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.

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 😡