One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year! It incorporates the thriller twists with a complicated family dynamic and history. Trigger warning for domestic violence and self harm.

Received audiobook from NetGalley.

I really liked this debut!!!!

Providence has spent time in prison for attempting to kill her mother. She is finally out and getting back on her feet when her mother goes missing. She goes back to her hometown to join the search for her mom. Did her mom run off or did something more sinister happen?

I really enjoyed this book. Providence and her sisters are interesting people with a complicated bond. They were raised by addicts and haven’t nurtured an adult relationship. I thought the author did a great job of conveying complicated family dynamics. The book is fast paced and intriguing. I can’t wait to see what her next book is about!


Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. The premise was promising with poor execution. Every single character lacked any trace of common sense. So much of the plot was far fetched. YEARS of domestic assault 911 calls, with no results? Not one single person realizing that her mother was run over by accident and then sending a 17 year old abuse victim to prison? Come on.

A woman returns home to confront the trauma she left behind and solve a family mystery - but honestly, I found myself not really caring who did what because I didn’t connect with any of the characters. The mystery felt kinda boring, the constant mentions of her beauty procedures were weirdly repetitive, and I just never got pulled in. I listened to the audiobook and had it on 2x the whole time... and still wished it went faster.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC 😮‍💨

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.

The audio narration was exceptional performed by Lindsey Dorkus

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

What a crazy mystery and family thriller! Set in rural Nebraska, Providence Bird returns home to join the search for her missing mother, a woman that she spent years of her life in prison for running over with a car. However, in coming home Providence must face her past, her community, her sisters, and her father who is the furthest thing from winning any sort of father of the year, or even day, prize. This story is dark and painful to see a dysfunctional family such as the Birds, and makes me so thankful to have had a good, solid upbringing.

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This story was intriguing. I loved the trauma and backstory of the main character. I also always love a whodunnit story. Her dad was vile, and there were plenty of twists along the way.

Initially I was a bit skeptical of this story, as it was unclear where the storyline was headed from the beginning. As I listened on, I really became engrossed in the storyline and invested in the characters. Those that criticized the authors voice missed the mark, in my opinion. I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to others without hesitation!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Every Sweet Thing is Bitter - Samantha Crewson

Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter is one hell of a debut that doesn’t flinch when it comes to violence, trauma, and the complicated mess of family loyalty. The writing is raw and visceral in a way that feels earned, never gratuitous. Providence is a fierce, deeply flawed narrator, and watching her wrestle with vengeance and redemption had me fully locked in.

The plot follows Providence, who returns to her hometown after her estranged mother disappears under suspicious circumstances. Years ago, Providence made headlines for running over her mother in a moment of teenage desperation—and the scars from that day never fully healed. Now, with her abusive father still looming and her sisters divided on how to move forward, she’s forced to confront the darkness of her past while unraveling the mystery of what really happened to her mother.

This story has layers—abuse, estrangement, sisterhood, queerness, rage—and Crewson threads them together with brutal honesty and emotional weight. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an unforgettable one.

The audiobook quality was outstanding and the performer was top notch!

I really enjoyed this book. The relationships between the estranged sisters and their parents and the mystery that surrounds the missing mother really kept me interested. I was intrigued by the Native American aspect and would have enjoyed learning more about that friend's situation and how she was fighting for her community.

I had contemplated buying this book for my BOTM, but I was grateful that I got and Advance Listener Copy from NetGalley.

I would give this book an 3.5 ⭐. Even this book is a thriller it is very heavy and has a lot of emotionally triggering and lot of backstories to it. It really explored and expanded on the impact of a traumatic childhood. I'm an avid reader of darker books, but I would definitely read trigger warnings as this has some deeper parts that deal with childhood trauma and seeing siblings go through some rough things as well. Still, I enjoyed this book and the story. I believe the reason why I rated it lower was because I kept having to put this audio down because of the continuous emotions that kept coming up with the generational trauma and the complicated family ties that were seen throughout this book. I think if people don't mind that in a thriller I would read it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter by Samantha Crewson is a haunting and beautifully wrought debut that pulses with emotional intensity, moral complexity, and literary suspense. Centered on Providence Byrd—a queer woman with a violent past and a deeply fractured family—this novel explores the searing cost of trauma, the tangled paths to redemption, and the limits of forgiveness. Crewson’s prose is both lyrical and unflinching, as sharp as her characters’ pain, capturing the ache of estrangement, the raw urgency of justice, and the heavy inheritance of generational violence. Annesville, Nebraska—the novel’s desolate setting—mirrors the emotional terrain of its characters, particularly the tense, exquisitely rendered dynamics between Providence and her sisters. As Providence’s thirst for vengeance collides with her longing for connection, Crewson deftly navigates themes of survival, queer identity, and self-reclamation. With echoes of Lisa Taddeo, Tiffany McDaniel, and Gillian Flynn, this is a fearless, unforgettable debut that embraces the bitter truths of the past while holding space for the fragile hope of healing.

