A raw and gritty debut that will hook you from the first page. Full of family trauma, redemption, and revenge, with a narrator that brings the characters to life, I couldn’t stop listening.

*3.5 Stars*

At seventeen, Providence threw the family car into reverse and ran over her mother. Thirteen years later and now an ex-con, Providence receives a call that her mother is missing. She must face her past traumas and go back to the town she promised she would never return to. Providence is determined to find closure and evidence that her father is responsible for her missing mother.

This was a strong debut, filled with flawed characters, generational trauma and the mystery of Providence's missing mother. Providence was such a great main character that you both love and hate. It was heartbreaking to read on how this small town failed to protect these girls and how Providence's life changed trying to protect her family. The mystery into Providence's missing mother was filled with twists and turns, that left me completely shocked at the end.

I would strongly look at the trigger warnings for this book. This book discusses self-harm, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse, as well as references to physical and sexual abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review Every Sweet This Is Bitter. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an advance audiobook copy of Every Sweet Thing is Bitter by Samantha Crewson from netgalley.

The narration was so well done!

5 stars! I went into this book not knowing what to expect.

The story is about a family full of secrets and trauma. Family, love, and loss.

I think this is my favorite book so far this year.

This is a very heavy story. It’s about a family trying to come back together after great tragedy. Providence is our FMC and 13 years ago. She reversed the car that ran over her mother her mother survived, but it started a spiral that changed the family forever. They also experienced an abusive father and this is all of what is leading up to prior to how to starts. Now that she has come home, her mother has also disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Providence is convinced her father had something to do with it.. She’s also trying to rebuild relationships with her two sisters. The story just pulls you in so many different directions like the way it’s just so well written like you just know you’re hooked.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the gifted audiobook!

This one really took me by surprise in the best way! I had no idea what to expect going in!

I was hooked so quickly and never wanted to stop listening! I blew through the whole audiobook in a 24 hour period!

My favorite part about this one was the characters! I was rooting so hard for them all!

Overall, definitely one I'll be recommending to others!

Listen I really am sorry but this was so boring. I barely finished only by sheer force. It was so underwhelming from start to finish.

Thank you Netgally for this arc copy!!!
This was a fantastic read, especially for a debut novel. The writing was absolutely beautiful, and even though the story was heavy at times, it was told in such a thoughtful and graceful way. Providence and her sister went through so much trauma and heartbreak, but I loved how the book showed their strength and the way they found a path forward despite all they endured.

One thing I really appreciated was how the author handled the trauma. The story didn’t go into graphic detail, which I feel was the right choice. Sometimes, too many specifics can be overwhelming or even triggering, so I respected how the author gave enough context to understand what the characters had been through without focusing on the painful moments themselves.

This book was emotional, raw, and moving, and it will stay with me. I’m looking forward to seeing what this author writes next.

I think the mystery aspect of this book is secondary to the much more compelling story about relationships and trauma. The core of the novel lies in the emotional wreckage of a deeply fractured family, and I thought it was beautifully written—especially in how it handled heavy topics like abuse, guilt, and reconciliation. The writing is lyrical and raw, and the author navigates the complexity of sisterhood, regret, and healing with care and emotional depth. While the suspense around the mother’s disappearance adds momentum, it’s the exploration of Providence’s past and her relationships with her sisters that makes this story resonate.

Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn’t the target audience. There wasn’t anything thriller about it. It was more women’s fiction. The writing was great. Someone will love this book.

4.5 rounded up. This did not read like a debut novel at all and I loved it. The characters were each flawed in their own way and I found myself really rooting for them- especially our MC Providence. This book is about more than the mystery surrounding their missing mother. It’s about complex family dynamics, grief, trauma, the power of forgiveness, and so much more. The audiobook was also very well done and I highly recommend going that route if you can. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC.

I wasn't sure what to expect out of Every Sweet Thing is Bitter by Samantha Crewson but I really found it very enjoyable. I read a lot of mystery / thrillers and while I can usually predict the direction one of these is going in, I was surprised by the outcome of the book.

Every Sweet Thing is Bitter is about Providence Byrd, an ex-con taking a trip back to her hometown after her mother goes missing to help in the search. The catch? Providence was in prison for almost killing her mother in the first place. This is a story about trauma and familial dysfunction and at it's heart one woman's search for acceptance and community.

