I haven’t read a book this fast in ages! I’ve never read a thriller either, and while this isn’t exactly a true thriller, it’s definitely spooky enough to make you want to turn on the lights and read with the spooky lights on. I really enjoyed the James women, and I’m really hoping this will become a series because I love witchy books, and this was just so good! I’ll be racking my brain for a while to think about this one. It’s a bit slow-paced at first, but then you’re off and running in the mountains of West Virginia, trying to figure out what’s going on with the James sisters. There are some twists that I genuinely don’t see coming, and there’s just enough weird fantasy to keep me on the edge of my seat all the way through. Pick this up!

Thrilling, this novel kept me completely enthralled from page one as the mystery continued to unfold!

This was really great! The world building is fantastic! This was a really enjoyable book I would recommend! Special Thank You to Kate Pearsall, Penguin and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved being transported to Caball Hollow. This was such a thrilling, dark mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. The regional folklore and family secrets kept this book interesting. Would definitely recommend if you enjoy supernatural with a southern twist.

A suspenseful and atmospheric contemporary fantasy. If you like the female family dynamics of The Raven Boys’ 300 Fox Way, highly recommend picking up this book!

4-4.5 stars. Set in the Appalachian mountains, 2 generations of James women are known for their healing and mountain magic. Each sister has an unusual ability and the family harbors secrets from their neighbors and from each other. A girl goes missing and is found dead, motivating Linden to investigate her murder as well as the family secrets. Setting, world-building, and characters are all very well done. The plot was intriguing, if a little confusing in some places. I quite enjoyed this mystery with its supernatural elements, regional folklore, and a touch of romance.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Wanted to enjoy this one but just couldn't get into it, I'm so sorry. It sounded so good, I love stories about siblings, especially siblings united by and bonds strengthened through special talents and abilities but I wasn't interested and had to set this one down.

She’s always been a little different from everyone else outside of her family, but never felt like an outsider until the night she went missing. Even though it was only for a few hours, Linden has no memory of what happened or where she went. That night a blank space to her, and a tantalizing mystery to everyone else. The James women always seemed unnaturally gifted—but gifted enough to catch the attention of the legendary MothWinged Man?

Linden doesn’t know—doesn’t want to know. She just wants to move on. But when one of her friends goes missing on the anniversary of her own disappearance, Linden can’t ignore the connection. Could the MothWinged Man have taken them both? Then why return Linden? And why does it seem like Linden’s family holds all of the answers—and the power—to stop it from happening again?
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I absolutely loved this. An absolutely incredible read. It’s filled with magical realism, deep characters, rich Southern dialogue, engaging visualization, and quite a lot of intrigue surrounding the infamous cryptid, the Mothman. Pearsall did a wonderful job weaving this paranormal mystery together. The plot was captivating, the twists and turns were both poignant and nuanced, and the ending wrapped everything up perfectly. I loved this from start to finish. Highly recommend!

This book was like a perfect mix of spooky vibes and heartwarming moments. It's one of those reads that just grabs you and doesn't let go. The mystery and paranormal stuff in there? Nailed it. I was totally into it.

Now, let's talk family drama and generational stuff. This book dives into some deep topics, but what really got me was the relationships. The siblings and their folks – the dynamics were just gold. Slowly peeling back the layers to see how they're alike and totally different, it was like unwrapping a mystery of its own.

The plot? Solid. Twists and turns that keep you guessing, but the pace? It's a slow burn, for sure. Not complaining, though. The unraveling of the truth was worth it. This whole southern gothic/paranormal/historical vibe? Loved it. And Linden, the main character? She's a boss. Her journey, figuring out the past and present, had me hooked.

And the eerie factor? Man, it stuck with me. This book left a vibe that lingered, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. The touch of magic wasn't over the top, but it was woven in really well. If you're into gothic/horror with a Southern twist, or just love a bit of witchy magic and loads of atmosphere, seriously, grab this book.

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.