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A review by ashmagoffin
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
5.0
Yes my friends, here is another book that I read in one sitting. This book was clearly written by someone who has worked extensively in hospo and I'm so here for it. Tess who comes from "Nowhere" to start a life in New York City, takes a job as a backwaiter in an exclusive restaurant. The social politics of her new career soon begins to encompasses her life.
There are so many things I love about this book. It is no secret that I have a soft spot for twenty-something coming-of-age novels, Tess who has an ambiguous background, is pretentious and unknowingly naive. She is an unlikeable narrator which is something I adore but I know is not everyone’s cup of tea. I love how this book is a love letter to New York City throughout the seasons, a city I've never been particularly drawn to but through Tess's eyes it seems magical. The small details made this book authentic - renting a room in a flat and never seeing/meeting your flatmate, verbal abuse from the chef being flung towards waitresses, the social rumour mill of hospitality and everyone going out after work and having to work the brunch shift hungover.
I recommend this book to anyone who has spent any time working in hospo. Also is a tv show on Stan, which I only discovered immediately after I finished reading, who knew?
There are so many things I love about this book. It is no secret that I have a soft spot for twenty-something coming-of-age novels, Tess who has an ambiguous background, is pretentious and unknowingly naive. She is an unlikeable narrator which is something I adore but I know is not everyone’s cup of tea. I love how this book is a love letter to New York City throughout the seasons, a city I've never been particularly drawn to but through Tess's eyes it seems magical. The small details made this book authentic - renting a room in a flat and never seeing/meeting your flatmate, verbal abuse from the chef being flung towards waitresses, the social rumour mill of hospitality and everyone going out after work and having to work the brunch shift hungover.
I recommend this book to anyone who has spent any time working in hospo. Also is a tv show on Stan, which I only discovered immediately after I finished reading, who knew?