozy/magical/suspenseful/satisfying!

To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. I didn't come into this book thinking it would be an all-time favorite, but I was still expecting a good time. I didn't get that. Initially, I was intrigued by this book, but it was ultimately a dull and lackluster read. The concept of four sisters with unusual talents drew me in, but the characters bored me. The plot was all over the place and did not hold my attention. I expected Bittersweet in the Hollow to be more of a story similar to House of Hollow, but instead, this is more like Dark and Shallow Lies, a book that I did not personally enjoy. If you did like Dark and Shallow Lies, give this book a chance, but otherwise, I would not recommend this. Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Teen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, for allowing me to read an ARC of Bittersweet in the Hollow.

A family of women with secret abilities in a small town in the Appalachian mountains finds themselves directly involved with the mysteries of the mountains and the people of their small town. A year after Linden went missing, nothing has been the same, and mystery still surrounds what happened to her that day. When another town member goes missing, echoing what happened to Linden and the small town mystery of a missing boy over a decade ago, Linden is determined to find out what is going on, but can she keep her family protected at the same time?

Practical Magic meets House of Hollow meets Appalachian lore and mysteries! I really enjoyed this! It was mysterious, magical, and a little dark, all things that make an enjoyable read. The plot goes along really steadily and is similar to the pacing of what you would expect in a YA novel. My only critique is I felt like there were a few things at the end that weren't wrapped up as I was hoping, or rather, I was hoping for them to be a bit more fleshed out as they felt like they kind of just wrapped up a little too neatly, or things that were brought up were just kind of left to the wayside, that being said, I would love a sequel that delved into what came next after this book. How did the woman of her family continue on after? Do her parents ever reconcile? How does Linden come to terms with her evolving powers? What happens to the town after these events? And other questions I can't ask without spoilers!

Definitely recommend!

This was such a fantastic debut novel with all the wild and witchy vibes! The first chapter was enticing enough to pull you in and the mystery was enthralling enough to kept you reading! This is reminiscent of Practical Magic with a Mothman twist.

In the small secluded Appalachian town of Caball Hollow, four sisters of the James women who were born with unusual abilities investigate the mysterious disappearance in their rural town surrounded by the National Forrest. Linden is born with the ability to taste feelings and each sister had their own unique ability. The magic in the book was wonderful to explore along with the family bond included with all the James women.

Linden went missing a year ago during the Moth Festival and hardly remembers the events of that night. Now a year later when another girl goes missing and the circumstances are similar to what happened to Linden, she looks into her disappearance and the disappearance of a little boy from many years ago. The mystery of this story was so well written and just kept you guessing. The twists were fantastic and truly caught me off guard! There’s a little bit of a small town romance, family secrets, Mothman folklore, and magical realism. Kate explores sisterly love, and the folklore of Mothman in a unique perspective that made this a page turning thrill of a book to read! This had a Practical Magic feel to the story in several spots, especially the ending and I absolutely adored that! Such a great book that release October 10, 2023!

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Appalachian thriller about Mothman? With congenital heart disease representation? Sign me the heck up for so much more!

From the very start, this book really captured what it means to be from rural Appalachia, and I ate up every second of it. We don't look in the woods and we season our cast-iron skillets properly. I love the way that this book really brings Appalachia to life and shows the heart of it. Through it all, it really showcases family and community and the way that small towns can either come together for people or push them away.

The mystery of this book was spectacular and it had me thinking the entire time. I definitely couldn't put all the pieces together, and the more magical twists only added to the depth of the book in a way that sparkled.

Don't even get me started about the moment I discovered the congenital heart disease representation. It gave me absolute life in so many ways!

If you're looking for a spooky read full of culture and magic, please pick up this book! You will not regret it!

I seriously, without a doubt, LOVED this book! The author captured family and magic in just the right way and I couldn’t stop reading it. Most of the time, Appalachian stories are hokey and a little corny. This was done just right and I was sucked into the story as a result! I also adored the bond between the James women. It came across clearly, in every sentence and struck the perfect balance between sweet and strong. I can’t wait to see more from her, she will have a very promising future indeed!

"And as much as I want to forget, I know that sometimes
secrets are seeds, just waiting for the right conditions to
sprout. The deeper you bury them, the stronger they grow."

I've always loved stories about forbidden forests. I was very excited to receive this ARC. While this doesn't affect the actual novel, the cover is eye-catchingly beautiful.The book has a slower pace so it took me a bit to get invested, but when you get to the climax, the slower pace makes it pop. The bits of the James Family Book of Mountain Wisdom were a nice touch.

This book is spine-tingling. You won't regret reading this... but you've been warned... stay out of the woods. "The dead are often hungry for any taste of life." 4.5 ⭐

Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy of the book for an honest review. All quote(s) used in my review have been unedited.

"The Appalachians are among the oldest mountains in the world, once connected to the same ancient range as the Scottish Highlands. These hills and hollows are where legends and lore thrive, alive and well. Mine is a story of being lost for a night in the vastness of the National Forest, of fearing the unknown and what may be hiding in shadows of the deepest dark."

