Bitter Sweet was an honest and multidimensional reflection on navigating grief, relationships, friendships, and career in your twenties. As someone who has lost their mom as well, Charlie’s feelings of grief deeply resonated with me. This is one of those books that reminds me of the James Baldwin quote, “you think your pain and heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read”. Williams wrote a story that elicits empathy and hope.

An unflinching look at a selfish, obsessive love affair that is merciless in the way it pulls in the reader.

Charlie is an unreliable narrator. At 23 years old, Charlie has plenty of supportive people in her life - friends, classmates, her father - but she sees herself as worthless and disposable. Still reeling after the death of her mother, Charlie retreats.

But when she finds herself working with an award winning novelist and hero, who is more than two decades her senior, she’s sort up in a love affair. The power imbalance is immediately in play here; he’s cruel and egotistical, taking what he wants from Charlie. And yet, Charlie is complicit, dependent on him, reliant on him, selfish in her own ways.

It’s a book to consume you, even as you cringe.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read Bittersweet early!

The premise of this one really caught my attention — a complicated age-gap affair between a young woman and her literary idol? Yes, please. It starts off strong, with the main character Charlie in the present day, then flashes back to how everything began with Richard, a much older writer who’s also one of her clients at the indie publishing house she works at.

While the setup was super intriguing, I struggled with the pacing. The writing is very descriptive — almost too much at times — and I found myself skimming sections because it focused so heavily on small, detailed moments that didn’t feel necessary. It made it hard to stay engaged, even though I was curious to see how things would play out.

That said, I think some readers will really enjoy the slow-burn, introspective vibe, especially if you’re into complicated power dynamics and character-driven stories. The tension between Charlie and Richard is definitely there, and the book raises interesting questions about influence, vulnerability, and ambition.

Overall, it wasn’t quite for me, but I can see why others might love it.

This book really spoke to me. Susan Cain does a beautiful job showing how sorrow, longing, and beauty are all connected, and how those emotions can actually lead to a deeper, more meaningful life.

Thank yon so much net galley and Hattie Williams for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review! I enjoyed this coming of age tale

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

This one started a bit slowly for me. In the beginning, we’re given a lot of information on not just the main character, but on the side characters as well. I was getting a bit impatient for the story to get started, but once it did, I was hooked. In the end, I realized that this setup made sense for the way this story is told—essentially, it’s Charlie looking back over this time in her life and telling us what happened, as she might a friend. This is how we tell stories to our friends as well, starting with providing all the context they’ll need to understand the story before getting into the nitty-gritty of it. When I thought of it this way, I found that I didn’t mind the slow start.

Another initial worry I had was that I was going to feel removed and unemotional throughout this story, but that was not the case at all. By the end of the book, I had grown to care a lot for Charlie and her well-being, as well as her friends and family. I especially loved how her friendships with Ophelia and Eddy were portrayed; I thought they were special, and it was moving to see the ways they supported and cared for each other.

As per usual with these kinds of stories, I was frustrated at times with the main character and her decisions, but in this case, it all made sense to me. We’re given plenty of evidence as to why Charlie would be susceptible to this kind of situation, have such a hard time seeing it for what it was, and getting herself out of it. It was believable and I understood it, which is so important in a story like this.

While I don’t think this is unlike anything I’ve read before, or that it has anything new to say about power dynamics in relationships or mental health struggles, I still think this was a worthwhile read and one that so many people could find relatable, and maybe even helpful. Charlie and her story are handled with care by Williams, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters as well as being by Charlie’s side through her journey of growth and self-discovery.

It is often wise to never meet your heroes

Charlie grew up a quiet, bookish girl, very close to her mother and prone to bouts of crippling anxiety which only her mother seemed able to fix. Her mother introduced her to the books of famed author Richard Aveling, one of the leading literary lions of Britain, and Charlie read them all voraciously. Her mother's sudden death when Charlie was sixteen was a devastating blow, one with which seven years later Charlie still struggles even as she pursues her dream career in publishing. She is ecstatic to get a job as a publicity assistant at the small but powerful Winden & Shane publishing house, which just happens to be Richard Aveling's publisher; she has two supportive friends, a good boss in Cecile, and is about to meet her longtime idol face to face. Richard is handsome and quite charming as well as talented....he also happens to be much older that Charlie, and married to boot. Despite those obstacles the two discover an attraction to one another, and soon are in a secret and ultimately toxic relationship, one that will take a terrible toll on the vulnerable and emotionally fragile Charlie. There is no way that this affair will end well...will Charlie survive it?
Bitter Sweet is a wonderfully written story of a young woman finding her way through trauma as well as the competitive field in which she works. Charlie is a damaged soul, more so than even she realizes, whose relationships are seldom healthy and never last and who always feels like she doesn't fit in wherever she finds herself. She is prone to poor eating habits, a tendency to self-medicate with alcohol and/or drugs, and is ripe to be manipulated by someone like Richard. Her desire to feel like she belongs, to be deemed worthy, is something with which many readers can empathize (although I did find her neediness a bit annoying at times). The depiction of the relationship between Charlie and Richard is honest and raw, highlighting the obvious imbalance in power between the older lauded, reknowned writer and the young woman who has idolized him for years and connects him to her feelings for her late mother, As the story charts the thrilling highs and devastating lows of the relationship which Charlie must keep hidden from the friends and co-workers who form her support network, author Hattie Williams works in mental health, self care, grief, anxiety and depression, treating each subject with fairness and compassion. Readers of Susan Choi, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Emma Cline should give this tale of heartbreak and healing a try. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for allowing me access to this poignant debut in exchange for my honest review.

