Tamar is 50 years old, recently divorced and coming to terms with her new life in a positive and sensible way. Then she awakes to find her ill mother standing over her bed, returning the fears of her childhood from both her mother and the horror of the house. But Tamar lives alone and her mother is supposed to be in a assisted living home. Her mother is soon kicked out, her removal surrounded by mystery of a nearby death and an unsettled manager. Tamar ran away when she was a teen to escape her mother only to find herself middle aged and taking her mother into her house. As soon as this happens she starts experiencing strange and unexplainable events, starting with lights flickering and cupboards opening, soon she finds herself sleepwalking and matter just get worse. Whilst dealing with her abusive past, she must also try and manage the new horrors that are occurring and even worse, find a way to save herself from the fate she was handed down from generations.

A current and past relationship between Tamar and her mom! It is very toxic and abusive! Tamar has tried to move on and now her mom Ruth, is back in her life.

If a house could love, it had not loved her. That was one truth, and here was another. Her old house had never been haunted. It had always been her mother.

Tamar finished with a self -conscious laugh. "That's how I feel about my mother. I don't love her, and my heart is bitter because of it, but I want her to love me. I'm starving for her to love me. So I keep eating my own bitter heart."

Does Tamar find closure? Stay with the story which has an incredible ending!

Traumatic, Psychological and Unbearable at times! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This book will be released 9/17/24.

A dark story about a profoundly damaged family that is also, it seems, haunted by a terrible dark presence that stayed dormant for years before returning to wreak havoc. There's a lot of tension, grief, and trauma here, interwoven with the supernatural aspect, and the strongest parts for me were the ones relating to the toxic, fractured relationship between a mother and her daughter.

Tamar is a very complicated protagonist. I found myself time and again questioning her motives and goals. Which is great for this story. The mother is just as enigmatic that the more you learn, the more you need to know. As you get further into the story, it progresses into this chilling and unsettling story of a grown woman grasping for the love of her mother. There's creepy moments, unsettling truths, and monstrous intentions behind everything. Would recommend.

Bitter Is The Heart by Mina Hardy is perfect for fans of Mothered by Zoje Stage. It follows Tamar, who after a traumatic childhood wanted nothing to do with her mother.
However when an incident happens at the assisted living facility where her mother lives, Tamar is faced with no other option but to take her mother in for a temporary period of time. Tamar's childhood trauma comes rushing back with each strange occurrence she experiences with her mother.
This book was tense. It wasn't necessarily scary, but the subject matter can be hard to read at times. I felt bad for everything Tamar she went through as a kid.

I also loved the psychological aspect of this book. It really left you to ponder-is this all in Tamar's head or is something supernatural truly going on? I honestly began to question who was really "losing it" during some scenes in this book.
Is this one on your radar?

Pick it up when it comes out September 17th.

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed this story and it had some real chilling scenes. The story just didn't flow properly for me. But there was so much potential for it to be a brilliant horror story, so I am looking forward to seeing how this author grows as a horror writer. I am looking forward to her next novel.

Oooooh boy, is there some shit to unpack in this novel. Let's go!

If you love absolutely messy, over the top family dysfunction, especially one with an emphasis on mother/daughter relationships, this is THE book. Add in some possession/haunting and religion and there's a whole lot going on.

This one is NOT your typical horror. It is not scary in that spine-tingling, can't sleep without the lights on kind of way. That being said, it doesn't mean that this book isn't deeply disturbing and unhinged, because it absolutely is. Our FMC is honestly kind of a wreck all around, and when she's forced to allow her abusive and potentially mentally ill mother stay with her when she's kicked out of her retirement home, things get spectacularly strange so quickly.

The pacing in the middle of the book is pretty slow, there are short bursts of excitement, then we're right back into a slower burn. However, the end is totally worth it and I'm so glad I saw it all the way through.

I also loved the religious aspect. The main character is Jewish, and while I can't speak to the accuracy of the portrayal of Judaism, I learned so much and found it so interesting to have a possession that was unaffected by the typical Christian/Catholic means of resolution. I've never read anything like it before and would love to read more haunting stories that are not centered around Christianity.

I absolutely recommend you give this one a read if you are a fan of paranormal/family horror!