A five-star listen.
Providence Byrd is the eldest daughter of the town bully — no, the town monster — a man so mercurial and terrifying that even the police won’t intervene, despite clear evidence that his wife and three daughters have suffered profoundly under his roof.
Seventeen years ago, Providence hit her mother with the family car. Her mother survived but was seriously injured, and Providence spent five years in prison. Since then, she’s built a new life for herself as a tattoo artist in the city, far from her family. But now she’s back — her mother has gone missing — and returning home reopens every old wound.
What I appreciated most about this book is how fresh and original the characters felt. I hadn’t read about anyone like them before. Each of the three sisters is multilayered, flawed, and beautifully drawn.
Lindsey Dorcus’s narration brings both urgency and tenderness to this emotionally complex story.
That this is Samantha Crewson’s debut novel is astonishing — she’s clearly a masterful storyteller, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7521966002

This was an amazing book. I loved the flow of the story. There was always something going on and there were shocking twists which I always love in a thriller. I thought the audiobook was done really well. The narration was perfect. Amazing book!

While I did enjoy this book, it was paced a bit slower than I would have preferred. I didn’t quite connect with the main character, so for both of these reasons, I did struggle to get through it.

With that said, I still found it to be a good read, and I have seen others review it quite favorably.

I will say that I did enjoy the narration and felt that the performance really added to my enjoyment.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was an amazing debut novel by Samantha Crewson 13 years ago Providence backed over her mother and served time in prison for attempted murder. Now in the present her mother disappears and Providence goes home to try and help find her.This was a nailbiter… all of the dynamics from Providence’s tragic childhood are described in detail. Providence has two sisters, Harmony and Grace and an abusive father. Providence is trying to deal with the emotions of uniting with her sisters who she hasn’t seen since she went to prison, and an ex lover who is she still has feelings for. This novel really packs a punch. Told in Providence’s point of view, the emotion drips from every word. I loved Providence’s strength as she navigates the system as a queer woman who is determined to unlock the mystery of her mother’s murder thank you NetGalley for the audiobook.

This was my favorite physical read of April! I am so happy to receive the audiobook bc the narrator blew me away. She brought Providence to life & is an incredible narrator.

THIS SHOOK ME TO MY CORE!!!!!!!!

There is so much I want to say but I don’t want to allude to or spoil a single thing. I went into this mostly blind. I knew the vibes, but wasn’t super familiar with the synopsis & it made the first few chapters evoke a bigger emotional pull from me.

ESTIB is a sharp novel that is character driven, heavy on the emotions, & paced perfectly to pack a heavy punch straight to the gut. Samantha does a great job exploring the relationship between daughter & mother as well as the relationship between grief & guilt. ESTIB is much more than a crime suspense novel. It explores the way our identities are shaped through both generational & religious trauma, our family dynamics, cycles of violence, & the way our community supports us through trauma. The grittiness, rawness, & depth to this novel is something that’ll haunt my bones. I can see myself thinking about this story for a LONG time.

ESTIB has
- Self-harm in a method I’ve never seen represented, & I deeply appreciated the care with this topic
- A lesbian MC
- Indigenous representation
- Layers, layers, LAYERS!!!
- Complicated relationships that are NOT sugarcoated

After everything that is uncovered and developed in this story, there is still so much hope for Providence.

This is an INSANE debut that showcases Samantha’s talent for writing. I cannot wait to read another book from her.

A major thank you to Dreamscape Media & Crooked Lane books for the ARC/ALC review in exchange for my honest review.

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.