I was engaged throughout the story, wanting to know how they were going to get their revenge and rise above their situation. The mystery with the mom was also solid and I truly didn't know how it was going to end.

4.5 ⭐ rounded down

WOWWWW Y'ALL 🤯 this was gooooood

I went into this not entirely sure what to expect--lots of Bible verses and church phrases being thrown around. I think Crewson was simply trying to set the stage for a small southern town and that was the framework she was using. That ended up not really being a huge overarching theme throughout the book, but I can see how it was important to some of the themes throughout now that it's all over.

This book covers a very short period of time (I think it was maybe a week or two), but it's FILLED with turbulence that propels you forward. It's told by Providence Byrd--daughter of Tom and Elissa Byrd. Tom is incredibly abusive in many ways and Elissa is an addict. So, when Providence learns that her mother is missing, her mind goes straight to blaming her father. This is the story of the search, case, and aftermath of Elissa's missing person's case, yes, but it's so much more than that, too. Providence's feelings toward her mother are complex and built very well throughout. Her relationships with her sisters are also complex and it makes them really enticing to read and propels you forward.

I don't know how to share too much in this without giving too much info away and spoiling it. I'd highly recommend and encourage others who like thrillers and whodunits to check this one out. Fair warning, there are some explicit and gore-y parts, but they didn't bother me. Thanks to NetGalley and DreamScape Media for the ARC of this audiobook!

4.25 ⭐️ Advanced Reader Review!

When Providence was 17, she intentionally ran over her mother and went to prison for the crime. That one moment forever changed the course of her life. Fast forward years later, her mother has disappeared under suspicious circumstances. Providence, now released from prison and living in another state, decides to return home to help with the search, also hoping this will bring her closure with her estranged family.

With the search unfolding, Providence is haunted by her past mistakes and confronted with the reality of how her actions affected her sisters, Harmony and Grace. Both of her sisters are looking for different forms of reconciliation: Harmony wants Providence to get rid of their violent, abusive father, and Grace wants to walk away and need the cycle of abuse. Providence is stuck between what she craves and what her sisters need. Will revenge or redemption prevail?

My thoughts: There were a lot of layers to this book, and it was interesting trying to sift through everything. Be sure to check content warnings before picking this one up. That being said, the plot was a bit hard for me to follow at times because of how much was going on. The relationships between the characters was so well constructed and explained. The setting interesting, although I wish we had gone more in depth with the family’s relationship to the Native peoples in town.

This story was so moving, and the way Lindsey Dorcus narrated made it all the more entertaining. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I honestly can’t believe this is a debut! I’m so excited to see what this author does next. 4.25 stars.

I felt this one in my soul!

Providence Byrd has returned home to help find her missing mother. She has been estranged from her parents and two younger sisters for years after spending time in prison for running over her mom with a car. Her sisters are both troubled and reluctant to be reunified with her. Her father is the same abusive man he always was. As Providence tries to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance she wrestles with her abusive past and her need for revenge. Or will she walk away and try to start over?

This story is so raw and dark and gritty. But it is also filled with warmth and truth and redemption. There are humorous moments among the carnage even. This was so well written and intricately plotted. Providence, as a character, is riddled with dings and dents but I rooted for her from the first page. Don’t miss this one, it’s heavy but it’s an important and worthwhile read.

Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter by Samantha Crewson

A BIG thank you to #NetGalley#DreamscapeMedia and author Samantha Crewson for allowing me to listen to the ALC in the exchange for my honest reviews


About the book: About thirteen years ago Providence Bryd tried to kill her own mother by throwing the car in reverse and running her over. Her mother survived but Providence was sent to prison, and her life was altered forever.
Providence serves her time and gets a second chance at redemption. Her mother is reported missing and she decides to return home for closure and in hopes of mending the relationships with her two estranged sisters. She is also returning home to confront her very abusive father. After all, he’s who she really meant to try and kill that day she ran her mother over with the car.
Providence is certain her father has something to do with her mother’s disappearance.
As the search for her mother continues, she is forced to face the hard realities of her past. She wants desperately to mend the distance between her and her younger sisters. Both want different things from Providence. One sister wants Providence to make their father pay for his abuse, and the other just wants the fight to stop and she wants peace.
Providence must decide between revenge and redemption.

What I thought: The story started off strong, but then got slower as it went on. Nothing really gripping or exciting/suspenseful really ever happened. I found it hard at times to hold attention. This wasn’t a bad story, but it also didn’t grip me. All in all is was ok and pretty average. I’d rate this book 3 stars.

Lindsey Dorcus did an amazing job narrating and helping to bring the characters to life!

This book released April 21, 2025

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!