This book can be eerie at times as it tells a story about generational trauma, abuse, and substance addictions. It's not a scary story, but it can be disturbing. I think some people will be able to relate to certain aspects of this. If that's you, I hope you're like Tamar and can find your peace and happiness. It's a long journey, but it can be a good one.

I love a good horror book once in a while even if it’s not my absolute favorite which is why I requested this book. Now, I very rarely give less than four stars because I’m almost always entertained by books and can ignore little things that annoy others. I think I’m in a sort of book slump because I couldn’t ignore the slowness in the middle of this book. Tamar also really annoyed me, too, even while I felt for her. I hate it when characters lie to themselves, and Tamar really does. I did find the relationship between Tamar and Ruth interesting, and if there wouldn’t have been any paranormal at all, this might have been a better book, concentrating on generational abuse and addiction. Anyway, this is a well-written book with an interesting plot, but the pacing in the middle was way too slow for me and the end was kinda too fast after the slowness. I also wish we would have found out more in the end. I sometimes couldn’t keep my attention on the pages because it was so slow, but other than that, I think this would have been at least a four star from me. 3 ½ stars. It’s OK. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This book was a wild ride. It started off with a disturbing moment that really made me say “wtf…” but also caught my attention.

The premise of this book was so strong, but at times, I felt like the story line fell flat for me. I loved the FMC, even though she was a bit of a mess. This book really drives you on a cripples relationship between mother and daughter, alcoholism, hatred, and a whole lot of paranormal chaos.

This book also has a lot of talk about religion, so if that’s not your cup of tea, this book might drag a bit for you. The FMC is Jewish, and growing up, she was never shown how to celebrate Judaism, so you learn a bit of that throughout the book.

The last 20% of the book was a lot of chaos and was very fun to read. It had the best ending, definitely felt like the author did the story justice.

This book is definitely not going to be for everyone, there are moments of violence in the book, but overall, I didn’t find the book “scary” a lot of parts were just gross…like turned my stomach gross, which I wasn’t expecting.

I’d say I would recommend this book for the right audience.

Not really a review because I didn't finish.
I requested this book because I found the blurb intriguing and falls under horror (Netgalley has given me the opportunity to read some really good horror books).

The beginning of this book was really good but then it felt like a drag. Too slow for this genre. Didn't feel like a horror story. Very disappointed. Thank you for the copy. Sorry it didn't work for me.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Mina Hardy, and NetGalley for the ARC.

It always bums me out when a book didn't resonate because I know how much time and effort goes into crafting a novel. Reviews and ratings are completely subjective so my experience with this book could be the polar opposite of your own.

The synopsis for this book sounded right up my alley, and admittedly it started off pretty strong... but my enjoyment fizzled out pretty quickly. The entire middle portion just felt like filler to me with no real plot advancement. So we know Ruth is possessed/haunted/mentally unwell... and she does some spooky stuff. And then we have about ten more chapters of her doing a random spooky thing, our protagonist being far too unbothered by it, and nothing changes. It felt like one chapter after another of random paranormal experience, nothing being done about it, nothing learned or developed, no raising stakes. And suddenly boom, we have a big flashy ending. The pacing was really off.

The explanation provided for why Tamar accepts her mother's behaviour is because Tamar endured far worse as a teen. Multiple characters allude to it MANY, MANY, MANY times in the first 2/3 of the book. I don't understand why that would make Tamar (now a 50 year old woman) accept horrible treatment... just because things were MORE awful when she was 18? Surely knowing how bad it got when she was younger would make her take swifter action now as an adult before things progress to that level again? Sure enough, an event that took place when she was 18 happens again when she is 50 and she is so upset about it. Shocking. Okay, whatever. I was waiting for the big reveal of what really happened when she was a teenager since it was literally alluded to dozens of times.... and that was it?

So I'm giving it 2 stars. The writing was fine, there was some fun moments at the beginning and the end, and I appreciated seeing this story through the lens of Judaism for once. However, I think this story didn't have enough meat to justify a full-length novel. A short story or novella would have served this much better and cut out literally a third of the book where I was waiting for anything to move the plot forward.

