If an author could take my favorite things, weave them together, and create a story - Kate Pearsall did that. I've always been fascinated by the folklore surrounding Appalachia and specifically the mothman. Sprinkle in magical realism, murder, and the tiniest bit of a love story and we have Bittersweet in the Hollow - where the lines between reality and fantasy blur. This story grips you from the very first page and doesn't let go. The constant feel of danger and quest for the truth will keep you eagerly turning every page.

Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall is a dark YA fantasy with mystery. This story is set in Appalachia and follows the four James sisters. When another girl goes missing in their town, the sisters are determined to find out the truth. I felt like this was a very atmospheric book that is perfect for fall. I liked the dynamic between the sisters but I feel like we got to know some of them better than others. This reminded me of House of Hollow so pick this up if you loved that one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review!

The perfect blend of thriller, horror and some folklore this book had it all. Add a little romance I. There and you have the perfect book. We follow the James sisters each with their own unique “magic” , when a friend goes missing and Linden may be the only able to help. This book was everything I needed and more and literally could not put it down. A must read for sure!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall.

If you enjoy Sarah Addison Allen, or books about the south, good food, romance, and magic, these are definitely for you! Four sisters, all with fantastic names, work for the family restaurant and have unique hidden powers that help them see people around them differently. So when a woman in the town goes missing, the youngest girl, Linden, uses her powers, and her past to figure out what has happened to her.

This was a charming YA novel with compelling characters and a great plot with just the right blend of magic and humanity.

I was shocked this was this author's debut novel because it was so well written, perfectly interwoven, and intriguing from the beginning to the end. The setting was perfect for the atmosphere and tone of the story, the characters had depth and relatability, the mystery was engaging throughout with great pacing, and the plot twists were well thought out and executed perfectly. I never found myself bored with the story. The James' family history woven with the small town history and drama was really enjoyable and a clever plot tactic. I was so pleased to hear there will be a sequel next year! I definitely would pick up anything she writes in the future!

I absolutely adored this book. It takes place in a small town named Caball Hollow surrounded by a National Forest. Our group of characters are a family of women, James women, who have special abilities. The youngest sister however can taste people’s emotions which is something that makes her life difficult because, why wouldn’t it?

Now it’s the hottest summer on record and things are going a little astray. For one, Linden, our main character, has no memory of a traumatic night from the previous summer. She still has nightmares but she can’t remember anything. And then there’s the local legend of the Moth-winged man. Who, seriously, was super creepy but I loved and I also love when creepy characters can actually inspire sympathy in me which this did.

I loved the character dynamics at play in this book. We have a set of sisters, one who is back from college for the summer, a stressed mother and grandmother and each woman has her own abilities. And Linden still feels like an outlier in her own family. Plus, the boy she has feelings for, Cole Spencer.

The sisters were really well written but what shines here is Linden and the mystery. The character relationships are great but I was so pulled in by it and the town folktale of the Moth-winged man. Also the way the women were feared and hated by some but the people still came to them when they needed something. Something to help a family member sleep or something to help someone’s pain.

I also really loved how the breaks in the book had things about what was in season, uses, it felt a little like getting peek into a witch’s spell book.

I truly loved this book. The mystery was really well done and loved the main character. I didn’t care too much for the romance, but hey. It’s honestly not that bad.

I’m giving this a 4 out of 5. It’s a perfect read for the spooky season and for when you want that creepy feeling without it needing to be cold outside.

I received and eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.

Bittersweet in the Hollow is a unique YA read that intertwines Appalachian folklore with murder, mystery and family. I loved the James family and how they all had their own unique personalities and all came together to work as a team against the ridicule they receive as a family. I also love that they're so in tune with nature and have their own family "spellbook" so to say. The Moth Winged man was a shockingly great character and a part of the folklore for the town of Caball Hollow and added to the atmosphere of the story immensely. I loved the mountain setting qnd how the author describes it so well you feel like you're actually there. I really loved Linden and following her story as it weaves into present day events and I think that the mystery and the murder really also adds a lot to this story. Overall this was an amazing read and I highly recommend it!

4.5*

I purchased a physical copy of this before I finished the arc and almost regretted it! Thankfully things didn't go as sideways as I thought they were going to and now I'm happy to have this on my shelf.

