A review by mellabella
Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

2.0

Mabel Dagmar is on a scholarship to a prestigious east coast college. She is a little chubby and, I'm assuming unattractive? I believe it's mentioned. Her beautiful roommate Genevra "Ev" for short is rich and at first, treats Mabel with disdain. It's surprising that she invites Mabel to her cottage, Bittersweet on a Vermont estate for the summer. Mabel's character, (as we come to realize) comes from a loveless family. She is hiding something. She's slightly pathetic. There would be no way anyone would allow someone to treat them the way Ev treats her and continue to be her "friend". She eats the attention Ev shows her up. After spending a little time with Ev's family, and the way they live... Mabel is seduced. She also starts to have feelings for Ev's brother Galway and becomes close with their youngest sister Lu. There is one twist and turn after another. OK. Families in general have secrets. Sometimes rich families come across their wealth in shady ways. But there seemed to be TOO much drama. Is it bad enough that Ev is sleeping with her half brother? It seemed her father Birch liked to force the women employed by their family. There was a suicide, two murders, a sick aunt. It was all too much. By the time Mabel found the swastika, I couldn't imagine what else could happen. Mabel herself was an odd character. Indo (the sick aunt) asked her to dig and delve into their families past, and she did it. Becoming more and more involved in things that were none of her business. The whole time I was thinking "Who would really do this?" I read this book super fast. I don't know if it was because of the soap opera tone? Or, if I was just trying to see what else the author would throw in the plot.