"Bitter Texas Honey" is a sharp study of influence—whether from toxic friends, dysfunctional families, substances, or opposing political views that push you to pick sides. It's a story of being shaped by those around us and navigating the haze of addiction, all while exploring what it means to be a writer or muse. At the same time, it's a sucker punch at the hypocrisy ingrained in American society.

Though I'm not usually a fan of chapter titles in general fiction, they worked brilliantly here. Joan's perspective—surrounded by terrible people, longing to fit in—was refreshingly different from my own. Despite an unlikeable cast, including Joan herself, their flaws make the book compelling, and the pages practically turn themselves. You can't help but wonder if Joan will finish her work or evolve as a character.

While I did. at times, dislike Joan, though not as much as other reviewers, I primarily felt sorry for her. I came to understand her, despite her flaws. She reminded me of someone I once knew, and reading about Joan helped me understand that person’s past toxic behavior, realizing it may have been a result of being utterly lost, yet privileged enough to recover over and over.

With fully developed characters and almost none of the usual debut missteps, it's a fantastic read. I did struggle a bit with the timeline, but it didn’t take away from the story’s impact.

I can’t wait to see what Whitaker writes next!
+4☆

Big thanks to the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, the author & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Ashley Whitaker's premier novel, Bitter Texas Honey, had me in a tight grip from the first chapter. A young conservative from Texas, Joan is struggling to finish her novel...or short story compilation...or collection of poignant haikus. She wants to make her mark on the world, but may be obstructing her own path, whatever it is supposed to be. This book chronicles her process through (her own as well as others') addiction issues, self-worth, and crazy family problems. I fell in love with the problematic Joan: ruining her own life, picking herself up again, being great at so many things, but struggling to make anything stick.

I'm very tempted to include my favorite quotes in passages, but won't spoil the story for anyone who plans to read it, (and everyone should plan to read it). Here's what I can promise: You'll see your family members, coworkers, friends, and lovers in this book. You'll fall in love, laugh, and break your own heart as you intertwine your stories with theirs. You won't soon forget the characters, and you'll learn quite a bit about yourself as you watch Joan do the same.

I can't wait for the next novel (....or short story....or haiku) by this author.

This didn’t quite land for me, despite the comparisons to Fleabag. While Joan, the main character, is indeed chaotic and full of contradictions, I didn’t feel the same wit or depth that typically draws me to that comparison. I went into this expecting sharp satire and dark humor, but what I got was a story that didn’t feel satirical enough to really hit home.

Joan, a self-proclaimed conservative rebel, felt more like a nepo-baby trying to justify her messy life than a character I could root for. While I could see how the book aimed to poke fun at her Tea Party Republican family and her own inner turmoil, it just didn’t come together in a way that felt satisfying. I found myself struggling to sympathize with Joan’s conflicts, and her narrative often felt more exhausting than engaging.

That said, the writing does have its moments of humor and cleverness, especially when it comes to Joan’s dysfunctional family dynamics and her relationship with her father. If you enjoy stories centered around chaotic family drama, you might find something to enjoy here, but for me, the satire and character development didn’t quite hit the mark. I did finish it and find things I liked and I know for sure that many readers will love it, it was just a near miss for me!

This book was hilarious and so deeply set in satire that I could not decipher if the author is a Democrat or Republican. The publisher was correct in comparing this to Fleabag. I'm glad Joan got a sort of redemption arc, although I'm pissed Roberto published a book before Joan did. Justice for Joan!

Bitter Honey is a debut novel that takes place 2011. It's an important point as politics are almost a character amongst the family. Our protagonist is Joan West show is a wanna-be author without a voice or a story to write. Once a radical lefty, she dropped out of college and accepted the warm embrace of her conservative Texan family.

Joan is now interning (unpaid of course) living off her family's dime and cataloging her every interaction with men (she is sworn off women) to hopefully mine a vein of a story. I laughed but felt some of the politics were forced. I am not sure, maybe a lighter touch and more springy description. I just might not be the right reader as many enjoy an unlikeable narrator (not me!)

There is another answer of course! Maybe this is just a little too much like myself - highly critical, reflexively defensive, rarely reflective and still waiting for that big moment to happy. This is a novel for anyone who likes an unlikeable narrator and a 20's something search for purpose!
#penguingroup #penguinbooks #bittertexashoney #ashleywhitaker

I wanted to root for Joan, but my god was she so unlikeable and that’s what made this such a fun read! A nepo baby of an audio recording school, an adderall addicted writer with nothing to show for her years of “work,” and literally a nightmare at love - Joan is so fun to follow just wondering how she is going to mess up next! She judges everyone around her so harshly, but she doesn’t appear to be capable of self reflection except maybe one or two moments that she quickly shakes off because she refuses to truly see herself. Her relationship with Wyatt is the highlight of the book for sure and I wish we had gotten more of it because it felt like coming home to hear the cousin shit talk about the rest of the family (while also being complete messes themselves). Overall, this was such a strong debut and I really enjoyed the mess and the honesty!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers and author for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️ I liked this debut novel but it just felt very chaotic at times and it kinda lost me in the way…

But what I did like is the author’s descriptions of Joan’s life and how she was trying to navigate that very confusing time in your early 20’s.

Good debut! I will keep my eye out for Whitaker’s future work.

TW: Suicide

This was a great book! I loved the emotion and the thought provoking writing from the author. I enjoyed this book and read it quickly, thank you for this book! It kept me interested the whole time

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

I could not put this book down. Joan’s journey as a writer, daughter, cousin and friend is so deeply engaging. This book starts as a curious view into Joan’s romantic and writing life and ultimately delivers so much more than that. I really appreciated how nuanced her family is and how much depth that added to her story and character growth. This book is a great fit for fans of My Year of Rest & Relaxation and Margo’s Got Money Trouble.

