I'm majorly upset about this book. Granted, I know it's been wellllll past the time I was supposed to read and review this book, but I was looking forward to it. Everytime I see it at a bookstore, I remember I received it as a free eARC and get excited to get to it (eventually). Lo and behold my surprise when I open my kindle and I can no longer find it. I'm not sure if it expired or what, because I know I had it downloaded, but it somehow was deleted from my account. This is probably one that I WILL buy at some point, and then I will actually leave an honest review. I'm giving this a 4 star prematurely because the average Goodreads reviews are 4.03 stars.

I apologize to the author for the blatant waste of an eARC

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I unfortunately ended up dnfing this book as I was hoping it would fill my need for more books like House of Hollow, but it fell short. I wish I could say more, but I simply think this wasn't the book for me.

This is when I kept picking up and putting back down and I’m not sure if it was my mood or the book but did not finish reading this book.

3.7
I feel like I've been inundated lately with Appalachian semi-witches. I'm not complaining, necessarily, but I could do with less of the murder stuff in these cases. Think Alice Hoffman instead of...murder stuff.

Bittersweet in the Hallow is sweet tale of sisters living in Appalachia with unique magical abilities. Linden, who the is at the center of the story can taste the emotions of others, is trying to regain memories of a night lost in the woods after a fight that ruined her relationship with a ruggedly handsome man named Cole Spencer. A year later and the mystery of another girl who didn’t return from the woods, Linden slowly starts to regain her memories of the night and becomes aware of dangers lurking in the woods. Old mountain lore, familial magic, and rumors of moth-winged men make this for an intriguing read that toes the line of spooky but is ultimately ends more of the sugary side of scary.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

A modern day Practical Magic! This was a cozy and lush paranormal mystery featuring the Appalachian mountains and “moth man” lore. The magic system was unique and not really in your face. The mystery was great, I didn’t see it coming somehow lol and I loved that there was a romantic subplot! This was at times cozy (like the time spent in the family restaurant) but also kept me intrigued by the mystery of missing people and other’s turning up dead!

This isn’t my usual type of read but I enjoyed it and think it’s the perfect autumn read!

This time of year is the perfect time for a spooky Appalachian mystery like this. I loved the little touch of magic that each sister possessed and thought that really added a nice bit of fun to the story. The ending was great and I really loved the conclusion which is all I can say really without giving away the whole thing!

I love a good dark and twisty book and this was good not great.
I loved the storyline for the little creepy town where creepy things occur and of course the sister who didnt know she had powers.

I struggled to get into it though which was unfortnate. I think maybe it just wasnt the right time to try and read it.

I am so fascinated by Appalachian stories and folklore, so this was the perfect book for me! Great story for spooky season!

This was gorgeously atmospheric. The sense of magical realism makes this the perfect book to curl up with as summer winds down.

Reading it felt a little bit like exploring a lush small town through fog. As we got more pieces of the mystery, everything became clearer but also progressively twistier in a way that built suspense without overdoing it. The characters were well-placed to discover clues while the clues themselves worked well into the magic behind the creation of the town.

The exploration of the James’ women’s magic made the fantasy elements in this book work with the story to give it a mystical feel while being believable, which I loved. It was complex, developed every character’s personality into something that fit with what they could do, and supported the possibility of the Moth-Winged Man being real.

This is he or isn’t he truly lurking in the forest is a gorgeous way of building suspense while pushing character growth and putting Linden and others in the right situations to figure everything out. It was also a well-crafted urban legend that was integrated amazing into the overall plot and worldbuilding.

Although set in our world, the history of the town was easy to gather and an interesting addition to the story. Pearsall gave great depth to every aspect she introduced while neatly solving a mystery. However, there’s definitely enough to go on for a second book, and I’m absolutely excited to read what happens next and get answers to the “loose ends.”

Overall, this is such a beautiful book with fantastic end-of-summer vibes that lend well to bridging that gap between August and spooky season. It was interesting to read, and great for those who like witchy vibes, small town mysteries, and cryptids.

So basically any book set near the Applachian trail is a want to read in my book. (see what I did there!) this one was no different.

