For fans of House of Hollow, this title will satisfy that same vein of horror and thriller mix that keeps you reading well past your bedtime. The James sisters are all born with unusual abilities. This story takes you into a dark forest that holds many secrets. Anything could happen.

Bittersweet in the Hollow had a little bit of everything to offer., so there’s something for everyone. The story was enchanting and delivered on all the spooky vibes.

I loved the setting of this book—a tiny Appalachian town with a family of women each endowed with special gifts really captivated me. Although I felt the characters could have been developed further, I still liked them.
Some of the plot twists were rather predictable, and the ending left a few loose ends. Still, it's a solid read and showcases Kate Pearsall’s potential as a writer. If you’re into eerie, atmospheric mysteries, you’ll likely enjoy this debut. The twists and turns kept me second-guessing until the very end.

3.5 stars.

This was an enjoyable read. I finished this book in the first few hours of a power outage. I really liked the bonds between the James sisters and seeing their respective powers/abilities. I wish we got to learn a bit more about two of the sisters, but that will hopefully happen in the sequel. I really liked the Appalachian small town setting. My favorite part of the book were the descriptions of food and Linden's love for cooking. I especially enjoyed seeing how Linden's cooking and her powers intersected with each other. I wish we got to see more of the extent of her abilities.

The pacing felt slow and I wish that the story moved a little faster at times. I didn't dislike the romance but it got a bit cliche in certain moments. Things also got a little ridiculous in regards with the spellbook. I do feel that the villain got a bit monologue-y towards at the end, as a way to info dump.

I don't have much to say, other than I enjoyed my time with this book. I wasn't expecting there to be a sequel but I am curious to see where the story will go and if it will follow a different James sister.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a little bit of everything!

Mystery! Magical Realism! Horror! Suspense! Romance!

The story of the four sisters was captivating to read. The different abilities each sister possesses was magically written.

This story was enchanted and spooky! The perfect read for a chilly fall night.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read this amazing and magical story!
The fact that this book was this authors first is remarkable. Why has Kate not written anything sooner?! Her writing is magical and helps paint such a vivid picture I was awestruck. The story was enchanting and sucked me in. There was so many twists and turns I had no idea where it was going until I finally did. The powers everyone had? How Kate described each one? You have got to be kidding me! This book was mysterious, spooky, magical, romantic, worrisome. It kept me on the edge of my seat and had me craving more! I could have easily finished this sooner if adulting wasn’t a thing. I will forever be a fan of this story! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

I absolutely fell in love with this book! I wasn't sure what to expect going into it - - and let me tell you that I was completely surprised by just how wonderful it was. It's a little bit paranormal, a little bit mystery, a little bit romance and a little bit family drama. Basically, it's a little bit of everything and it's done very well!

The story focuses on the James women. They have history going back for years - - actually centuries in Caball Hollow. Their history and their lives seem woven into the very fabric of the small town. They are both a treasured prize and necessary evil depending on which townsperson you speak to. Each of these women possesses a special ability. Some can be hidden easier than others. Linden is the main focus of the story. She is one of the daughters. She's recovering from a trauma that happened a year ago when she was found lost and injured in the woods. Even after this time has passed, she still can't recall the specifics from the night, but she does suffer nightmares.

The way the present and past were blended together in this book was done well. The reader was given just enough information at a time to think they might know what was going on and then another piece would be revealed and the entire theory would change. It was all quite clever. I simply fell in love with these characters and the small town. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

A different read, but one that I really enjoyed. I was short, making it easily readable and quick. This is a great read if you are a mood reader like me and need a genre shift to change things up (prevents reading slumps lol). Sisters with magical powers means the stories are bound to be good. I thought this was a fresh take on families with powers, highlighted girlhood and womanhood, and had the perfect amount of mystery (with a great ending!). Really enjoyed reading Bittersweet in the Hollow and look forward to anything Kate Pearsall puts out!

The buzzwords had me all the way in from the beginning and Pearsall absolutely delivered. I loved the sibling relationships and the mystery and absolutely everything.

Bitterasweet In The hollow is a wonderful Young Adult mystery with some dark and witchy elements that manage to captivate readers and make a captivating and rich and engaging read.