I have been waiting for a book like this for ages. Pearsall’s debut is a story about a young woman in a holler of West Virginia who went missing in the national forest the year prior—but can’t remember that night. But now, a year later during the hottest summer, another girl has gone missing and Linden must try to remember what happened to her.

Pearsall’s writing is so lyrical and atmospheric. I felt like I was in the Harvest Moon diner, suffering from the heat and smelling the delicious food they were making. I have a tendency to read books very quickly but with this one, I wanted to take my time and savor it. The way the author has weaved one of the most popular supernatural legends of West Virginia to make it her own is *chefs kiss*. I will no doubt be putting this on my shelf and re-reading it soon.

If this is Pearsall’s debut, I absolutely cannot wait to see what else she has to offer. I have a feeling she will be added to my auto-buy list.

There’s going to be more?!

“Bittersweet in the Hollow” whispers an incantation akin to Practical Magic as the James women have a certain specialties when it comes to sending lies, seeing into the beyond and tasting emotions and when a creature of folklore seems to be taking people in the night they must work to uncover the truth that lurks in the forest.

This book is so so good I want to scream it from the rooftops! Every piece of this feels very much like Practical Magic and in a way that is fresh and exciting as we get this murder mystery with a sprinkle of enchantment.

Linden is such a fun character and equally matched with the rest of those we see throughout the story as she struggles with her gifts in relation to people but shines when using it in her baking adding a nice element of naturalism to this tale. Every sister and the matriarchs were fantastic and all they did was invite you deeper into this world and make you wish for a cup of tea at their table to listen to the rest of their stories.

The plot was also so much fun because as someone whose family is from West Virginia the myths that exist of a Moth Man is so prevalent and this twist on it was everything I could have hoped both staying true to the legend we all know but also breathing new life into it making it uniquely a part of this story. There’s some elements that are predictable but because I was wrapped up in everything else I didn’t mind and was somewhat more excited to see the payoff which is what you’d hope in these kinds of stories.

I absolutely adored this and read it so quickly I surprised even myself when it was over and now I learn there’s going to be more which is the greatest gift I can think of!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

I loved this atmospheric, suspenseful read! It was completely captivating from the first page. The magical qualities, sisterly bonds and vividly detailed Appalachian locale spoke to my soul. I didn’t want it to end. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a richly plotted, haunting narrative featuring unforgettable characters.

Heartfelt thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the gift of this ARC!

This is one of those books where when I think back to it, I can picture everything so vividly like I watched it in a movie. It's part thriller, part light fantasy/magical. I loved the family and sisterhood themes in this book. Family magic is my favorite trope in a book. I also enjoyed the romance plot line, the love interest and how that all tied together in the end.

Definitely would recommend this beautifully written story. I couldn’t put it down, I loved the way the characters blended together throughout the whole story.
10/10

Reviewed for NetGalley:

The James Women have a long history of magical abilities. The protagonist, Linden, is no different with her ability to taste the feelings of others and influence others with her own feelings with her baking.

However, not everything is great in the world of magic, as Linden is still recovering a year later from missing the memory of the night she went missing in the woods. But now, another girl is missing a year later.

Lots of twists and turns, strong familial bonds and pining thrown in for good measure. Cannot wait to read the sequel.

This was so atmospheric and good! The characters, plot, storylines, and details were great. The vibes were immaculate. Reading this felt slightly spooky and slightly magical.

As this book was unfolding with not only with Liden solving a mystery but the power of sisterhood and magic it gripped me and had me not wanting to put the book down. The connection from 20 years ago plus Liden plus the recent murder was woven in a way that made you want to understand the families magic more. It's perfect spooky book to pick up.

I absolutely loved “Bittersweet in the Hollow.” This is a lovely, smoothly paced YA mystery thriller with a slow-burn romantic arc about a family of four sisters with unusual abilities who all live in the small West Virginia town of Caball Hollow.

Linden James can taste feelings; another sister always knows when someone is lying; and so forth. The family runs a farm and a restaurant, and on the side prepares healing tinctures and tonics for the townspeople.

The town is dominated by the legend of the Moth-Winged Man, to whom they hold a festival every year. Last year, Linden went missing at that festival, the same night she told her crush, Cole, about her strange talent and was rejected. Linden doesn’t remember what happened to her that night, a traumatic gap in memory that becomes desperately important to recover when another girl is found dead in the same part of the forest where Linden went missing.

It turns out the James sisters’ unusual gifts aren’t the strangest things about Caball Hollow.

I loved the characters in this; Linden gives off the same vibes as Veronica Mars, with a magical twist. The mystery is well paced and unpredictable. The colorfulness of the side characters and the ebbs and flows of small town life and gossip is authentically portrayed. I often don’t like fiction about witches and magic because it’s usually over the top and the supernatural forces become a sort of deus ex machina plot device that become annoying.

But not so with “Bittersweet.” In this the supernatural forces are very real in a refreshingly logical presentation, existing side by side with very real human monsters. Who knows what bargains any of us will make with enough desperation?

I also loved the Linden/Cole arc and was rooting for them every time she hopped on his motorcycle. The nerd/jock with a quiet side trope is close to my heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.