I really loved this book. I (if you know me) love magical realism and this has it in spades. I love that it was part thriller, part lore - super great for spooky season. Can't wait for book 2.

Bittersweet in the Hollow is a mystery with a touch of magic. The women of the James family have a touch of magic, one that is a bit different for each of them. Linden's magic lets her taste emotions, and, when she feels particularly strongly about them, infuse them into other people. But something happened to her a year ago - maybe related to her magic, and maybe not - and it may be happening again. Unless she can remember what happened, however, she won't be able to understand it, much less stop it.

The magic in this novel is subtle, but the main plot is the mystery of what happened to Linden last summer, how and why it happened, and who may have caused it. There are several related mysteries in the book, all revolving around the Moth-Winged Man, a mysterious character last known to have been in the area 20 years previously, when a 4 year-old boy vanished. The clues to the mysteries are well-placed, and yet, having paid attention, the reveals were confirmations rather than surprises. Still, this is an engaging story, and appropriate for middle school to adult readers, all of whom will find something of interest.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars. Ngl I got bored. I fully thought I was going to be in love with this book. I think I’m just getting tired of the ya horror genre as a whole. A lot of it reads similarly, so it’s hard to stay interested. I like the setup, the setting, mothman is a cool thing to expand upon, but I just didn’t rlly like it. It would’ve been a lot more interesting if the sisters were bigger parts of the story. I thought it was going to be multipov. It would’ve been a lot better if each sister had chapters figuring out things that pieced together the truth. Instead, it was just Linden, and I didn’t like her that much. She’s okay, not much more. The love interest also had 0 appeal to me. Like okay, you’re a man and you exist. Do a trick or something. Impress me.

All in all, I think a lot of people would like this story, I might even have rated it 4.5 if I’d read it a year ago, but I’m just falling out of love with this type of story. Give me moreeee. I think this book has a sequel; in that case I’ll only read it if it’s another sister’s pov. Give each sister a pov and a story and I’ll push through.

Thank you netgalley for providing this arc.

Bittersweet in The Hollow is a great mystery story. The small town and characters were described so vividly, I felt as though I was there. The powers were so unique and added layers to this book that made me want to keep reading. This was such a great book.

Bittersweet in the Hollow takes place in the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia, where the James family runs a diner while also selling... unconventional cures and tinctures on the side. All James women are born with extra gifts, and Linden and her three sisters are no exception. Last year, Linden went missing and reappeared with no memory of what happened to her. This year, another girl goes missing but isn't as lucky; she turns up dead. Linden wants nothing more than to solve this case as it also means solving what happened to her a year ago.

I'm obsessed. This had the charm/creepiness factor of small towns, purported "witches" (although they don't refer to themselves as such," cold cases, murder, the Mothman??? (Referred to here as the Moth-Winged Man, but we all know who they're talking about). It's creepy, deliciously paced, and had me guessing until the last moment.

Linden is a sweet character, if a little on the naive side, but she's been pretty sheltered her whole life, so that's not too surprising. I loved her family of strong women, all with their quirks and abilities.

I wish the aspects of the Grave Watch had been explored more, as it was a bit rushed and slightly hard to follow.

I found myself enraptured in this story, and it's perfect for fall!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this book more than I thought I would. I devoured it in one day. It was a slow beginning but when it picked up, it was so investing.

I loved the James family. All the girls with their special abilities felt like other books I have read. I thought their powers were unique and they came in handy in their own strange ways. All the characters felt like real people in this book. While I know a lot of people might not like the slow pace,
It felt like watching a movie somehow.

This book gave off excellent small town vibes. The James girls were awesome and I love to see a tight knit family structure. There were so many secrets that popped up and twists I didnt see coming. Even the twist I thought I called I was wrong. It was excellent. There was a bittersweet taste to it that I loved also. The ending was hopeful and I’m interested what else could happen in another book when it felt wrapped up.

If you take Alice Hoffman, Rachel Griffin, Erin A. Craig, and Krystal Sutherland I think that’s how you come up with Kate Pearsall and Bittersweet in the Hollow. The strong familial feel and solid community setting remind me greatly of Hoffman, while the atmosphere, imagery, and strong ties to geography reminds me of Griffin. The dark, folk magic and horror of the book definitely reminds me both of Craig and Sutherland. Whatever the influences, though, this was a fantastic read that snagged my attention from the first sentences and didn’t let up until the last page.

Bittersweet in the Hollow takes place over the course of a single summer. It starts with the disappearance of the previous year’s Moth Queen, which happens to occur on the anniversary of the day our protagonist, Linden, disappeared on the night of the Moth-Winged Man celebrations (also known as the Summer Solstice) and then reappeared the next morning with no memory of what had happened the night before. The Appalachian mountains are full of missing people, but in the small town of Caball Hollow, she’s the second of what’s now three known people to have disappeared on the night of the summer solstice and the only one to have come back. This fact doesn’t help matters when everyone knows that Linden and her family aren’t exactly the same as everyone else, though not everyone is exactly aware that the women of their family are witches.