A raw and compelling debut, Bitter Sweet follows 23-year-old Charlie as she dives into a toxic workplace affair with a much older, famous author. What starts as infatuation quickly spirals into manipulation, grief, and self-discovery. Williams nails the messy emotional rollercoaster, making you cringe at Charlie’s choices while still rooting for her to grow. The found‑family vibe with her friends brings warmth and hope amidst the chaos. It’s uncomfortable, poignant, and ultimately hopeful. This book is perfect for anyone who gravitates toward messy literary fiction with a strong emotional punch.

Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams is a debut title that did not disappoint.
A beautifully crafted story with characters that hooked me immediately.
The writing was effortless that you easy can fall into turning pages long after you intended to go to sleep.
Williams style is descriptive, character-driven but with an excellent mystery that will leave you gasping and wanting more.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for an advance copy.

Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams is a deep read about a woman working in publishing. I went in blind hearing so much praise. I enjoyed the story and character development. I look forward to seeing what Hattie writes next.

Bitter Sweet tells the story of Charlie who not only scores a dream job in publishing but also begins an affair with the publisher's biggest author. Despite a tricky web of power dynamics, potential career suicide, and the complicated nature of an affair with a married man thirty years her senior, Charlie is pulled into his orbit and Hattie Williams really allows Charlie to be complicated and flawed but with agency and heart.

I wasn't 100% sure I would love this book as I'm not the biggest fans of complicated power dynamic relationship stories (I may have been the only person on the planet who didn't enjoy Vladimir by Julia May Jonas, for example) but Bitter Sweet was much less focused on the relationship than on developing the character of Charlie herself. Considering how new adulthood is such a moving, complicated time, there's so much to work with here and I'm glad that Williams took the route that she did. A great read for those who love to really unpack a character's depth but maybe not the perfect fit for readers who are looking for a more original plot.

Honestly, I went in not knowing if I would like this book, but I ended up LOVING it. Charlie is a deeply complicated character, and I loved her and all of her flaws. I was rooting for her, and I loved the ending. Every character was wrapped up which is rare in books, and I loved seeing where everyone ended up. I loved the twists and turns, and this reminds me a lot of "The Rachel Accident." I highly recommend this book, and will be telling everyone to get a copy when it hits the bookstores!

Bitter Sweet is a sharp, emotionally charged debut that explores the complexities of power, vulnerability, and desire. When 23-year-old Charlie lands her dream job at a London publishing house and begins working with her literary hero, the much older and married Richard Aveling, she’s drawn into a secret affair that slowly consumes her.

What starts as admiration turns into something darker, as the imbalance of age, status, and control becomes increasingly uncomfortable. The writing is intimate and unflinching, capturing Charlie’s emotional descent with heartbreaking clarity. It was hard to watch Charlie fall deeper into a relationship that so clearly distorts her sense of self. Though difficult to read at times, the novel’s discomfort is its strength—it forces the reader to sit with the tension. Charlie is a smart, funny, and deeply human character whose flawed choices are written with nuance and empathy.

A powerful and affecting debut, Bitter Sweet is a poignant look at how easily love can blur into control, and how hard it is to find yourself again when it does. 3.5 stars rounded up. Special thanks to @netgalley and Ballentine for the ARC.

Charlie’s childhood with her mother and stepfather was simple and happy, though she suffered from debilitating anxiety and depression. Small things would reduce her to shrieking and wailing, like a comment from a classmate or an evening news report. Charlie’s mother would wrap her in her arms whispering assurances until she calmed. She was Charlie’s anchor, her ballast when storms swamped her. As Charlie grew, her mother encouraged their shared loved of books by clipping book reviews and suggesting authors. One of them was celebrity author Richard Aveling. Charlie read one of his poems at her mother’s funeral who had died unexpectedly when she was sixteen.

As Charlie faced her teens and early adulthood without her mother, normal but painful adolescent heartaches were all the more challenging. She found solace in Aveling’s writing and would indulge her feelings when reading his books. She became obsessed with him, and he became the object of her everything. When she found herself on the PR team at Aveling’s publisher, her life took an even darker turn. Aveling was a cad, but to Charlie, he was a god. When he turned his attention to her, he became the rock she had lost in her mother, the validation she had been craving.