Providence herself was a compelling character and not at all what I typically expect from the heroine of a story. She's all sharp edges and deep emotional problems that felt believable and like they wouldn't be fixed by the end of the book. Even her coping method is something I've never seen done in a book before and it made all of this feel fresh and interesting and kept me turning pages. This book was gritty and felt uncomfortably real in some moments but that was what I liked best about it.

Though the love story is a minor element to this novel, it was also nice to see queer representation in the form of Providence's ex-girlfriend.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job.

Thanks to Samantha Hewson for writing this, Crooked Lane Books for publishing it, Dreamscape Media for the audio, and NetGalley for getting it into my hands.

This book was a whirlwind in family issues, connections, and trauma. Providence goes back home after having been in jail for attempting to murder her mother, getting out of prison, and trying to maneuver the world as a felon. Her mother is missing. She has not spoken to her father and two sisters since the day she ran over her mother. This book is very insightful into how sisters deal with their childhood (and ongoing) trauma. It was well paced. While I figured out one of the twists pretty early on, it is only one piece of the puzzle. I was absolutely satisfied with how this book ended. It also had representation of indigenous people and some of the issues they face.

Providence Byrd returns to her home town haunted by the violence of her past and childhood trauma to look for her missing mother. Will she solve her mothers disappearance? Reconcile with her sisters? Take revenge upon her abusive father?

The audiobook is well produced and enhanced the reading experience.

Intriguing, not satisfying though. I didn't feel anything for the characters perhaps their trauma was so emphasized it was desensitizing.

2.5/3

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for access to an advanced copy of the audiobook.

Thank you to Net Galley for the Arc copy of this title.

This story follow Providence, the daughter of two alcoholic/addicts as she figures out what happened to her mother. Her mother goes missing with not a clue to say where she may be. During this process we learn about Providence and her sister, the awful life they had as children. The book started off a bit slow but it did peak my interest in the second half. The way the story played out was really good and not what I expected. I really felt empathy for Providence and her sisters. Solid 4 stars! I hope this author writes more books like this one.

Every Sweet Thing is Bitter by Samantha Crewson

Thank you Netgalley, and Crooked Lane Books for my ALC!

Providence Byrd hasn’t been back to her hometown since she was sent to prison thirteen years ago. Her crime? Running her mother, Elissa, over with the car. Even though it was an accident, and her mother survived, Providence is now a felon. Though when her mother goes missing, she returns to help search and to be there for her estranged sisters, Harmony and Grace. Providence’s return is not welcome – she is met with resistance and apprehension from the people around town as well as her family.

This story is heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time. Each character was fleshed out and you could feel their emotions through the page. Something that resonated with me was how the Byrd sisters dealt with their parents’ addictions and shortcomings all at different points in life and how the community did very little to help them as they didn’t want to interfere with the family dynamics in the name of “justice” or “God”. Though the ending was predictable, I will not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone.

Crewson tells a story of family dynamics, small towns communities, trauma, love, and perseverance through beautiful and poignant writing. The narrator, Lindsey Dorcus, did a phenomenal job with this audiobook putting inside Providence's mind. A debut novel unlike any other.

Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter is a haunting, gritty debut that dives deep into family trauma, survival, and the long, messy road to healing. This isn’t just a mystery — it’s a psychological exploration of pain, memory, and what it means to come home to the very people who hurt you.

The story follows Providence Byrd, who returns to her hometown after serving time for running over her mother. Her mission is to find her missing mom, but she ends up confronting a past filled with abuse, abandonment, and fractured family ties. The Byrd sisters — Providence, Harmony, and Grace — are each broken in their own way, and watching how they navigate that pain felt so raw and real.

Crewson handles extremely difficult themes — childhood trauma, abuse, addiction, and self-harm — with honesty and care. I really appreciated how she didn’t gloss over the hard stuff but also gave us glimpses of strength and survival. One thing I found both comical and revealing was how obsessed the author (and Providence) were with pointing out everyone’s noses — it was petty in the best way, and gave the main character a sharp, quietly humorous edge that made her voice feel real.

The narrator, Lindsey Dorcus (@lindseydorcus), did an amazing job bringing this story to life. Her delivery was spot-on — grounded, emotional, and gripping from beginning to end.