“How strange it is to be born and live somewhere our whole lives, to have roots here, and yet be made to feel we don’t belong. To be outsiders in the only home we’ve ever known.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content warnings (from Storygraph): violence/injury, murder/death (including child)/grief, car accident

I was intrigued by this book's cover and wanted to take a tiny break from fantasy. This one seemed like an interesting and creepy paranormal thriller set in rural West Virginia, and Penguin was nice enough to send me both an e-book and a physical copy of this gem! Bittersweet in the Hollow follows Linden James, one of four daughters born to a legacy of James women who have for decades owned a local restaurant and hidden their secret abilities. Each woman has a unique ability, and Linden's is that she can taste the emotions of others within her vicinity. Will this aid or harm her as she struggles to cope with not remembering what happened to her when she went missing a year ago, along with a twisted town's worth of secrets? Is her disappearance related to the disappearance of a little boy a decade ago? Will she be the last victim of whatever is stealing children in the deep of the woods?

This book had me hooked the entire story! I truly do not have a single critique to give at this time. I was tearing up even for the side characters. I enjoyed each character, and I struggled to discover how everyone was entangled together, but in a dramatic and suspenseful way. I loved the the hints of romance between different characters, but especially how it was in written in a sub-plot sort of way! Wow, the chemistry was perfect for my taste!

The setting was atmospherically chilling to the point that I had to stop reading at night sometimes from feeling a tad scared. Pearsall wrote too well the feeling of something ominous in the darkness watching you! I can't believe this is a debut? I spent the entire time thinking "Wow, this is already an auto-buy author, I can't wait to see what she comes with next!" I thought this was a standalone, and my one silly little wish was that I wished there was more of Rowan and Hadrian, only to discover there's a book 2 and they're the main characters???? Good soup!

An engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed! Highly recommend and will purchase several physical and digital copies for library collections. Thank you!!

I really just requested way too many books to try to keep up with during this time frame didn't I. (I apologize lol - I've been so tempted to just scratch this entire profile and start a new one)

The author's writing style is beautiful, but the dark fantasy aspect really isn't up my alley. I love YA suspense so that kept me reading, but I didn't love the fantasy.

I recently had the pleasure of diving into Bittersweet in the Hollow, and the author's skillful storytelling and ability to create tension and suspense had me hooked from the very first page. The characters were well-developed and added depth to the plot.

What I particularly enjoyed about Bittersweet in the Hollow was the twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was perfect, making it hard to put the book down once I started reading. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a ride filled with suspense, mystery, and unexpected surprises. It's a must-read for fans of the genre!

* Thank you Penguin Randomhouse for an eARC in exchange for an honest revew."

i absolutely loved the whimsy of this soft magic system. The James family each have a gift and our MC linden the emotions of those around her. The town has always been a little uneasy of the odd family, except of someone gets sick or is otherwise in need, of course they'll ask for help.

Every year the turn holds the moth festival to honor the longest standing folklone of the turn, the moth man. He is an omen of death. And that folklore is held in even higher because 17 years ago, a four year old boy went missing. And last year, something happened to linden on the woods she still can't remember.

A small town mystery with of whimsical magic? Sign me up. This book didnt disappoint.

This is the perfect book for fall or for when you need a little all witchiness in your life.

Set in a family of witches where everyone has a special skill, this book will make you want to set, enjoy some food, and enjoy the spooky vibes. Linder's particular skill is that she can taste what others are feeling. One night she vanishes with no memories of where she went or how she got back. A year later another girl has gone missing but this time she is found dead. Now, rumors of moth man have started up. What is the truth

Set in the Appalachian mountains this atmospheric mystery will keep you turning the page long into the night. I loved the folklore and family dynamics in this book. The mystery had me hooked This is full of wittiness, superstitions, and heart.

This is an easy 5 star for me

This was a very atmospheric southern gothic tale. Set in the mountains of Appalachia, this book has a good mix of magic, mystery, and folklore.

Throughout the book, you feel like you know the characters personally because their development is so well done by the author. The plot was engaging and exciting enough to keep you on your toes.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- a stunning debut of sisterhood and the lengths one will go for family. cannot wait for the other book(s) in this series!

This was a really slow paced book for me, though I did enjoy it. It feels like a cozy, small town, magical story. I would compare it to The Unmaking of June Farrow.

I enjoyed the cozy feel, but also the murder/mystery tied in. I wish it was all little faster paced, but I thought it worked well for the story if you want something a little more subdued that you can sink into a share and get lost in.