A mysterious violent past meets a mysterious violent present in this family drama. There’s a darkness here that works well for the story. I was invested in the characters and listened to large chunks at a time. I would read more of her work. Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC!

This book was equal parts tragic and captivating. I enjoyed the main character's narration and perspective. She was unreliable at times, which helped keep the story interesting. I wanted to root for her to grow and help her sisters; however, that was a struggle for her. The narrator for the audiobook was such a great choice and fit the story perfectly. Overall, I loved this book!

This book broke my heart. A story of three sisters put through so much pain, and the way in which they manage the grief and struggle that their parents inflicted on them. Crewson weaves together a town with an array of characters, all flawed in their own way and the role they play in the abuse of the sisters. I didn't leave feeling satisfied with the ending, but rather a sense of contentment and reflection.

I enjoyed seeing Providence's perception of herself change and grow within the story. She believes she is unloveable because that is all she is made to believe her whole life, but we see the ways that having those connections can change a life.

The narrator did a great job inflecting the emotions of the story into the words, as well as differentiating between the characters. A truly brilliant story about the impacts of abuse and trauma on a family and a town.

Every Sweet Thing is Bitter was a dark, deeply emotional read that had me ignoring my “real life” responsibilities to keep reading.

This debut novel is about a dysfunctional family living in small town Nebraska. The Byrd family has been in Annesville for generations and, as the proprietor of the local liquor store, Mr. Byrd is known for his bad temper and shot gun wielding tendencies.

Providence is the oldest of the three Byrd girls, who have grown up in a life of addiction, abuse and dysfunction. After serving her time in prison for an ill begotten attempt at exacting revenge on her father she is excommunicated from her family and begins building a life of her own far from the horrendous cycle of abuse and her family.

When her mother goes missing, Providence is convinced the only scenario is that her father is to blame. Returning to Annesville to help find her mother plunges Providence right back into the middle of it all. Her siblings are grown but each facing their own struggles in growing up with parents who battle with addiction, and a father who was controlling and abusive. Providence tries to repair the bond with her sisters while trying to convince the town that her father should be the number one suspect in her mother’s disappearance.

This book is filled with dark themes such as addiction, abuse, self harm and mental illness, but it is also a beautiful story of resilience, perseverance and retribution.

Thank you to Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this unputdownable audio book.

“Absolution is a myth. Some sins you must pay for again and again and again, as long as you live.”

3.5 stars rounded up. Providence is one hell of a woman! She is the product of the all too common family suffering from the destruction that is addiction and abuse, and yet she perseveres. She is tough in every way and stands up for the wrongs done to her and her sisters no matter who did the wrongdoing. I applaud her tenacity and grit.

I listened to about half and read about half with my eyes and both ways were very enjoyable. The audiobook has a great narrator that really harnesses the angst of these complex, broken, and yet healing characters. It is so easy to get lost in their story as their story could be anyone’s.

“People are only the tally of their memories.”

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Audio, and the author for the complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Every Sweet Thing is Bitter is a powerful and emotionally charged debut that pulls no punches. At the heart of the story is 17-year-old Providence Byrd, who’s just returned to her hometown after serving time in prison—for running over her own mother! With her mother now mysteriously missing, Providence is forced to confront a past she’d rather forget and a present full of secrets.

This novel dives deep into complicated family dynamics and tackles tough themes like abuse, addiction, revenge, and ultimately, the pursuit of forgiveness and healing. The relationships—especially the bonds between sisters—are raw, tender, and hauntingly real. Despite the heavy subject matter, the author handles each element with care and emotional depth.

I was completely absorbed by Providence’s journey. Her voice is compelling, her pain palpable, and her growth unforgettable. This book stayed with me long after I turned the last page, and I’m genuinely excited to see what this author writes next. If this debut is any indication, we’re in for something special.

I wish I had liked this better but the pacing was so slow and the characters were hard for me to like. The story begins as one sister is released from prison then tragedy strikes. The mystery that unfolds is really underwhelming and leads to a somewhat predictable ending. I was able to listen to this via an advanced audio copy. The narration of the audiobook was good. Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC!

OH BOY! This one is a doozy 😳
She tried to 🪦 her dad when she was 17 and ran over her mom instead.
Now 30, she did her time, left her ex-communicated family behind and has a career, Providence has returned home to her alcoholic father and traumatized and begrudging sisters to look for her missing mother. The one she ran over 13 years ago...
Every Sweet Thing is Bitter is grim and sad and messy. I was compelled to keep reading the entire time. Compelled. and angry. Oh the way certain people get away with everything 😡

I absolutely loved this audiobook. I thought the narrator was fantastic. I thought the main character was likable and I was rooting for her. This had action and I was here for it! Highly recommend this book!