A perfect articulation of how strongly we are a product of our environments and habits. Joan will stick with me for a long time.

If you love The Royal Tenenbaums and Fleabag, you'll also adore Bitter Texas Honey.
Set in 2011, Joan is a nepobaby of a recording studio father and an ex-addict mother named Dolly. Wyatt is her lovable yet troubled cousin, and he is great. Joan and Wyatt made quite the pair, and the only downside to this was I wish there had been more shenanigans this duo had gotten up to. This story is set in Texas and my God- that is so real, and true to form. Joan is a newly established convert to conservatism, so she finally feels like she fits in at family dinners and whatever church meetings she may have to attend. Roberto is another focus of this book- does Joan love him, does she hate him? Either way, she fights to race him to finish her book before he does. This book is wildly original, quick paced, and contains multiple characters who are just a delightfully hot mess.
Thanks so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eArc!

I was sold on *Bitter Texas Honey* when I saw it described as “Fleabag-esque” — dark comedy set in Texas? Sign me up. I'm a sucker for hilarious, absurd books, and this one did not disappoint.

Ashley Whitaker's debut is compulsively readable, blending sharp humor with the messy realities of life. The protagonist is full of wit and flaws, making her both endearing and frustrating at times, but that’s what kept me hooked. The humor is absurd in the best way, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.

That said, the ending doesn’t tie everything up with a neat little bow, but honestly, that’s life. Sometimes things just are, and I appreciated Whitaker’s refusal to give us a too-tidy resolution. If you're into dark, funny, and a little bit chaotic, *Bitter Texas Honey* is worth picking up!

I will read anything that suggests it’s Fleabag-esque. Joan is not nearly as charming as Fleabag but her one-sided competition with a former lover to publish a novel before he does made me laugh. Overall, this is an intriguing read featuring a young woman with low self-awareness and high drama. 3.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Dutton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Unfortunately a DNF for me. I couldn’t tell if this was an introspection on political alignment ? Or republican fan fiction.
The writing was good, but I just don’t think I can resonate with a story about a “conflicted republican” enough to read through 300 pages.

Thank you for the opportunity, and I hope this finds its readers!

Best example of unlikable and unreliable narrator "ie ever seen. Such an entertaining look into Joan's life and all the things that make her horribly her (but she'll find a way to justify them anyway).

Bitter Texas Honey is the story of a young, drunk addicted, Republican ( former liberal) whose the heir to a trade school for sound recording. Her exploits include competing ( only to her) against a fellow writer and lover to publish a book, spiraling through writing about past family trauma and all the ups and downs with the relationships in her life. I truly enjoyed how raw and honest this story is, while also satrically hilarious. Her very real experiences with loss and finding yourself in your twenties is very relatable, no matter what party side you lie on.

This novel presents an intriguing, if somewhat uneven, exploration of identity, politics, and personal growth in the early 2010s. The protagonist, Joan West, stands at a crossroads between her family's conservative values and her former liberal ideals, which makes for a compelling character study. The contrast between her past and present selves—once a radical leftist, now a more conservative intern—is sharply drawn, though, at times, the transitions in her mindset feel abrupt and underdeveloped.

One of the novel's strengths is its portrayal of family dynamics. Joan’s dysfunctional family, particularly her cousin Wyatt, adds emotional weight to the narrative. Wyatt’s financial troubles and the crisis he faces inject some much-needed urgency and tension into the plot, forcing Joan to confront her own values and assumptions.

Overall, the novel captures a unique moment in time, focusing on a young woman grappling with political and personal contradictions. It offers a thoughtful, if occasionally flawed, meditation on self-discovery and the often messy process of becoming who we truly are.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A big thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this ARC for an honest review. This was a quick read, with an appropriate amount of tension to keep the reader turning the pages. I say it was quick because the storyline was very engaging from the beginning. The author does a great job of time progression without neglecting the protagonist’s past.

The official description notes that this is a debut novel.

“The Royal Tenenbaums meets Fleabag in this hilarious and dizzyingly smart debut about an over-the-top evangelical Texan family—and the daughter at its center racing to finish her very important novel before her ex-boyfriend finishes his.”

This doesn’t read like a debut at all. It’s very well crafted, dialogue is pitch perfect, and there aren’t the typical grammatical distractions often found in an author’s juvenilia. Whitaker did an amazing job of fleshing out her characters—not an easy task given the complexity of their political differences—and you could sense the turmoil that they felt at their core.

Looking forward to Whitaker’s future work.

Bitter Texas Honey by Ashley Whitaker is an absolute delight! The story is a perfect blend of romance, small-town charm, and a touch of drama that kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with just the sweetness and complexity. The Texas setting is beautifully described, adding a warm, cozy atmosphere to the story. Whitaker’s writing is smooth and engaging, making it easy to get lost in her created world. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a heartfelt romance with a bit of grit. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly - this book was so hilarious and heartfelt at the same time that I was simultaneously laughing while crying on more than one occasion. The best way I could describe it would be if Wes Anderson wrote the Righteous Gemstones. It had that dry, arid Texas feel but was drenched with evangelism and the wackiest family to the left of the Mississippi. The retorts were next level, the story itself incredibly zany, and despite all of that, you'll feel it tug on your heartstrings at each and every turn. Five stars from me!

I like the cover more than the story. I tried, but I couldn't connect with this book. I will try again because the writing is good, it just didn't feel good reading this. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.