I had high hopes for this book based on its intriguing synopsis, which promised a gripping story combining forensic art, family tragedy, and the impact of MAGA politics and social tensions in a small Idaho town. Unfortunately, I gave up reading halfway through the book, as the execution didn’t live up to its potential.
I applaud the author for tackling timely and necessary subjects, but ultimately, the story felt more like a checklist of issues than an engaging narrative. Perhaps it picks up in the second half, but I wasn’t compelled to stick around to find out.

A gripping and thought provoking novel set in an American small town. The story blends themes of family dynamics, and generational trauma, and is filled with many twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. A powerful and timely story.
Many thanks to Sibylline Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I dnf'd this. Just couldn't get into it. The premise sounds good but the execution didn't work for me.

This book tackles a myriad of intense and timely issues, including abortion laws, LGBTQIA rights, racism, same-sex marriage, romance, second chances, grief, familial drama, and more. Despite this, I almost DNF'd it at about 25% because I found it quite slow. However, I stuck it out, and around 45%, the story began to heat up as the consequences of the characters' actions started to unfold.

While I appreciate the breadth of topics covered, I struggled with the logistics and character decisions. The plotline involving Kento wanting to have a baby with his homophobic, racist ex-girlfriend from high school, who is still in love with him and hates his husband, felt particularly far-fetched. The ex-girlfriend, still legally married to an abusive, homophobic man, was another layer of implausibility. The rationale behind these decisions—to spite Kento’s father—seemed especially nonsensical and dangerous.

The subplot with the affair with Hazel's deceased husband felt underdeveloped and ultimately fell flat. The affair didn't come as a surprise given the husband's unlikeable nature and seemed like a plot device to explain Hazel's financial situation rather than an integral part of the story. Maybe this was done to give Hazel closure, given how the author brought that to a close, though it appeared distracting.

Despite its chaotic and implausible plot, the book may appeal to those who enjoy messy family dramas. However, even in such stories, I need some logical coherence, which I found lacking here. The characters, especially Kento, made impulsive and indecisive choices that were hard to overlook. For instance, the decision to let the ex-girlfriend stay in Hazel’s house despite all the red flags was baffling.

The ending, where major crimes are brushed under the rug with the help of a conveniently available lawyer, felt rushed and unconvincing. The romance subplot, while predictable, was one of the book’s redeeming qualities. It was refreshing to see Hazel move on from her toxic ex-husband and find potential happiness with Simon, who seemed to be the only consistently likable character.

Overall, the book's pacing was both a strength and a weakness. It took a while to get going, but once it did, it was relentless, making for a somewhat dizzying read. If you enjoy fast-paced, messy family dramas with a touch of romance, you might find "Bitterroot" engaging. However, if you prefer stories with more logical consistency, this one might be a challenging read. I’m landing on 2.5-3 stars, because I can’t say it’s irredeemable and I know what may not be for me might make someone else’s day.

Thanks to NetGalley & Sibylline Press for this ARC.

Definitely be in the mood for a book to be right on the nose. No escapism here.

Slapped in the face with all the terrifying stuff from white Christian nationalists with very twist and turn worse than the last. I had a hard time with this one. I should have read the synopsis and that’s on me.

It wasn’t bad writing just difficult subject matter with no respites of hope.

This world is on fire.

Thanks to netgalley and Sibylline press for an eARC

I loved the premise and was excited to read the book. I found parts of it to be a bit confusing, especially towards the end. The pacing was a bit slow at times and felt like the book could have used a bit more editing. Overall, I enjoyed the story and writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sibylline Press for an eARC of Bitterroot in exchange for a honest review. Bitterroot deals with grief, abortion laws, LBGTQ+ rights, same sex marriage, racism, and many other important topics. I was initially very intrigued with the story but then bad things just kept happening…one after the other…it never stopped. Authors have to keep the reader engaged, but this book took it too far. When the book got to about the 90% mark I thought to myself that surely things were going to start resolving…not so. I found myself groaning at each new event or twist that happened. The story idea is great but the writing was not for me. I could see this book being a great limited series for tv.

Small town America can be a place filled with friendly, relatable people, but it can also be the complete opposite. Suzy Vitello dives right in and manages to create a small town setting blanketed in negative feelings fuelled by extreme viewpoints and ideologies, and her passion for these sensitive topics comes through in her writing.

Steeplejack is a fictitious small town in Idaho. The main characters find themselves victims of hatred or participants of spreading hatred in a community with a range of prejudices towards minority groups. Personally, the two characters that stood out most to me was Hazel and Corinda. Hazel is a forensic artist (you don't hear that every day; nice touch) who has dealt with her fair share of tragedy, but keeps powering on and dealing with situations as they arise. Corinda radiates all kinds of chaos, reminding me of the character Ruth in the tv series, Ozark. Yes, she is quite the controversial one!

Overall thoughts: This story gives voice to hate crimes and hatred-filled dialogue that unfortunately does still exist and will resonate with some readers. On the other hand, some readers will find this story confronting, as it does touch on blanket descriptors/stereotypes for those with more conservative beliefs. As far as the plot and flow of the story, it will have some surprises in store for you. Seeing as the version that I have read was an ARC, I am hoping some of the characters, events and connections will be further developed. Bitterroot contains a perspective worth sharing, even if it makes us uncomfortable.

Thank you Sibylline Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.