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henrygravesprince's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Religious bigotry, Bullying, and Child death
Minor: Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
peachtease's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This was a really steady read for me. Usually it takes a while for me to get interested, but I kept a nice pace with this one. Very pleasant for me from start to finish. Probably would read again someday.
I'm also interested in sweet tea pie.
I'm also interested in sweet tea pie.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Murder
ilaxaria's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Blood, Murder, Car accident, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide and Vomit
Minor: Medical content, Terminal illness, Alcohol, and Infidelity
arrowsartsandbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is about a family of witches who live in a town in the Appalachian mountains. The main character is trying to solve a series of connected, unsolved crimes that have affected her and others. There is a rumor going around in the town that the Moth-Winged Man aka Mothman may be responsible or a participant in some of the crimes. If you like the trope of a teenager being the one to solve a crime instead of the police, then you'll like this book. You can tell the author has done extensive research into folk magic and witchcraft because the information is very accurate. There is a romantic subplot in this book and I wish there was more time spent on it. Even though I don't like slow-burn romance, it was very well written. The ending was good and wrapped the story up very nicely. This story was interesting, dark, spooky, and had just the right amount of familial love in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism
the_storycorner's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Mini review!
I have no particularly strong emotions about this book. While I love the concept and the story had a great atmosphere, (and mothman!!!) the stakes felt consistently flat, and I didnt connect to the characters as much as I wanted to. Overall, this was a pretty chill read with great, spook vibes. Would recommend this if you're looking for a low-key read that you don't need to think too critically about.
I didn’t know this was part of a series when I started it, but I’m interested to know what will happen next so I’ll likely keep reading when book two comes out!
I have no particularly strong emotions about this book. While I love the concept and the story had a great atmosphere, (and mothman!!!) the stakes felt consistently flat, and I didnt connect to the characters as much as I wanted to. Overall, this was a pretty chill read with great, spook vibes. Would recommend this if you're looking for a low-key read that you don't need to think too critically about.
I didn’t know this was part of a series when I started it, but I’m interested to know what will happen next so I’ll likely keep reading when book two comes out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Murder
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was just okay for me. The writing overall is very atmospheric, and the idea of someone being able to taste the feelings of others was really cool. In general, the magic and the Linden's family was one of the best, most interesting parts of this book for me. And the baking! Always love a book that has some good baking in it.
However, the plot takes quite a while to get moving, and then the ending seems to come too quickly. The pacing really took me out of the story. There are other YA books that have a similar vibe that I think felt more unique than this one, or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this particular story. Definitely could have been that, too!
All in all, if you like slower moving books with strong atmosphere, I'd recommend picking this one up!
However, the plot takes quite a while to get moving, and then the ending seems to come too quickly. The pacing really took me out of the story. There are other YA books that have a similar vibe that I think felt more unique than this one, or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this particular story. Definitely could have been that, too!
All in all, if you like slower moving books with strong atmosphere, I'd recommend picking this one up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder, Child death, and Death
Minor: Self harm, Alcoholism, and Blood
ashley_est1988's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
In small-town West Virginia, a family of witches looks for answers in a decades-old disappearance after one of their own disappears and returns without her memory. Then a friend is murdered. Are they all connected? How? The town is beginning to turn against them out of fear, how far will their neighbors go to get rid of them?
I enjoyed this one, more than I thought I would. I loved the message of being a strong woman and owning your power. It was a great mix of emotions with just enough humor to ensure it wasn't too dark.
The mystery part was where it fell short parts of the mystery were predictable. I figured out that something was going on with two of the characters but not exactly who they were.
Overall a great book that was enjoyable and a pretty quick read.
Extra ratings: Fluff - NA Heartfelt- 3.5/5 Helpful-NA Horror-0.5/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance- 3/5 Mystery-4/5 Predictability- 3.5/5 Spice-0.5/5 Suspense- 2/5 Tear 1.5/5 Thrill- 2.5/5 Humor- 1/5
I enjoyed this one, more than I thought I would. I loved the message of being a strong woman and owning your power. It was a great mix of emotions with just enough humor to ensure it wasn't too dark.
The mystery part was where it fell short parts of the mystery were predictable. I figured out that something was going on with two of the characters but not exactly who they were.
Overall a great book that was enjoyable and a pretty quick read.
Extra ratings: Fluff - NA Heartfelt- 3.5/5 Helpful-NA Horror-0.5/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance- 3/5 Mystery-4/5 Predictability- 3.5/5 Spice-0.5/5 Suspense- 2/5 Tear 1.5/5 Thrill- 2.5/5 Humor- 1/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Murder, Car accident, Alcohol, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content and Child death
Minor: Alcoholism
gondorgirl's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Bullying, Kidnapping, Vomit, Car accident, and Child death
darquedreamer's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Bittersweet in the Hollow was everything I had hoped it would be, and so much more! The title, and gorgeous cover, accurately portrayed the allure and eeriness found within the pages. It was creepy, and magical, and emotional, and filled with southern charm.
Pearsall managed to capture all the good, and not so good, quirks of growing up, and living, in a small country/mountain town (much like Union County NC where I lived for 8 years, and Western NC where I lived for 11 years). This book was full of nostalgia, Practical Magic vibes, and a strong family dynamic. It was layered like a perfect buttermilk biscuit.
The atmosphere, and setting, were vivid and dense like a humid summer in the south. I was pulled in and captivated, hungry for every turn of a page. And, speaking of hunger. There were so many delicious food references to be found in this book, which added to the southern town nostalgia perfectly. The delectable descriptions of food made me feel exactly what Linden felt every time she "tasted" the feelings of others.
But, the sisters, and their abilities, and their family relationships, really made the story. Each sister was unique, and I really felt connected to them and their "powers". I loved how each one handled things in her own way, and how different Pearsall made them, despite them being so close, in both age and connection.
Bittersweet in the Hollow was such a deeply satisfying read. Though it took place during the summer, it felt like the perfect spooky season/Fall read. It was elegant and charming and gritty and otherworldly, and I cannot wait to read it again.
Thank you Penguin Teen for my gifted copy.
Pearsall managed to capture all the good, and not so good, quirks of growing up, and living, in a small country/mountain town (much like Union County NC where I lived for 8 years, and Western NC where I lived for 11 years). This book was full of nostalgia, Practical Magic vibes, and a strong family dynamic. It was layered like a perfect buttermilk biscuit.
The atmosphere, and setting, were vivid and dense like a humid summer in the south. I was pulled in and captivated, hungry for every turn of a page. And, speaking of hunger. There were so many delicious food references to be found in this book, which added to the southern town nostalgia perfectly. The delectable descriptions of food made me feel exactly what Linden felt every time she "tasted" the feelings of others.
But, the sisters, and their abilities, and their family relationships, really made the story. Each sister was unique, and I really felt connected to them and their "powers". I loved how each one handled things in her own way, and how different Pearsall made them, despite them being so close, in both age and connection.
Bittersweet in the Hollow was such a deeply satisfying read. Though it took place during the summer, it felt like the perfect spooky season/Fall read. It was elegant and charming and gritty and otherworldly, and I cannot wait to read it again.
Thank you Penguin Teen for my gifted copy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Death, Murder, Self harm, and Vomit