I first came across Bittersweet in the Hollow on the BookishFirst website and it had my attention as soon as I read the blurb! As someone who claims WV as my second home I'm always interested in books set there. And as someone who loves the paranormal and supernatural, as soon as I saw the Mothman (Moth-Winged Man) referenced I knew I had to check this book out! Sadly I didn't win a copy on BF but I was approved for a digital arc on NG, so yay!

This story was so intriguing and it kept me guessing until the very end. It's spooky and a little creepy, enthralling and completely engaging. There were twists I didn't see coming and times I wasn't sure what would happen next.

I'm quite impressed this is the author's debut and I'm excited to see there's more to come in this world.

I loved how this incorporated magic into the regular world. A family with certain abilities passed down the matriarchal line, little things that help the women read people or see what might come. It would be so awesome to tell when someone is lying or know people's emotions.

The plot was interesting and I thought the pacing was pretty even and never boring. I did struggle a little with keeping track of the characters and the timeline for how past events played out. I'm not sure if I just didn't pay enough attention, but I wish it was a bit clearer.

I'm not sure how a sequel would play out since this wraps up pretty well, but I'll definitely check it out when it's released!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the copy.

If you want a book that is a mix of mystery, fantasy, thriller, and romance then this book is for you! If you love Practical Magic, House of Hollow, and/or The Raven Cycle books, then I guarantee you'll love this one just as much.

I devoured this book, the mystery of this small town and the magic that the James women possess is fascinating to read. Linden James, went missing a year ago and was found in the exact same spot she disappeared with no memory of what happened. People from Caball Hallow don't know how to take the disapperance or what to think of the James women. When another girl goes missing in the same way, Linden knows she must help.

The folklore and mystery about this town really kept me guessing until the end and I loved the family dynamic in this book and the small town romance that we dropped here and there throughout the book!

I'm super excited for the next book!

This one didn’t keep my attention. I finished it and completely forgot what it’s about. I do know I liked the food recipes and how certain feelings had connections to tastes or smell. And loved the added notes before each chapter. Still, the audio version just didn’t get me engaged in the mystery. Not for me.

Thank you penguin teen and PRH Audio for my review copies. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for Bittersweet in the Hollow. I loved the themes in this book, witchy folklore small town themes just the right notes for Fall and the October vibes. The cover reflects a kind of gothic other worldly vibe that is well developed.
My in laws are from an Applachia adjacent area so a lot of the details and style of this book really capture Southern lore, the mothmen lore (which is a funny family story about that movie and I laughed a little at the connection), and the little notes of food, language, and culture/tradition. I appreciate an author who sets these notes right, the story avoids stereotypes and caricatures and instead brings the reader into the setting.

What was great for me was a story about women and their gifts and strengths as well, I loved the focus on YA voices and empowerment as well as the movement into more intense horror/scare themes as well, I appreciate a book that can give us strong characters but also allow for them to be placed in an intense plot.

NOTE, thank you to PRH audio as well for an audiobook copy, I listened to some of this as I wanted to get the narration style in my head as a way to really fully enjoy this book. The audiobook is nicely done.

I will be looking for more from this author!

Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall was the perfect atmospheric fall spooky vibes read. This story is a mix of a family with some big secrets and hidden witchy abilities along with mothman folklore in the Appalachian Mountains, and some town mysteries that need to be solved. The writing in this book is fantastic and makes it very hard to put the book down. I was also shocked to see this was a debut novel. Way to pop off, Kate Pearsall. I cannot wait for the second installment of this dark fantasy witchy folklore series.

Thank you to Penguin Teen, NetGalley, and PRH Audio for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. Being raised in Appalachia myself, this book felt like home. The close-knit family dynamics, the superstitions, and the small town all resonated deeply. For anyone who's ever wondered what it's like growing up in a rural area, this is it.
I was immediately drawn to the characters and even more taken in once the mystery started unfolding. Sisters Rowan, Juniper, Linden and Sorrel all have their faults but would band together against the world to protect one of their own - be it from the wounds of first love or darker secrets buried in family history.
The local lore of the Moth-Winged Man woven throughout the story added an element of the supernatural perfect for reading around Halloween, even though the story is set in summer.

