A different read, but one that I really enjoyed. I was short, making it easily readable and quick. This is a great read if you are a mood reader like me and need a genre shift to change things up (prevents reading slumps lol). Sisters with magical powers means the stories are bound to be good. I thought this was a fresh take on families with powers, highlighted girlhood and womanhood, and had the perfect amount of mystery (with a great ending!). Really enjoyed reading Bittersweet in the Hollow and look forward to anything Kate Pearsall puts out!

The buzzwords had me all the way in from the beginning and Pearsall absolutely delivered. I loved the sibling relationships and the mystery and absolutely everything.

Bitterasweet In The hollow is a wonderful Young Adult mystery with some dark and witchy elements that manage to captivate readers and make a captivating and rich and engaging read.

“How strange it is to be born and live somewhere our whole lives, to have roots here, and yet be made to feel we don’t belong. To be outsiders in the only home we’ve ever known.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content warnings (from Storygraph): violence/injury, murder/death (including child)/grief, car accident

I was intrigued by this book's cover and wanted to take a tiny break from fantasy. This one seemed like an interesting and creepy paranormal thriller set in rural West Virginia, and Penguin was nice enough to send me both an e-book and a physical copy of this gem! Bittersweet in the Hollow follows Linden James, one of four daughters born to a legacy of James women who have for decades owned a local restaurant and hidden their secret abilities. Each woman has a unique ability, and Linden's is that she can taste the emotions of others within her vicinity. Will this aid or harm her as she struggles to cope with not remembering what happened to her when she went missing a year ago, along with a twisted town's worth of secrets? Is her disappearance related to the disappearance of a little boy a decade ago? Will she be the last victim of whatever is stealing children in the deep of the woods?

This book had me hooked the entire story! I truly do not have a single critique to give at this time. I was tearing up even for the side characters. I enjoyed each character, and I struggled to discover how everyone was entangled together, but in a dramatic and suspenseful way. I loved the the hints of romance between different characters, but especially how it was in written in a sub-plot sort of way! Wow, the chemistry was perfect for my taste!

The setting was atmospherically chilling to the point that I had to stop reading at night sometimes from feeling a tad scared. Pearsall wrote too well the feeling of something ominous in the darkness watching you! I can't believe this is a debut? I spent the entire time thinking "Wow, this is already an auto-buy author, I can't wait to see what she comes with next!" I thought this was a standalone, and my one silly little wish was that I wished there was more of Rowan and Hadrian, only to discover there's a book 2 and they're the main characters???? Good soup!

An engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed! Highly recommend and will purchase several physical and digital copies for library collections. Thank you!!

I really just requested way too many books to try to keep up with during this time frame didn't I. (I apologize lol - I've been so tempted to just scratch this entire profile and start a new one)

The author's writing style is beautiful, but the dark fantasy aspect really isn't up my alley. I love YA suspense so that kept me reading, but I didn't love the fantasy.

I recently had the pleasure of diving into Bittersweet in the Hollow, and the author's skillful storytelling and ability to create tension and suspense had me hooked from the very first page. The characters were well-developed and added depth to the plot.

What I particularly enjoyed about Bittersweet in the Hollow was the twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was perfect, making it hard to put the book down once I started reading. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a ride filled with suspense, mystery, and unexpected surprises. It's a must-read for fans of the genre!

* Thank you Penguin Randomhouse for an eARC in exchange for an honest revew."

i absolutely loved the whimsy of this soft magic system. The James family each have a gift and our MC linden the emotions of those around her. The town has always been a little uneasy of the odd family, except of someone gets sick or is otherwise in need, of course they'll ask for help.

Every year the turn holds the moth festival to honor the longest standing folklone of the turn, the moth man. He is an omen of death. And that folklore is held in even higher because 17 years ago, a four year old boy went missing. And last year, something happened to linden on the woods she still can't remember.

A small town mystery with of whimsical magic? Sign me up. This book didnt disappoint.

This is the perfect book for fall or for when you need a little all witchiness in your life.

Set in a family of witches where everyone has a special skill, this book will make you want to set, enjoy some food, and enjoy the spooky vibes. Linder's particular skill is that she can taste what others are feeling. One night she vanishes with no memories of where she went or how she got back. A year later another girl has gone missing but this time she is found dead. Now, rumors of moth man have started up. What is the truth

Set in the Appalachian mountains this atmospheric mystery will keep you turning the page long into the night. I loved the folklore and family dynamics in this book. The mystery had me hooked This is full of wittiness, superstitions, and heart.

This is an easy 5 star for me

This was a very atmospheric southern gothic tale. Set in the mountains of Appalachia, this book has a good mix of magic, mystery, and folklore.