Every Sweet Thing is Bitter - Samantha Crewson
Pub Date - 4/22/25
Rating - 3/5
Trigger Warning(s) = self-harm, child abuse, domestic violence, and references to sexual assault
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this gifted advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

What I liked:
- LGBTQ+ incorporation in the book
- The themes in the book such redemption, second chances after incarceration, love for the family. Very emotional and pulls at your heart strings

What I didn't like:
- The pacing of this book was VERY slow. There were times I nearly DNF'd, but stuck through to the end
- The ending....without giving anything away for me was a little like WTF? I didn't understand Providence's choices there

This was a great debut. I knew from the synopsis that it would be filled with heavy issues and deep family emotions. And it definitely was these things, but I was left feeling uplifted by the end of the novel. This is listed as mystery but it also reads as women’s literature. It is explained as a showdown between revenge and forgiveness. The story is about Providence Byrd who returns to her hometown because her mother has gone missing. The reason Providence has not seen her family in years is because as a teenager she put the family car in reverse and ran over her mother. Her mother survived but that single instant of madness made her a felon and altered her life. Providence comes back to reunite with her younger sisters and wants to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. She wants to prove that her abusive father somehow had something to do with it.

I listened to the audio and felt the narrator was believable as the main female character. She became that character. I felt she also did the other voices well. I only felt the loss of a male narrator at some of the scenes with her father. I felt they would be more intimidating with a male narrator. But I enjoyed the audio version and it kept me invested.

Usually, I can always see parts of myself in characters and relate to them in some way but in this case, I couldn’t resonate with the FMC but this did not take me out of the story. I still empathized with her and rooted for her. The story had some unexpected twists and turns, but was filled with depth of emotion that you can feel from each character. This book has dark themes, heart aching issues, but it is a great reminder about family, love and loss and the power of friendships. It is a good depiction of childhood abuse and its effect on the adult. Check your triggers but read or listen to this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. This is a dark gritty family drama. It is an excellent debut novel and I would definitely pick up another book from this author.
The audio narrator was excellent. I found her to be easy to listen to.

Audiobook Review: Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter by Samantha Crewson

I received this audiobook from NetGalley, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to discover new authors and share my thoughts.

This was my first book by Samantha Crewson, and I thoroughly enjoyed both the narration and the story. The narrator, Lindsey Dorcus, did a fantastic job conveying the emotions of the characters, making the listening experience deeply engaging. Her performance added depth to the protagonist's journey, capturing the nuances of pain, resilience, and hope.​

Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter is a gripping debut that delves into themes of family trauma, redemption, and the complexities of forgiveness. The story follows Providence Byrd, a woman with a troubled past who returns to her hometown after her mother's mysterious disappearance. As she confronts her abusive father and reconnects with her estranged sisters, Providence must navigate the delicate balance between seeking justice and finding peace. ​

I also want to mention that this book was my "Book of the Month" pick for April, and it did not disappoint. The combination of a compelling narrative and powerful narration made it a standout choice.​

Thank you again, NetGalley, for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. I'm looking forward to exploring more works by Samantha Crewson in the future!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the early Audiobook.

This book was hit and miss for me. First I loved the themes of redemption, family and finding justice. I thought there were really well done and the setting in small town middle American made it feel like it could be any small town, anywhere in the country.

I really wanted to like Providence and a main character but a lot of her reactions to different events in the book felt over the top to me. I love a good flawed character but at times she just really drove me crazy.

This book is dark and make sure to check your trigger warnings before you read.

I did think the narrator did a fantastic job and I really enjoyed listening to her tell the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and if you are a fan of a dark thriller I would recommend you checking it out.

3/5 stars

A gritty family drama about the pain we inflict on our loved ones and trying to atone for unforgivable mistakes, this book would be a great read for someone looking for flawed, but complex characters and family dynamics.

However, be forewarned this is not a happy story about family reconciliation. It’s a story about suffering, and boy does the main character both receive and inflict her fair share of suffering.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

this was a hard book to listen to. there is so much heartbreak and trauma that the bird family has endured. providence was a fascinating character though, and had a lot of growth despite everything.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Media and Samantha for the advanced copy of the audiobook.

I rate this book a 4/5. This book was a treat, the story kept me engaged the entire time, and the characters were interesting. I felt angry, sad and proud of Providence and glad she somewhat got her "happy ending". It was nice to see a lesbian character without only focusing on it and making it her entire personality, but a part of her. I truly did not like Zoe, she took advantage of a someone grieving, but appreciate her helping Grace. I am also curious to try chokeberries now haha.

The narrator was excellent and was a good choice for the book.

Congratulations Samantha on your book and wish you success!

This book is both uplifting and heartbreaking. I can’t imagine having the relationship the sisters do with the father, and how that must just destroy their relationship with each other. I devoured this book!

📚Every Sweet Thing is Bitter by Samantha Crewson

⚠️CWs for self-harm, homophobia, incarceration, sexual assault, rape, incest, alcoholism, substance abuse, child abuse, domestic abuse, car accident, dementia, and more

Story: 3/5
Audiobook: 3/5 (narrated by Lindsey Dorcus)
Length: 9h42min

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was a solid debut novel! The pacing was incredibly slow, so don’t go into this expecting a fast thriller. Every single character was unlikeable and painfully flawed in their own way. It was very reminiscent of Long Bright River, especially with the slow pacing and small town dynamics. I think the mystery itself was a little simplistic and lackluster, but I thought the characterization was done well. I'd be curious to see what Samantha Crewson comes out with next.

I received an ALC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ❤️

l'm making a very early prediction that we'll see Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter by Samantha Crewson in the Goodreads Choice Awards this year! There were so many important themes in this book: poverty, domestic abuse, the people who look the other way and their complicity, addiction, and so much more. The mystery is captivating, and this one will break your heart in so many different ways. So glad to see it as part of the Book of the Month selections this month!