Pearsall writes absolutely lovely narrative prose. It’s at turns dreamy, cozy, soft, and warm when Linden feels safe, loved, or content. When Linden was baking, this book made me so dang hungry! I mean, I love lemon lavender shortbread, but I started craving a batch while reading this. I loved all the root and herb lore woven into the cooking and baking passages in this book. It suited the plot and added another worldbuilding layer that helped deepen the atmosphere. I also loved how Pearsall wrote about Linden's particular magical talent, because it reminded me so much of synesthesia (even though I don’t know if that type of synesthesia has been uncovered).

The book also played a good game of whodunit, in more ways than one. Not only because we had to guess “folktale or reality” and “who attacked Linden last summer” (or were they one and the same?), but because even then we had a few different candidates for the win and I was down to three until the turn. It’s rare for a book to catch me like that, so I was pleased. It’s no fun guessing the perp early on.

This was a great read for a cloudy, fall day, but it was simply a terrific read overall.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, ideas, and views expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Coming of Age/Folk Horror/Supernatural Fantasy/YA Fiction/YA Horror/YA Mystery/YA Thriller

4.5 stars rounded up! This book was fantastic! It had me guessing the entire time. The web that was weaved in this mystery was very intricate and I could not figure out where it was going. I love the magic that this family possessed. Loved the folklore of the tiny town. Overall I just really enjoyed the story. It was a great setting for spooky season!

A family of women with enhanced senses anchors this well defined cast of characters. The town of Caball Hollow and it's surrounding forests set an excellent backdrop for these women and the mysteries that have plagued the town for decades. Within the deepest shadows of the forest live the legends of stories told to the young by those who know what has gone before and will come again.
Kate Pearsall has done an excellent job of layering the forest stories until just the idea of entering has most keeping to the streets and sidewalks of town. When one of the sisters was taken, then returned, her ordeal was wiped from her mind. She has no clear memories but her senses tell her that "something" lives....and kills....in the trees. This story line was accompanied by the creepy music in my head that signals some serious haunting is about to happen. This book creeped me out enough that I know my horror loving buddies are going to LOVE it !!!!

I love the folky themes and atmosphere of this novel. Small town vibes, family of gifted women--it was just so atmospheric and the setting and characters really came to life for me. I loved the mystery aspects threaded through this, and I think the mystery was balanced really well with character development and world-building. I really loved this, and it's definitely a book I've since recommended and I absolutely cannot wait for more! (I saw one GR that there is a book #2 in the works! Super excited!)

4.5 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


I loved the Appalachian folklore themes of this novel. Pearsall has given us a glimpse into a small town and a family of women with special gifts.

The James sisters were all born with gifts. In Caball Hollow they are known for being able to tend to the sick. Generations of James women have been using natural methods of healing and divination to help others.

Linden tastes feelings. And this is her story.

Many years ago a young boy went missing in the forest. Last summer, Linden went missing. Thankfully Linden was found. But now it’s the summer solstice and the Moth Festival. Linden’s former best friend Dahlia is back in town. After the Moth Festival, Dahlia goes missing. Is this going to be another case like when Linden went missing? Can Linden enlist the help of her three sisters to help find her friend before it’s too late?

Amazing story. Classified as YA, I think more than YA readers would truly enjoy this one. I certainly did.

In a rural town surrounded by a vast forest, four sisters with unusual abilities investigate the mysterious disappearances in their secluded town and discover secrets best left buried. In the rural town of Cabal Hollow, the James women are all gifted with special abilities.The story follows Linden James, one of the sisters who had disappeared for a night and returned with no recollection of what happened to her... but now another girl has disappeared in a sequence of events that were similar to what happened to Linden... except she is dead and Linden is alive. Linden is determined to uncover what happened to the girl and what happened to her, but that means getting the help of her ex best friend, the golden boy of the town and the mayjor's son Cole, the same boy who broke her heart after she returned from her incident. Linden has the ability to taste people's feelings. Their town is surrounded by rumors of the Moth-winged Man, said to haunt the Hollow... but the more she digs the more secrets unravel and when the truth comes out, will she be able to handle it? This one is the first book in a series and while it's a small town mystery with a tiny bit of romance, it just felt lackluster to me. I wasn't that invested in the mystery and the story features four sisters but they all kind of blend together and we barely get any moments with Cole and his relationship with Linden and he was the most interesting aspect of the story. While the first book wraps up in a way that could be ended without having to go onto the second one I was intrigued by Hadrien and his potential story but didn't care for his relationship potential with Rowen (seriously she really just wasn't that interesting and I wanted to like her so much). Overall, this book just felt kind of slow and bland despite it being a mystery set in a small town with supernatural elements. I don't think I'll be continuing on with the series but if you enjoy small town mysteries with second chance romance and a bit of supernatural elements, give this a go, maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

How do I put into words how enthralled and immersed I felt myself reading this book? It is a murder mystery, thriller and whodunnit entwined with witchcraft and folklore of Appalachia. It is reminiscent of “A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder” and “Practical Magic.” If you liked those stories, you might find yourself loving this one.