Throughout the book, you feel like you know the characters personally because their development is so well done by the author. The plot was engaging and exciting enough to keep you on your toes.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- a stunning debut of sisterhood and the lengths one will go for family. cannot wait for the other book(s) in this series!

This was a really slow paced book for me, though I did enjoy it. It feels like a cozy, small town, magical story. I would compare it to The Unmaking of June Farrow.

I enjoyed the cozy feel, but also the murder/mystery tied in. I wish it was all little faster paced, but I thought it worked well for the story if you want something a little more subdued that you can sink into a share and get lost in.

"Bittersweet in the Hollow" by Kate Pearsall is a novel that skillfully intertwines the beauty of rural life with the complex, often painful realities of family, love, and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of a small town that feels both timeless and deeply rooted in the American landscape, Pearsall crafts a narrative rich with characters who are as deeply flawed as they are endearing, drawing readers into a world where the bittersweetness of life is as palpable as the morning dew.

At the heart of the novel is the protagonist, whose journey of returning to their hometown after years away serves as the catalyst for the unfolding drama and healing. Pearsall excels in capturing the protagonist's internal conflict—the pull of nostalgia for a simpler past, mingled with the pain of old wounds and the yearning for reconciliation and growth. This return to roots, both literally and metaphorically, sets the stage for a story that explores the themes of identity, belonging, and the intricate dance between holding on and letting go.

Pearsall's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting the hollow with such vividness that it becomes a character in its own right. The landscape, with its rolling hills, ancient trees, and the ever-present whisper of the wind, mirrors the internal landscapes of the characters, reflecting their joys, sorrows, and the quiet moments of revelation that guide them towards understanding and acceptance.

The narrative weaves through the lives of multiple characters, each with their own struggles and secrets. Through these interconnected stories, Pearsall delves into the complexities of human relationships—parent and child, old loves and new, friends who become family by choice. "Bittersweet in the Hollow" doesn't shy away from the hard truths of life; instead, it confronts them with a gentle but unflinching honesty, exploring themes of addiction, loss, and the scars left by the past, while also illuminating the moments of grace and redemption that can emerge from pain.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its ability to balance the bitter with the sweet, creating a narrative that feels true to the messiness and beauty of life. Pearsall demonstrates a keen understanding of the human heart, crafting moments of quiet insight and loud, life-altering revelations with equal skill. The characters' journeys toward healing and understanding are neither linear nor predictable, but they are deeply moving and filled with the kind of hope that feels earned.

In "Bittersweet in the Hollow," Kate Pearsall has created a world that invites readers to look closely at the landscapes of their own lives—to find beauty in the flaws, strength in the struggle, and the possibility of transformation in the return to places and people who have shaped them. This novel is a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit, a poignant reminder that even in the hollows of life, there is light to be found.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

This book is a great rec to those who love the ominous books aimed at girls trend that has been so popular as of late (House of Hollow is the PERFECT comp.) The appalachian region is the perfect setting for this book and I loved getting to explore that.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this e-ARC. I am anticipating reading this soon and reviewing on my socials.

Bittersweet in the Hollow is an Appalachian, “old-ways” witchy mystery, centric around the Mothman lore of West Virginia. And it was a delight to read. Most of my family is from Appalachia, so this book felt like a comfortable sweater in a lot of ways. And the paranormal, folk lore aspect just really took it to the next level. There is something about small town witchy that gave the James women the same vibe to me as Practical Magic (albeit much younger witches).

I loved the atmosphere of this novel, and the paranormal aspects of it. There wasn’t a character I disliked in all of this, and really recommend this book if you are a sucker for paranormal, Appalachian folklore, or just small town mysteries.

Tremendous thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the opportunity to read this novel!

Bittersweet in the Hollow is a mix of mystery, fantasy, thriller and romance. I know that sounds like a lot but it didn’t feel like it.

This book takes place in Appalachia, which I find so fascinating. I need to read more books with settings like this.

This book was so enthralling and kept me on the edge of my seat. The town folklore and all the secrets keeps you captivated the entire time.

This reminded me of House of Hollow, a book I truly adored. If you enjoyed that one I think this would be a hit also.

I recommend going in blind. It was so fun that way.

I think the concept of this book sounds way more fascinating then the actual writing it's self. I like the talk about the witchy stuff and the talk of the forest around the town (it kinda sounds like Appalachian Mountains) but making them work together really isn't doing it for me. I think keeping the witchy stuff out and doing a Appalachian Mountains murder mystery would have probably drawn me in more to wanting to continue the story.

NOW THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL A MURDER MYSTERY. I have nothing bad to say about this book. It was engaging, straightforward and so easy to understand. 10/10