Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the ARC of this novel.

Bittersweet is the story of a young woman in search of love who finds out that being a mirror for a man to admire his greatness in is not quite love at all.

This book was really well written with a significant depth of emotion. The character of Charlie as a deeply flawed, deeply feeling young woman embodies the ennui of the 2010’s. Her depression is written in a way that I personally feel is very truthful, in a way that someone who hasn’t experienced it might not understand. I especially like the quote about how Charlie comes to terms with it,

“I wasn’t cured of my sadness, that wasn’t going to be possible for me, but I knew it well enough to know what it needed. I knew it intimately, and what I had to give it in order to keep it contained, and how fragile that balance was and always would be for me.”

I always feel that fragility and the dread that the balance will tip.

I really liked this book and think that young women will get a lot out of it because it’s such a good case study in how people can be manipulative in relationships or why someone may stay in a bad one. Read this book and learn from Charlie’s mistakes!

Trigger warnings: abandonment, grooming, predatory relationship, age gap relationship, emotional abuse, drug/alcohol use, suicide attempt, infidelity, death, death of a parent, abortion, grief, depression, pregnancy

SPOILERS INCLUDED

At the start, Charlie tells us it doesn't end well. Even if she didn't allude as such, we adult readers would know. These kinds of situations never end well, do they?

"Bitter Sweet" is well-written, tactile, and cinematic coming-of-age novel that does not shy away from the reality of sexist workplaces, predatory relationships, and the realities of grief and depression. Wonderfully written by debut author Hattie Williams, the characters are dynamic and relatable--I especially loved her friend Ophelia and Eddy's persistent care, her boss Cecile's guidance and investment, and Charlie's complex relationship with her father/step-father.

As a reader, we have a clear viewpoint of Charlie's inappropriate relationship with Richard Aveling, a larger-than-life and immensely successful author, whom Charlie has had a strong attachment to from a young age. But Charlie doesn't view that way. Despite queries, nudging, and attempted guidance from family, colleagues, and friends, Charlie continues down a path we know won't end well. The dark themes and unfiltered writing won't be for everyone, but I thought this novel we drafted expertly with a very strong voice and perspective.

Towards the end of the novel, after her world comes crumbling down, Charlie begins to process her grief and the full scope of her depression. This stretch is difficult to witness, as she struggles with attempt after attempt, getting closer and closer to clarity on the reality of her relationship with Richard. But it's a necessary journey for us to witness because it provides insight to the "why didn't she leave," "how could she let it go on so long," and "how could she be so naive" type of questioning that often pops up in response to these inappropriate relationships.

"Bitter Sweet" has many parallels to my most recent ARC read, "Cover Girl" by Amy Rossi. If you enjoy one, I highly recommend you read the other.

I am grateful for the free ARC ebook copy that was provided to me by NetGalley, Random House, and Ballatine Books. All opinions are my own.

This title releases on July 8, 2025.

Bitter Sweet was such an engaging and thought provoking read. I found myself pulled into the story right away and stayed invested until the very end. Hattie Williams has a great way of exploring relationships and emotions that really made me think. I enjoyed reading this and will definitely be looking out for more from her in the future.

“I knew, really, that it wouldn’t end well. But I couldn’t stop myself from hoping otherwise.”

Oh, Charlie💔 this story is a complete train wreck. It’s painful, raw, emotional, moody, deep, hopeful. A complex view of an age gap romance and power dynamics, life in your twenties, friendships, first career job. It was suffocating to read at times but you just couldn’t look away.

This book is written beautifully and it felt like I was in rainy, dark and drab London, the French countryside, with her friends by the pool, inside Charlie’s head.

Downgraded to 4 stars because I felt like the book started dragging a bit about halfway through but it picks back up towards the end.