While this was a very slow-burn horror novel that not everyone would appreciate, I absolutely loved it. It wasn't solely horror but a story of the complicated relationship of a mother and her daughter attempting to reconcile their past while still holding grudges. This was eerie, with a lurking sense of dread felt throughout the entire read. I really admired that with a story like this, it didn't go with the usual catholicism, but with Judaism, educating the reader on their beliefs and practices. If you aren't exactly religious like myself, I promise that won't put you off in the least. This author took her time telling this story, letting the anticipation of what's to come slowly build, and for this particular read, that slow pace worked in its favor. Haunting, tragic, and downright creepy, this was a perfect read for horror fans. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, for this ARC.

What a very strange book. It’s more of a disturbing horror than a thrilling one.
I received this as an arc so the numbers in the sentences were a bit off. For me.
I’m not even sure what to say about the book without giving away a great deal. I’m also torn between liking the book and not liking it. I was not a fan of the ending. It wrapped up so quickly I don’t like how it finished. It seemed way too much going on and not enough to tie it together. I am a huge horror fan so I think that’s the part I enjoyed the most. I liked the possession aspect of it. But it doesn’t really delve into the why of it all.
If you enjoy dark and disturbing horror I would definitely suggest trying this book out and see what you think.

this is tamer and lovey story. we follow tamer as she fin the truth about her mother and her family history. i felt like tamer was a complex character. the whole book has a sense of unease to it. really good thank you net galley

Mina Hardy's novel, 'Bitter Is the Heart,' is not your usual kind of horror, psychological or otherwise. This is a disturing book, no doubt about it, with high-quality writing, perfect for people who enjoy nasty twists, perhaps even appropriate for a thriller-loving audience as well. But there are several caveats before targeting non-horror audiences: the book is incredibly slow, it's repetitive, and requires extreme patience from the reader to arrive finally at the proper payoff. On the other hand, even when one reads the interminable monologues, it's easy to appreciate the chilling atmosphere, the mysterious plotlines, the suspenseful build-up. I enjoy slow burns and this kind of (literary, yet easy to read) writing. My single complaint would be that I'd preferred less ambiguity; it made me ambivalent about the ending. I expected something like "The Taking of Deborah Logan," and it wasn't that. Still, the theme of the "toxic mother" was handled skillfully and the ending did satisfy. So I'm a Mina Hardy fan for sure!

DNF’d at 51%
This started out so strong but the middle was such a slog, and was very repetitive. I love a slow-burn but this was felt more like a case of dragging the story out, and I just lost l motivation to finish it.

While this isn't horror in the traditional sense, it is certainly still disturbing and I appreciated to Judaism representation. A fascinating premise that fell a tad short in execution. The pacing seemed a little off which made it difficult to engage with the story. Even still, I enjoyed the writing and see strong potential within the author and would read future works of hers.

Mina Hardy compels the reader to ask the question was Mommie Dearest evil at her core OR was Mommie Dearest perhaps possessed?

Bitter is the Heart follows the life of Tamar and her sister Lovey. Both grew up in an abusive household with a mother who was an alcoholic. Lovey grew up to live up to her name - a wife, mother, and caregiver to their mother. Tamar left home and succumbed to a failed marriage and alcoholism. As life returns Tamar to her childhood town, Lovey is swept across the country as her husband begins a new job. Now Tamar must start life as the new caregiver to their mother - something she finds difficult as childhood memories resurface and strange things start happening in her home.

As the story unfolds, Tamar learns the truth about her mother and the heritage of her family. The question becomes - does she have the strength to do what needs to be done to protect herself?

Bitter Is The Heart:A Novel
by: Mina Hardy
Crooked Lane Books
due 9-17-24
3.5 stars

Tamar is awoken one morning by someone at her door.. Somehow, her mother, Ruth,who Tamar has not seen in years, has escaped her assisted living facility, and has landed on her doorstep. Tamar has not seen her mother in years, fleeing her childhood home after years of emotional and psychological abuse when her mother physically hits her. Tamar has lived on her own since.
Ruth begin her abusive behavior towards Tamar again, this time Tamar is an adult. But she finds it hard to defend herself, and has a substance abuse problem that doesn't help. As her mother gets more abusive.....but who is going to believe her?

A book of psychological terror, and chilling, disturbing mother/daughter relationships. The pacing is what sinks this book. It starts out really good and the ending is pretty good, but the middle is hard to get through. The representation of Judaism and generationalabuse are the best parts of this.

A good book, parts are great, but overall it is slow.
Thanks to #NetGalley for sending this ARC e-book for review
#NetGalley #BitterIsTheHeart