This story is a well-worn trope with a predicable plot, but the industry in which the story lives, wonderfully drawn characters, and evocative writing combine to make this an interesting, page-turning read.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing—Ballantine and NetGalley for providing this e-galley.

this was okay for me. i've read books with similar plots/themes that did a much better job (and with more likeable characters) than this one. while the author's writing felt very preachy at certain times, that wasn't what made me uninterested in this book or ultimately what forced me to keep going despite my deep urge to dnf. the writing was actually engaging and there were moments that i really enjoyed.

it was the unbearable main character who lacked any self-awareness or sense of self (which i know is the point, but oh my god something had to give lol) and the back and forth with the taboo relationship got annoying real quick. there wasn't any real chemistry between them either! especially because richard was a complete asshole the entire time. though, i understand that at her age, it's easy to confuse lust and obsession or the attention from a successful man as love. i just didn't care for either of them nor did i connect to charlie at all.

there wasn't any character development in my opinion which added to my overall indifference to this book. i'm glad that at least in the ending, there was some hope for charlie but wow was it a journey to get there lol. there were a lot of heavy topics discussed in this book so please check your trigger warnings before reading!

In her debut novel, Hattie Williams writes a sad and uncomfortable story about a 23-year-old girl who starts an affair with her idol, a renowned author that is over twenty years older than her. What may appear to be another tale in an increasingly saturated “micro-genre” of young women making bad decisions, is a thoughtful and layered novel that explores grief, depression, and the power imbalance that occurs in relationships such as these. Williams grips you with her raw and emotional writing style and leaves you feeling distressed on every page. This was a stunning debut.

I really enjoyed this book! The pacing felt natural, I really liked Charlie as a character, and the writing was definitely reminding me of Sally Rooney. So excited to read more from this author!

The premise of this book was promising, but I was left disappointed. Charlie sees and understands how self-sabotaging her relationship with the narcissistic Richard is, but she goes for it. I understand the deeper roots of her depression and anxiety, tied to her mother's sudden death. Still, I cannot get over how she kept excusing her older lover's selfish behaviors. I know there's no perfect protagonist, but Charlie just took it too far for my taste.

From a writing perspective, I also thought there was too much exposition and not enough character evolution. I had to push myself HARD not to DNF this book because I was hoping Charlie would reach some great revelation, but it never came. Also, everything just miraculously came together for Charlie in the last twenty pages.

I applaud Hattie Williams for her description of the publishing industry. It's clear how high the stakes were for Charlie to have this affair, and it kept me interested enough to see it through to the end.

In the end, writing is art, and art is subjective, and this book just wasn't for me.

BITTER SWEET is the compelling debut novel by Hattie Williams. It is a thought-provoking story of relationships - some bitter, some sweet – that change the course of a character’s life forever. The story is about twenty-three-year-old Charlie who is working as a publicity assistant in a London publishing house. Charlie meets long-time author idol, Richard Aveling, as the house is set to release his new novel. Richard is fifty-six and married and an iconic writer of his time. Charlie finds herself drawn into an obsessive and secret affair with Richard despite knowing that discovery of the affair could cost Charlie her job, reputation and close friendships. The novel tells the story of how the affair plays out and the widespread consequences of Charlie’s choices. It is a brutal portrayal of loss, grief, mental health and power dynamics in relationships. Some of the themes were cringeworthy to read about, but the story is told with compassion and authenticity. This was an intriguing debut novel and I will be on the look-out for whatever comes next from this author. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

A messy, magnetic, age-gap, power-imbalance workplace affair drama. This book is screaming “red flag but make it literature” energy 💀

BITTER SWEET by Hattie Williams is one of those books that will make you want to throw it at the wall and then immediately pick it back up to keep reading. 🫠📚

This is a story about a young, idealistic book publicist who finds herself spiraling into an affair with her literal literary idol—a man 30 years older, married, and wielding all the power in the room. And honestly? Williams does not sugarcoat a single bit of it. It’s messy. It's uncomfortable. It’s painfully real.

Charlie is such a vulnerable, heartbreakingly recognizable protagonist. She’s 23, freshly minted in her dream publishing job, living in a Pinterest-perfect London flat, basically ready to main-character the hell out of life. But watching her fall for Richard Aveling? It's like witnessing a car crash in slow motion. He’s charming, brilliant, and so, so toxic. The dynamic is all-consuming, built on flattery, manipulation, and stolen moments in the rain.

What really hit me was how well this book nails the quiet horror of being complicit in your own undoing. It’s not a romance—it’s a cautionary tale, a meditation on power and vulnerability and the dangers of idolizing someone so much you lose yourself in their orbit.

Williams’ writing is gorgeous, even when it’s gutting. She doesn’t hold your hand. She lets you feel the suffocating closeness, the thrill, the self-delusion. And then she leaves you there to sit with it.

If you’re looking for something tidy and comforting, this ain’t it. But if you want a sharp, nuanced exploration of desire, power imbalance, and the slow erosion of self-worth… Bitter Sweet is both exactly what you want and exactly what will wreck you.

Trigger/content warnings: affair with a married man, manipulation, emotional abuse, power imbalance.

Verdict: read it if you can handle the emotional bruises. And maybe text your therapist after. 💌🖤