Perfect for fans of Sally Rooney and Coco Mellors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

the feelings this one brought out in me are almost hard to put into words. i felt DEEP senses of longing, sadness, and melancholy during my entire reading experience. i was so sad and so shocked and so engrossed with it all and i could not stop picking the book up; and i absolutely loved every minute of this story. there was a really voyeuristic quality to the writing and the storytelling. it felt like i was reading the main character charlie’s diary, and hearing/seeing things that i shouldn’t be. it was very reminiscent of my experience reading hanna halperin’s “i could stay here forever”— which is another book i loved.

this was truly an impeccably written story, with a great plot and amazing and well written characters. it’s a super interesting take on love/lust/obsession, friendship, status/power— and also a really candid account of grief and mental illness. i seriously could not get enough and didn’t want it to end! this being the author’s debut has me totally enthralled and ready for more of her writing! i’ll include a little bit of the blurb, but aside from checking trigger warnings, i recommend going into this one blind.

thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing this ARC for me to read and review! definitely be on the lookout for this book next month when it comes out (july 8th)!! 💙🧡

Bitter Sweet and specially the character Charlie was way more relatable than I thought, felt very seen by that character. Charlie like many felt adrift in life and I think that is a very relatable feeling in life. The book is quite fast-paced and hard to put down, which is good and bad- especially when you have work the next day.

“Bitter Sweet” is a debut novel by Hattie Williams. This book follows Charlie (Charlotte) as she navigates the world of publishing and becomes the lover of her most favorite author, Richard. Charlie is an adult (young one) and full of all the feelings that only the young have when they know they’re correct and in what they consider love (just being blunt here). I cannot say that I liked the subject matter of this book - though Ms. Williams did set it back in the 2010 and she fully captured Charlie’s feelings and Richard’s justifications/actions. I never cheered on the couple - knowing from the beginning that this was a bad idea. In some ways, this book’s writing style reminded me of “My Dark Vanessa” due to the overall feeling that the reader knows this isn’t a good idea, the secrecy, and the emotional toil. The one thing this book had over “Vanessa,” is that Ms. Williams delved into Charlie’s past and advocated for therapies and getting medical help - which I think Charlie still needs. Would I read this book again - nope, the subject matter is a bit too dark. I do, however, think that if Ms. Williams writes another book, I’d give that one a try. Overall, 3.5 stars, bumped up to 4 because this. Is a debut novel.

I was expecting Bitter Sweet to be an Intense Love Story That’s Not a Romance…and it KIND OF is that, but not really. Set in London, this story is about a young book publicist named Charlie (short for Charlotte) who gets into a steamy, illicit affair with the older and married Richard Aveling, her literary idol and her company’s biggest author. That’s all I knew going into this book. Bitter Sweet is much more Charlie’s story and the love story is a smaller piece to a bigger puzzle about the lasting impacts of trauma…and the situations it can cause that “healthy” people would avoid or can’t understand. This love story is dark - it’s not the kind where you’re rooting for the protagonists to be together. Actually, quite the opposite. Charlie is self-aware about the unhealthiness of her situation, but doesn’t have the strength to do anything about it. It was hard to watch Charlie and to hear some of the rationalizations she was making to herself about why she continued to stay in a relationship with Richard. And, this will be a deal breaker for some readers. Instead of rooting for Charlie and Richard to be together, I was really rooting for Charlie to save herself. Great for fans of The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue & Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler.

Bitter Sweet touched me in so many ways. I truly saw myself as a young Charlie, lost and adrift in life. Then she is given the opportunity to meet her idol, a writer named Richard, and he also plucks her up as his own. We are then drawn into Charlie's world with Richard in which we as the reader can see it as manipulative but Charlie sees it as love. This story was so emotional and raw. It felt like watching a train crash in slow motion but written in the most beautiful prose. This is a story I will think about often and will definitely recommend to others. This book speaks to women who have experience their own Richard in whatever form he may of come in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for early access to “Bitter Sweet” by Hattie Williams. Woof! If the goal of this book was to make me angrier than anything and even more suspicious of middle-aged men, mission accomplished! The writing of this story was so compelling and so gorgeously raw. I felt so immersed by all of Charlie’s emotions and at times, numbness. They say art should make you feel something, and my god, this book did! I loved it as much as I hated it and wanted to throw my kindle across the room. A must-read and also a scream-and-stew after kind of novel!

Bitter Sweet is the kind of book that feels both thrilling and deeply personal—it totally pulled me in from the first page. The story follows Charlie, a 23-year-old book publicist working at a London publishing house, who finds herself in an intense, secretive affair with Richard Aveling, a famous author more than thirty years her senior. What starts as admiration—Charlie idolizes him partly because he was a link to her late mother—quickly morphs into a consuming relationship that forces her to confront just how much she's losing in the process.