There were two instances of a disapearance in the Novel and both ended very differently from the other. Its a truly interesting fantasy book that has a lot of mystery to it.

I’m giving this book a 2.5. I had high hopes but found myself getting bored. I think I’m just growing tired of the YA horror genre, which often feels repetitive. While I liked the setup and the idea of Mothman, the execution didn’t engage me. The story would have been more compelling if the sisters had played a bigger role. I expected a multi-POV narrative where each sister uncovered pieces of the truth, but it was just from Linden’s perspective, and I didn’t connect with her. The love interest also lacked appeal.

Overall, while some might enjoy this story, I would have rated it higher a year ago. I’m just not as invested in this genre anymore. If there’s a sequel, I’d be interested only if it includes the perspectives of all the sisters.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC.

For fans of House of Hollow, this title will satisfy that same vein of horror and thriller mix that keeps you reading well past your bedtime. The James sisters are all born with unusual abilities. This story takes you into a dark forest that holds many secrets. Anything could happen.

Bittersweet in the Hollow had a little bit of everything to offer., so there’s something for everyone. The story was enchanting and delivered on all the spooky vibes.

I loved the setting of this book—a tiny Appalachian town with a family of women each endowed with special gifts really captivated me. Although I felt the characters could have been developed further, I still liked them.
Some of the plot twists were rather predictable, and the ending left a few loose ends. Still, it's a solid read and showcases Kate Pearsall’s potential as a writer. If you’re into eerie, atmospheric mysteries, you’ll likely enjoy this debut. The twists and turns kept me second-guessing until the very end.

3.5 stars.

This was an enjoyable read. I finished this book in the first few hours of a power outage. I really liked the bonds between the James sisters and seeing their respective powers/abilities. I wish we got to learn a bit more about two of the sisters, but that will hopefully happen in the sequel. I really liked the Appalachian small town setting. My favorite part of the book were the descriptions of food and Linden's love for cooking. I especially enjoyed seeing how Linden's cooking and her powers intersected with each other. I wish we got to see more of the extent of her abilities.

The pacing felt slow and I wish that the story moved a little faster at times. I didn't dislike the romance but it got a bit cliche in certain moments. Things also got a little ridiculous in regards with the spellbook. I do feel that the villain got a bit monologue-y towards at the end, as a way to info dump.

I don't have much to say, other than I enjoyed my time with this book. I wasn't expecting there to be a sequel but I am curious to see where the story will go and if it will follow a different James sister.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a little bit of everything!

Mystery! Magical Realism! Horror! Suspense! Romance!

The story of the four sisters was captivating to read. The different abilities each sister possesses was magically written.

This story was enchanted and spooky! The perfect read for a chilly fall night.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read this amazing and magical story!
The fact that this book was this authors first is remarkable. Why has Kate not written anything sooner?! Her writing is magical and helps paint such a vivid picture I was awestruck. The story was enchanting and sucked me in. There was so many twists and turns I had no idea where it was going until I finally did. The powers everyone had? How Kate described each one? You have got to be kidding me! This book was mysterious, spooky, magical, romantic, worrisome. It kept me on the edge of my seat and had me craving more! I could have easily finished this sooner if adulting wasn’t a thing. I will forever be a fan of this story! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

I absolutely fell in love with this book! I wasn't sure what to expect going into it - - and let me tell you that I was completely surprised by just how wonderful it was. It's a little bit paranormal, a little bit mystery, a little bit romance and a little bit family drama. Basically, it's a little bit of everything and it's done very well!

The story focuses on the James women. They have history going back for years - - actually centuries in Caball Hollow. Their history and their lives seem woven into the very fabric of the small town. They are both a treasured prize and necessary evil depending on which townsperson you speak to. Each of these women possesses a special ability. Some can be hidden easier than others. Linden is the main focus of the story. She is one of the daughters. She's recovering from a trauma that happened a year ago when she was found lost and injured in the woods. Even after this time has passed, she still can't recall the specifics from the night, but she does suffer nightmares.

The way the present and past were blended together in this book was done well. The reader was given just enough information at a time to think they might know what was going on and then another piece would be revealed and the entire theory would change. It was all quite clever. I simply fell in love with these characters and the small town. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.