The twists in this book surprised me, and the character development was beautifully done. You really feel every emotion these women are going through. My only minor gripe is that it’s a bit of a slow burn, especially at the start — but once it hooks you, it doesn’t let go.

If you’re looking for something dark, emotional, and beautifully written with a heavy dose of grit — this one’s absolutely worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Samantha Crewson, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this phenomenal audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book is heavy. I wouldn't classify this book as a thriller; there were some mystery elements and suspense, however these elements were really secondary to the main focus: Trauma. This book was well written. The main character Providence is flawed, at times morally grey and hard to like but also compelling, relatable and feels like a real person you know. This book felt like more like a complex dark family drama about a dysfunctional fractured family dealing with abuse, addiction, and the lasting effects of these across two generations in a town that seems to sweep things under the rug. The writing pulled me in and once I was hooked I didnt want to put it down. Some parts did lag at times and felt a bit repetitive, but overall it was very entertaining (and emotional) read.

I listened to this one on audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job! Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Pub Date: 4/22
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Happy Pub Day to this gem of a book! Every Sweet Thing is Bitter was a book that knocked me off of my feet. I went in completely blind to this one and holy hell was it an emotional rollercoaster.
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This story follows the Byrd Family, specifically Providence, as she returns home to help aide in the search for her missing mother. During this time Providence comes to terms with how her sisters lives have changed and also how people from her past has moved on in life.
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This explores the deepest aspects of addiction and abuse in families. It explores the damages that comes from both. It is dark, hard to read at times but also beautifully heartbreaking. Crewson does a phenomenal job at creating the perfect morally grey main character that you cant help but love.
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I listened to this one via audiobook while reading my copy from @bookofthemonth. Lindsey Dorcus really brought this story to life for me. I loved her narration. If you are thinking of picking this one up I highly recommend the audio.
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Overall, this is a book that will stick with me for a very long time. Its gut wrenching while also heartwarming. It is the perfect story. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Samantha Crewson and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest reviews.

“there are found families… but blood is different. blood is innate. blood is animal. i’ve yet to find something that can replace it.”

“every sweet thing is bitter” is out today! it is a complex story about a woman who has a past of inflicted and inflicting violence. she travels back to her hometown when her mother is declared missing, and has to reckon with her past and the people she left behind.

when i began this book, i expected it to be a whodunnit of sorts, an entertaining mystery. but this book is so so much more. this story unravels so many layers from itself that it’s hard to even define it. ESTIB is about broken families, overcoming abuse, toxic cycles, sisterhood, and taking back your own life. I am a sucker for a story like this. I adored the way the concept of family was explored, and how it defined what makes someone true family. however, i did feel that sometimes it was so excruciating that it became hard to process, leaving me reeling and disconnected.

“blue sisters” meets “madwoman” in this stunning and intricate debut novel and i was honestly so impressed with the great nuance within all of the characters, especially the three sisters.

continually, the mystery is such a whirlwind that unravels in a clever manner. but that’s not all there is to this book. “every sweet thing is bitter” resonated with me on a scary level. it did not leave me completely satisfied with its ending, but only because the ending was so akin to real life. not everything can be tied up into a perfect bow, and sometimes life brings us where we want to be, only for us to realize the ones who are supposed to be dear to us became collateral damage.

finally, this book speaks volumes on abuse and the extreme injustice that so often occurs where abusers are enabled again and again to victimize themselves and continue inflicting harm on others. this was a painstakingly accurate portrayal of how abusers are so often treated, and how they are so rarely held accountable for their actions. that being said, PLEASE check trigger warnings before picking this up!

thank you to @netgalley @dreamscape_media and @shelvesofsamantha for this generous arc!

Providence Byrd has served her time and is attempting to rebuild her life when she gets the call that her mother is missing. Forced to return to her hometown filled with haunting childhood memories, Providence must confront her violent past in order to create a hopeful future.

Every Sweet Thing is Bitter is Samantha Crewson's debut novel. I enjoyed the audio and it definitely kept my attention with many twists and turns in the story. This story deals with the topics of family abuse and trauma brought on by alcohol and violence, secrets, and ultimately redemption and growth. I think the story was good overhaul, but not great. I am looking forward to discussing it with my book club to get their thoughts!