Hattie Williams nails the emotional complexity of a power-imbalanced romance. Charlie isn’t just a naïve fangirl—she’s complicated, flawed, and her choices feel real. Richard is charming, but there’s a growing tension as his control seeps in and Charlie’s friendships and career start to unravel. Williams’ writing is razor-sharp yet tender, packed with those small, gut-punch moments that linger—like when you realize love can be both addictive and isolating.

Yes, it’s a heavy emotional ride—the affair’s intoxicating highs and devastating lows play out in painful, thought-provoking ways. And while there isn’t a neat, happy ending waiting at the finish line, that’s what makes it feel honest. You’re left reflecting on how easily admiration can turn into something darker, and what it takes to find yourself again. This debut is a fresh, unforgettable take on desire, self-worth, and the cost of loving someone too much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the e-arc.

This is a strong women's fiction. I think this will do well on publishing. We follow a FMC as she embarks on a relationship with a married man, making bad decisions and watching the relationship turn sour.

Lots of trigger warnings -- but an important representation of relationships that are absolutely happening in workplaces.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC of Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams. This is a story that follows Charlie, a 23 (if I’m remembering right) publishing assistant for a publishing house in London. This publishing also represents a very famous author, Richard Aveling, who Charlie adores. On a chance encounter she meets him before she is actually set to work with him on his upcoming novel. Not long after, an affair is started between the two. Richard is married and is is 56 years old. As Charlie navigates her career, she is also trying to figure out things with Richard. They must keep this relationship under wraps for obvious reasons, and it begins to consume Charlie.

I found this story to be very engaging and the characters were very likable. Charlie has two roommates, Ophelia and Eddy, who are well developed characters and are at many times, good listening, if not frustrated ears to the situation between Charlie and Richard.

I really enjoyed this book and I do recommend it. The writing and storyline flow very well.

Charlie was such an easy character to get sucked into. Boy did she make some dumb decisions but something about her drew me in. It’s not my typical read but I really liked the writing style!

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. Absolutely stunning book. I cried, I laughed, I lusted, I stressed. I wanted to shout at the characters at times and other times hug them. I was extremely grateful for the length of this book because I did not want it to end. The story was told fully, with lots of emotion, and lots of relatable details. It has been a long time since I read a book that made me hold it to my chest after I finished it. This one did. Reading it felt like living through an earthquake and afterwards I still have tremors. One of my top 10 lifetime favorites.

This is a slow burn. I will say it should also come with trigger warnings about abusive relationships because while there’s no overt physical violence this is a book about a relationship where there is coercion, manipulation, a power dynamic in which the MMC uses his dominance and power to influence and control the FMC. It takes a while for the story build steam but once it does the last 25% you cannot put down. It is uncomfortable, you want to scream at the FMC to shake her out of every bad decision you see her make but you cannot. It is a little wordy but otherwise very good .

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read this before publication! This book was so well-written, engrossing, and heartbreaking. Every sentence came with a sense of doom but I couldn’t stop reading or hoping for a moment of clarity from Charlie. All of the supporting characters were well-done and prevented the book from becoming frustrating. Overall, enjoyed this (in a deeply sad sympathetic way) and would recommen

Charlie is twenty three and working as a publicity assistant when she begins a relationship with fifty six year old, Richard, a famous author defining his generation.

It took me a bit to get through this one. It’s a very character based story. I did appreciate the view of mental health and how our relationships can directly affect it. The middle slowed down a lot for me and I was just so tired of the relationship by the end.

“It must be a small club to be part of, to have loved and then lost someone whom the whole world has a piece of. Maybe that’s why no one ever warns you.”

Bitter Sweet comes out 7/8.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read this before publication! This book was so well-written, engrossing, and heartbreaking. Every sentence came with a sense of doom but I couldn’t stop reading or hoping for a moment of clarity from Charlie. All of the supporting characters were well-done and prevented the book from becoming frustrating. Overall, enjoyed this (in a deeply sad sympathetic way) and would recommend.

I got emotionally involved in this. While it is a story I've heard before I was and was not rooting for Charlie. Sure, she should have known better to get involved with a married man especially when all the warning signs there. But there were times where she chose Richard over her friends that just made me so angry with her.

Richard... I hated from the start. Everything about him. The author wrote this in a way that felt real. Opehlia was an amazing supporting character. I found myself rooting for her happiness even though she wasn't a main character.

Overall I found this engaging, heaertbreaking and hopeful all at the same time.