It’s a short review because there isn’t anything I didn’t like about it. I truly enjoyed every page, every word, and every turn in the plot that happened. I would definitely tell you to find it, pick it up, and read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books and Kate Pearsall.

This cover is so pretty! Set in Appalachia, I am in! Add in the magic and the moth man and I needed this book! I was not disappointed at all. It was such a ride! I did not see the twists coming. I had suspicions but was a tad bit off. I love the James women. They are a close family even if they are stubborn and have secrets. All families have secrets. I highly recommend this one. I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I did not get to read this book before it expired on my NetGalley app but I did think it sounded like a book I would like. I will probably buy a physical copy to read.

This novel was okay. There was a unique take on a magical family that felt similar to Practical Magic. It did a pretty good job of misdirection that allowed the reveal of the killer to feel a tad surprising. The lore with the Moth Winged Man had great potential, and the reveal of being the killed boy was a shock. The killer was very ruthless, and I enjoyed how the stakes were amped up. The tension just took to long.

Honestly, it was hard to push through because the entire first half needed to be condensed, if not cut. I only became invested at her friend's funeral. Starting the novel with the cooking scene wasn't the hook it needed. It took me a week to get through the first 10%. The novel would have been stronger starting at the festival. It may have been even stronger emphasizing a show not tell style. There was too much stating what the audience should be concluding. Furthermore, the characters lacked a sense of personality. There was a lot of comparisons to House of Hollow but this novel didn't hit as well.

The novel managed to have too much going on while simultaneously having nothing going on. I gave some grace since it's YA, but it isn't something I'd reread.

I appreciate your trust, and can't wait for the next one.

Very reminiscent of The House of Hollow and Wilder Girls, Bittersweet in the Hollow will have you trying to understand what is actually is happening in this town and who really is evil- people making decisions they think will help their loved ones but not fully understanding the consequences.

I loved every second of this story. I wish I could go back and start it over again. The sisters relationship was so fun- loved when they did chores together.

Big thanks to Putnam's Son Books For Young Readers, and author Kate Pearsall to advanced copy for honest review.

In the small town of Caball Hollow, which is nestled in the beautiful National Forest of West Virginia live four sisters, the James Sisters. They try and live their lives low key, just running the diner, The Harvest moon and staying out of way of rumors of the townsfolk. Trying to uncover what happened to her in the woods a year ago, Linden's friend goes missing on the anniversary and now its time to figure what people are hiding. What does her family and the small town have in common? In this whodunnit, twisty tale with a dash of magical realism, there are just some things that need to be kept secret. 5 stars, highly recommend and love the added gardening tips!

If you're a fan of Erica Waters (known for The River Has Teeth and Ghost Wood Song), this novel is a must-read for you. It masterfully Mothman lore with a small-town mystery.
Linden James, despite her family's strong ties to witchcraft and her father being the sheriff, can't remember the previous summer's events. Haunted by nightmares and pushing away those closest to her, Linden's world takes a sinister turn when her childhood best friend returns to their hometown for an annual festival. This friend hints that Linden's story is far more complex than she realizes, but she vanishes before she can reveal the truth, later turning up dead.

Determined to unravel the mysteries surrounding her friend's death, a decades-old missing persons case, and the connection to her own lost memories, Linden embarks on a mission for the truth, even seeking assistance from her former love interest.

I loved the rich portrayal of Appalachian folklore and landscapes. The powerful witch family also has unique abilities and Linden's ability is to taste emotions--which is a fresh way to change up interpersonal interactions. The author also employs a brilliant narrative technique by beginning some chapters with what resembles a witch's Farmer's Almanac. These sections describe the month, moon phases, seasonal garden varieties, and even a sort of horoscope, providing a unique perspective on the passage of time.

This YA thriller didn't disappoint!

Linden cannot remember the events of the previous summer solstice. And when a similar situation takes place and her friend is found dead, she starts to think was also a murder target. As she tries to uncover the mysteries surrounding her missing memories and her friend's death, she finds a connection with a long missing boy from her community and the urban legend of the Moth-Winged man. How many secrets can people keep before the truth comes spilling out?

I found this to be quite the compelling read, and the small town story interlaced with urban folklore and closely held secrets always speaks to me. I eat it up every time.

Thank you to the Penguin Young Readers and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC