"These hills and hollows are where legends and lore thrive, alive and well. Mine is a story of being lost for a night in the vastness of the National Forest, of fearing the unknown and what may be hiding in shadows of the deepest dark. But make no mistake, it’s far from the only mystery held beneath these ancient peaks. And as much as I want to forget, I know that sometimes secrets are seeds, just waiting for the right conditions to sprout. The deeper you bury them, the stronger they grow."

When it comes to reading, there are few things better than when a book hits all of the right notes (or in this case, flavors), and BITTERSWEET IN THE HOLLOW did just that. With atmospheric writing and unexpected suspense, I didn't want to put it down once I started. Pearsall combined threads of belonging, love, and sisterhood with a mystery steeped in lore, creating an unforgettable story.

As shared in the synopsis, the James women have had unique, uncanny abilities for generations. While this is a multigenerational story, the focus in on the four sisters that comprise the youngest, and I loved how open and honest their relationship was with one another. The way that Linden's ability was described was absolutely beautiful.

"Emotions are complicated things. Sometimes a strong flavor, like anger or sadness, hides a whole host of others underneath—guilt, fear, hurt, nostalgia. Yet other times they enhance each other, like salt to caramel or coffee to chocolate, like grief bringing into sharper focus the shame of letting a friendship fade away."

BITTERSWEET IN THE HOLLOW has light magic that is easy to understand, and it's perfect for either summer or spooky season. Based upon the title of the sequel, I'm hoping that the next installment is told from Rowan's point of view. If you're not a fan of starting a series before all of the books have been released, Linden's story was wrapped up nicely and could easily be read as a standalone. Thank you, Penguin Teen, for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Additional quotes that I loved:
"The old grist mill that houses the Harvest Moon has creaky, wide-plank floorboards, worn smooth by generations of hard work, with cracks between them just wide enough for secrets to fall through."

"What does it mean to go missing? To become lost, to disappear. None of the tales we’re told as children are useful instruction. We don’t hike with pockets full of bread crumbs to leave a trail, and no fairy godmother will appear to point the way. Sometimes, no matter how good and righteous we are, we may never find our way home. Being lost is as existential as it is physical. The loss of your spatial orientation, an unmooring of your place in the world. The disorienting sensation that nothing is as it was before."

This book was interesting and had a nice spooky vibe. I think it's great for it's age group and kind of have off house of hollows vibes.

Bittersweet in the Hollow is an interesting take on the mothman folklore. A book built on missing children, murder and a serial killers calling card.
The James women were one of the original founders of Bittersweet in the Hollow and many believed them to be witches. All the women in the James family have unique gifts that tthey use within the family but know better than to use to influence the lives of others. What happenns though when ones powers are so strong that they leak into everyone and everything?
The mothman is said to ferry those who have died sudden and tragic deaths to the otherworld. Its also said that he can be summoned and will grant your hearts desire buut only if you give up ssomething of equal importance.
What people don't realize is that the mothman can actually only be summoned from the blood of a James woman.
The town will turn against those considered different when one of their Moth Queen's is discovered murdered with a calling card left on her body. Most believe that the James women have something to do with the disappearances and they will stop at nothing to prove that the witches are behind it all.

Thank you to #Netgalleyforthe chance to read #BittersweetInTheHollow by #KatePearsall in return for a fair and honest review.

4/5 Stars ! This has been a good month!

Bittersweet in the Hollow is a creeping and thoughtful YA thriller dipped in Appalachian magic and old legends that come to life. Following four sisters with unique inherited powers: Linden, with the power to taste emotions, Rowan, who can detect lies, Juniper, who can talk to the dead, and Sorrel, who charms both bees and their honey alike to strengthen spells.

Linden is our MC, a girl who's memory of the last year is as muddled as her feelings for her childhood sweetheart. She had disappeared at the town festival only to reappear again with missing time, scars, and an innate sense that something is watching her.

When a friend of the sister's, Deliliah goes missing in a similarly mysterious manner, this sets off a series of events that force Linden and the others to recognize that there may be more to the stories than just being fairytales to keep children in bed at night. Already feared and misunderstood, the James girls try to defend Linden, who has now become a suspect, and their family. Delilah and Linden were not the only ones to disappear in these woods, and there is something, or someone, watching from the dark.