I would watch this as a TV show with or without the underlying mystery. Just to spend more time in Caball Hollow. I'm so excited to see it's labeled as first in a series. Fans of Practical Magic, House of Hollow put author Kate Pearsall on my radar, but this book sealed the deal. I would read any of her books without a second thought.

What’s it about?

In rural Appalachia, there exists the legend of the Moth-Winged Man. But Caball Hollow is also home to the James family, known for their special affinities for magic. Over the years, children have gone missing or died, including Linden. But Linden survived her abduction, she just has no memory of it. She’s also been apart from Cole, her blooming love interest, since that time.

And when her best friend turns up dead with no explanation, it’s all too similar to her own disappearance and others that have happened in the community before. It catapults Linden into an investigation. Linden also has gifts and can taste emotions, and she has a sister who can detect lies. And then there’s the family grimoire and the discovery of past hidden family secrets.

This book twists and turns all the way to the end, making you question what’s real, what’s deception, and what’s magic.

My thoughts:
I loved that this book was set in Appalachia. It is perfectly narrated by Reagan Boggs who narrates with a gentle Southern accent. (I hate it when the Southern accent is overdone).

Linden is an interesting character, and I love that we discovered her past right along with her as she worked to uncover the truth about the Moth-Winged Man and the people who disappeared. I enjoyed Cole as a character, and wished for a little more page time with him.

Although a tad slow in parts, once this story picked up and clues started appearing, I really enjoyed listening to find out what would happen next.

I loved the Southernness of it all: the setting, the legends, the food, the turns of phrase. Perfection.

My only real struggle with this one is that there were a lot of characters in this book (both in the past and present), and that was somewhat hard for me to keep up with while listening on audio book.

This book is YA and perfect for fans of mysteries, especially those set in small Southern towns. And I always love tales that incorporate cryptids!

A small town setting featuring a family known for strange happenings and the town's legend of the Moth-Winged Man, Linden James and her sisters all have their unique abilities and it leads her to find her friend Dahlia murdered in the woods, one year after she herself went into the woods and came out with no memory. Linden tries to find out what Dahlia had been doing back in town and whether her podcast on the Moth-Winged Man and the previous disappearance of a boy twenty year prior had anything to do with it. The more Linden looks into it and the more she remembers, the more she realizes it's all tied into her family history and the history of the town. Overall, an atmospheric mystery with a focus on magic and the supernatural. The scenes with Linden and her sisters and family were the strongest.

Bittersweet in the Hollow is as warm hug of a book disguised as folklore horror.

I went into this one thinking I would get some spine tingling atmosphere. Those feelings were never evoked but what this story did deliver on was a heartfelt, realistic look at a family of modern day witches.I really enjoyed the depiction of Linden and her family unit. They all felt incredibly relatable and nuanced. The Appalachian folklore and community helped in making this an atmosphere that felt fully realized and intriguing. I found the plot to be somewhat predictable with an overly convoluted ending. That being said, if you are looking for a cozy read with just a touch of spooky, this one might be worthy of your TBR!

This definitely gives the epitome of dark nature horror that I absolutely love. Combined with small town mysterious vibes, this was a major win. I loved the imagery of this book and how engaging the characters were. It has the perfect mix of a mystery and fantasy book and I ate it up. This is definitely one that I will be excited to chat with others about because it was so interesting. And of course that cover! It's literally just so stunning.

this book was the perfect mystical, creepy read for samhain season❤️‍🔥 i absolutely loved the James family and would love to be in their coven🥹 there were some points when i was reading late at night that i got so creeped out!!!! the mothman is one of my most irrational fears and this book really popped off on that front LOL. overall, an atmospheric and fun read with lots of mystery and magic. literally this book was written to be read in october so you better get on it!

I loved the setting for this book. I was sold at tiny Appalachian town with a family of women who all carry special gifts. I thought all of the characters could have been developed a little more, but I did like them. I would have liked to see more of Linden’s sisters but that was silly because of how amazing they were. A year ago Linden’s relationship with her best friend Cole soured and then she went missing in the woods and returned without memory of the night. A year later and another girl is missing and Linden is haunted by the similarities. A striking difference is that girl is found dead and it is clear she was murdered. The story does progress slowly, but I felt like it worked well with the atmosphere for the story, it is a mystery but a very slow burn full of other great realistic creepy back story. I loved the way magic wove into this story that was mostly set in a world like ours.