Filled to the brim with the close-knit small town vibes of Appalachia this book is both familiar and heartwarming while being haunting and straight up freaky in others. The James' family runs a restaurant, and their magic is deeply intertwined in their food and family. I personally loved and appreciated this aspect, as it made the story feel so grounded, their powers believable and useful without fanfare. I think oftentimes people get Too Big with magic and forget that it is intrinsically linked with the things that makes us human.

The mystery aspect was well written and once I hit my stride I ran to each next page, so desperately curious about what was going to happen next. I had a couple of false-starts at the beginning but was so utterly charmed by the atmosphere, even the creepy bits, that I kept coming back for more. Highly recommend if you want a cozy thriller.

My thanks to netgalley and the author for this ARC!

This is my Roman Empire. I loved every single second of this book. As a fan of dark and mysterious disappearances, this was right up my alley. I love how unique the sister's powers are, and how their powers sort of collide with one anothers. I truly can't wait to have all my friends read this book.

Both the relationships and the mysteries of Bittersweet in the Hollow are a slow and steady unfolding, written with a sure hand. If this is Pearson’s debut, then she is definitely going to be a writer to watch.
Linden went missing the night of The Moth Festival, the biggest night of year in the small town of Caball Hollow, West Virginia. She was found within 24-hours, but was hurt and is still missing the memory of what happened. But what happened that night is just one mystery Bittersweet in the Hollow will investigate. Linden isn’t the only one to go missing in the forest, but she is the only one to be found alive. And is the legend of the Moth-Winged Man real?
Pearsall writes a rich history for her town, one steeped in the folklore that came with the Irish founders hundreds of years before. She gives us deeply buried secrets that slowly wind their way out of hiding; some having to do with the missing, the murdered, and the estranged. At the center of it all is the James women.
With the intergenerational household of James women with four sisters ‘born in as many years’, we get an intriguing line of witches with their individual abilities and approaches to their craft. In Bittersweet in the Hollow, we’ll get Linden as our first person narrator and all that she entails: the amnesia, the revelations of her magic, her falling in love with a childhood friend, her roles as grand/daughter, sister, and friend. It is through her we are offered a captivating introduction to Caball Hollow, its residents, and Pearson’s skill at using all the senses (especially taste).
Pearsall has crafted plenty of compelling characters, but for our first introduction to the lore and chemistry of the James family and their town, Linden really is a fantastic choice. Linden is highly empathic and incredibly courageous. Her strengths could also count as flaws (naturally). And it’s a tension in the novel: who she is, how she is, and what that means for everyone around her. She’s given the strongest reasons to unbury the past and to fear and grieve its consequences.
Romance readers will probably get the greatest amount of pleasure from the read, already anticipating a series set-up. Four sisters with an array of fiery temperaments… We’ve got the swoon-worthy boy next door and the sexy dangerous stranger. We even have estranged parents (fingers crossed there). But the lore is also satisfying and the dark and disturbing facets of the novel work. There are some really creepy and truly heartbreaking experiences to be had that have nothing to do with romance.
The pacing is quieter than I anticipated, the memories and such coming more irregularly. The revelations come at their own pace. Pearsall doesn’t seem worried. The confidence in the storytelling is there and carries the protagonist and reader toward a satisfying conclusion. Pearsall will give us plenty of bitter to go with the sweet. And she’ll give us an ending that will invite us to return to Caball Hollow and I’m excited by the opportunity. The James women, their chemistry, this small town… Yes, please, and thank you.

This read was a perfect fall read with its witchy vibes. I enjoyed how Pearsall balanced the mystery with the magical elements (although I'm not totally sure I'm a fan of where some of the magical elements went in the end, I was on board with them overall). Magic in books can be very hit or miss for me, but I tend to love the books where the author makes it work! I loved the #girlpower of the James family, and I so loved the dynamics between the sisters! I thought the relationship between Linden and Cole was sweet, but not too teeny-angsty. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

A story about generational witches set in the Appalachian mountains really can never go wrong. There's a lot of good folklore weaved in which I can really appreciate as well.

While it did have a bit of a slow start the second half of the book never lets you go. It's extremely enthralling.

While the magic system and murder mystery asps are wonderful I think my favorite part of the book was how atmospheric it is. You can close your eyes and picture exactly where the book takes place and I love that.

The characters were great. They felt like real people and not just characters. They all had their own quirks, stories, and reasons, making everyone of them very dynamic and none of them flat.

This is a great spooky YA book and absolutely perfect for this time of the year.

There is something special about the James women. For generations, starting back with one of the first settlers in Caball Hollow, the women of the family have a special gift. Linden is one of four sisters and she can taste was emotions others are feeling. Confessing her gift to her boyfriend Cole leads to a night of terror she doesn’t remember. The small town of Caball Hollow in West Virginia has seen some tragedies over the years. The myth of the moth winged man is the legend in the town that is responsible for the death of two residents. Is this creature also responsible for Linden’s missing time and memories? Can Linden find out who is responsible to the death of her friend before she becomes a victim to the month winged man herself?
This was an amazing story rich with history and folklore of the Appalachian region in West Virginia. My favorite parts of the book were when regional history and dialect were woven into the story. The slightly paranormal aspect with family magic was also a very exciting aspect that lead to some great twists and turns. Linden and her sisters have great relationships and I would love to see their stories (especially Rowan’s). The plot and storyline was so intricate and thrilling that I could not put the book down! I was on the edge of my seat and loved reading the storyline and seeing relationships unfold. I wish I could have seen more of what might happen with Linden and Cole, but the ending was bittersweet like the title suggests. A really great read that I would definitely recommend! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

Mysterious. Creepy. And enchanting. This book is a beautiful example of magical realism. The subtle magic of the witchy sisters is so interwove with the mundane that it feels like a perfectly believable aspect of the story—as if there are indeed witchy women with otherworldly powers that have deep roots in the Appalachian area.

Great world building, as well. Very atmospheric. Through food, scent and taste, as well as the close family unite of the James women, readers are delivered into the region and culture of Appalachian West Virginia. Rich and fully detailed.

A bit of a slow start, but the second half of the book kept me on my toes as I was swayed back and forth trying to figure out who the killer was and if they were indeed otherworldly or simply a human.

DNF

Been wanting more spooky appalachian books as an appalachia reader, but sadly I just couldnt get interested. in this one. I tried reading on and off for a couple months and it didnt click for me

Thanks to PenguinTeen for both the Netgalley e-arc and the gifted physical finished copy! This my honest thoughts and opinion of the gifted copies I read.

With the fall season slowly (and I mean slowly, leaves are changing but its still humid and hotter then heck around my area) rolling in, I’ve been feeling the hankerin’ for a good witchy, folklore and superstition filled story. Bittersweet in the Hollow scratched that itch so good, if I was a dog my back leg would be thumping.

You want generational witches? Check
Small Appalachian mountain town? Check
Old folklore and superstitions that date back to the founding of the town? Check
Murder mystery? Check
Secrets, hidden identities, betrayals and more? Check, Check, Check, and check.

Seriously. Kate Pearsall dropped me into Cabal Hollow and unlike the young residents, I didn’t want to leave. I just wanted to continue to wrap myself up in the mystery of the James family women, and to plunge myself deep into the superstitions and folklore that seep through to the core of the story. I closed the book and needed to flip it over and start again.

Kate Pearsall’s writing is seductive in that even after putting the book down, the story and questions whisper in your ear, pulling at you to come back to uncover more. She lays out clues and questions in ways that keep you guessing as to their truths. Lindel’s missing memories haunt the reader as much as they haunt the town reeling from another tragic loss. This story is so beautifully done. The atmosphere is right. The characters are engaging, compelling, unique, and likable. The plot gives and takes and twists and turns and keeps you guessing every step of the way. The pacing is so well done that even the lulls in between answers and action packed sequences keep me turning pages.

If this isn’t on your TBRs for October, it needs to be.

This book was a rollercoaster of a ride and had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. Throughout the story, it felt like you were asking more questions that you needed the answers to. What happened to Linden in the forest a year ago? Who or what is the Moth man and what happened to the missing girl that didn't make it home? All of these questions had me wanting more from this story and I ended up finishing this book in one day.

This story was beautifully written, and I enjoyed the magic system. Each sister had their own unique power and I felt that Linden's power to taste feelings was vital in helping her throughout this mystery. Although I believed this book to be a standalone, it looks like a second book is in the works according to Goodreads, I am excited and curious to see how the story will proceed. Overall, this is the perfect book to get you into the Fall season.

Bittersweet in the Hollow comes out on October 10th.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to review Bittersweet in the Hollow. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love love loved this book, such great characters, and lots of feeling! I had never read a book by this author so I was very excited to receive this arc and it definitely did not disappoint!

A YA horror/thriller about a family of witches set in a small town in Appalachian?! I knew I had to pick this one up. I loved the descriptive writing, setting, and the family dynamic of the James women. It overall was a cool, unique story, but just too long. The middle in particular didn’t have enough action or critical moments to keep my attention. I also felt that the end was a little info dumpy. I’m glad I read it, but it’s not a new favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book.

Linden was born with abilities, just like her sisters, her mother, and her grandmother before her. For centuries, her family has lived in tiny Caball Hollow, located in the National Forest. A year ago, Linden vanished, only to turn up the next day with no memories of where she'd been or what had happened to her. Now, the same thing is happening to someone else, only she winds up dead. What's hiding in the wood of Caball Hollow?

This is one of the best books I've read this year, hands down. It's moody and stretches familial roots deep. There are so many secrets that slowly unfold, all while keeping a perfect pace. It's the first in the series, and personally, I'm all in on another book! I think the characters are well-fleshed out, and the feeling of the town is solid. I also love the legend of the Mothman-type creature and the lore behind it. It touches its roots in Scots-Irish legend and does it in a fascinating way. It's everything I love in a book, and I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!
In Caball Hollow, the James women have been serving up comfort foods for 3 generations and secretly magic remedies for much longer. Linden is the third sister in the youngest generation, an ability she often views as a burden, and one night of missing memories while being missing in a forest. She was content with letting sleeping dogs lie and try to push past that night. Exactly one year later that plan falls about when a friend goes missing and turns up dead in the same forest.
With the help of her sisters, maybe a ghost or two, one boy whose made her feel rejected for the last year and one boy her sister knows isn't telling, can she solve the case before it's too late?
This book was so good, I finished it in one setting!
I am so in love with this book! I loved the bond between the sisters, it reminded me a lot of my own sisters! Sorrel is the oldest with the ability to charm bees, Rowan is next with the ability to know people lie, and the youngest is Juniper with the ability to talk with ghost. Then of course Linden who can taste people's emotions.
I love that this book was constantly weaving magic into the mundane. The suspense in this book was perfect. There were definitely times I absolutely regretted reading this book at night because I actually got a little spooked so many times. This is a perfect fall spooky read🍂🍂

Thank you to Penguin Teen for an advanced copy of this book!

Bittersweet in the Hollow is Practical Magic meets Appalachia. In this captivating mystery, Linden and her sisters journey to find a killer in Caball Hollow. Is it the Moth-Winged Man? Is it one of their own? All four girls have special abilities that aid them in their investigation. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book. I couldn't get enough of the food, the witchcraft, and the beautiful scenery. Even though it takes place in the summer in the mountains, it is the perfect Fall read. 5/5 I want to re-read it again and again.

I received this book from NetGalley and Penguin in exchange for an honest review!

This was exactly what I was looking for! I loved that it was spooky and mysterious without being over the top. I thought the story was super interesting and I liked that there was folklore in there as well. It really added to the whole atmosphere of the book.

My favourite part of the book was the characters though. I am a very character driven reader and I thoroughly was invested in these characters as whole. I thought Linden was very likeable and I was really invested in all her relationships and what happened to her. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the whole James family as well. Especially with the sisters! I'm not going to lie, the sisters could've been a bit more diverse in personalities but otherwise, I loved them! The parents, aunt and grandma were also great characters I could really feel. Cole was okay. I didn't love him as a love interest but I feel like that was because we didn't really see a TON of him. Linden and Cole's scenes together were a bit dominated by Linden, which is fine because I loved Linden, but it did make me not care as much about Cole.

This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning and never lost my interest throughout. I would definitely recommend it!

Ps. the subtle little queer rep at the end made my heart happy.

This book had an interesting vibe, but was short on plot points to keep it moving. It's a slow burn in the beginning- which can be good, but ultimately it just felt lacking.