Distant sisters Sabrina and Mariah receive a call from their grandmother, telling them that they are needed to run the family restaurant in Georgetown, South Carolina to, while their grandfather heals from an illness. No one knows that Sabrina and her daughter are living out of her vehicle, with support from a controlling woman. They also have no idea that Mariah's husband just asked for a divorce. What starts off a little rocky, slowly turns into a journey of healing…especially after they read letters from their great grandmother which explain her trials and tribulations in starting the restaurant.

Once again, @authorrhondamcknight had given us a page turner that focuses on family drama, grief, therapy, healing and love. It's proof that when the wrong person(s) leave your life, the right things happen. I love how Sabrina and Mariah finally put their differences sides and we're there for one another…as well as their grandparents. I also loved the inside look of the southern culture. I nearly jumped out of my seat when Bull Street in Columbia, SC was mentioned, because I could vividly picture the facility in my mind. If you've ever lived in Columbia, you know the one.

I would recommend this book over and over again.

Absolutely enjoyed this book. I loved how Rhonda mixes in a bit of historical fiction in her stories. If you haven't read it yet, read it!!

This book was very captivating. I highly recommend this book. It's a very easy read and worth reading

I found this hard to get into. The timeline was a bit much at times and I could not stick with it. I finished it but I didn't really like it.

I really enjoyed reading Bitter and Sweet. Central to the story is the complicated relationship between 2 sisters. Sibling rivalry is common; but unresolved issues can lead to years of misunderstanding and hurt. As is common in many families, a central figure (in this case their grandmother) draw Mariah and Sabrina back home to the place they spent much of their childhood. They are tasked with reopening their grandparents restaurant and to do so requires them to address their past issues. The story takes place with alternating timelines (the past and present day) which adds depth and complexity. I highly recommend for those that enjoy historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing an ARC of this title. Opinions are my own.

Wow ! This was my first Rhonda McKnight book! Ms. McKnight has a wonderful way with words and has a great ability to interweave the past and the present. If you enjoy faith based , black , historical fiction , and romance you will enjoy this book !

Absolutely beautiful book. McKnight always does an amazing job of writing multigenerational stories.

Rhonda McKnight is a masterful storyteller. This story is engaging from the very first pages. The themes of family, sisterhood and legacy are strong. Your heart breaks with the characters as they struggle and you root for them when they triumph! This family will be relatable by most readers and enjoyed by anyone who reads it!

One thing I love about @authorrhondamcknight art, she always brings me back to the love, affection, and pure care of my Granny!!

Bitter and Sweet is symbolic of our very own generations and the women in our lineage that give us the strength coursing through our veins !

With that said, I created a playlist that not only represents the women in the book but also our story, our history, our loves, our griefs, our lives because it’s in our music!!

Link in Story

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4k7JRbaNGYU2UJvihxHCD4?si=jF3rWyGNQ-Gv-DMLkBA1TQ&pi=u-mPLeXHmeTJmz

What an enjoyable, well written book. This story takes you through the lives of Mariah and Sabrina, who are sisters. Not only are they going through their own problems, but they are also dealing with the problems of the family. A lot, wouldn't you say. Dive into this book to learn more about the characters and how the story moves from beginning to end. This is a book that I would recommend.

Here are a few of my favorite statements.
🫧 "If you can't define unhappiness, then you're probably not happy either." Vince walked out of the kitchen like he hadn't thrown a meat cleaver at my heart.

🫧 The words on his lips vibrated against her ear and added to the jackhammer that was her heart.

🫧 It was wise of her to keep her money hidden because her man had secrets.

🫧 "I'm not the first woman to fall in love with a man and accept his lies, and I won't be the last."

🫧 "I remember you."

🫧 Therapy is an opportunity to get strategies. It doesn't mean you're unwell. It just means you need a little help coping. It's no different from going to a medical doctor for a physical health condition.

🫧 His voice...deep but soothing at the same time. He was often slow to speak, deliberate instead of ready with a word for everything. Being intentional made him more trustworthy.

🫧 "But remember there aren't always clear paths to the truth. People don't always participate in your process, especially if they're suppressing their own pain. The best you can do is challenge them to share, but then accept if they won't or can't."

🫧 I was living proof that sometimes you need Jesus and a good therapist to make it through and then to make it better.

McKnight’s story doesn’t just focus on the present; it also uncovers the incredible journey of their ancestor Tabitha, a woman whose culinary roots in the early 1900s laid the foundation for the family’s strength. Through Tabitha’s letters, Mariah and Sabrina discover a recipe for forgiveness and family healing that’s every bit as nourishing as her Southern dishes.
Bittersweet is a soulful, layered novel that explores the power of family ties and the courage to build anew—even from bitter memories. Prepare to feel ALL the emotions (and maybe crave some cornbread while you’re at it)!

*Bitter and Sweet* weaves a poignant tale of family, legacy, and the complex relationships between sisters, set against the backdrop of a beloved family restaurant in Georgetown, South Carolina. Mariah and Sabrina Clark are drawn back to their roots not just to save their grandfather’s business, but also to confront their past and the simmering tensions that threaten their bond. Mariah, still reeling from her recent divorce and disillusioned about life, struggles with the idea of pouring her heart into another venture, while Sabrina sees the restaurant as a chance to create stability for herself and her daughter.

Interspersed with letters from their ancestor, Tabitha Cooper, who faced her own struggles in early twentieth-century Charleston, the narrative delves into themes of resilience, healing, and the importance of food as a means of connection. Gritty and heartfelt, the novel masterfully juxtaposes the sisters' present challenges with Tabitha's inspiring journey, ultimately encouraging readers to savor both the bitter and sweet moments of life. With rich character development and a warm, inviting atmosphere, *Bitter and Sweet* is a delightful exploration of family ties and the transformative power of love and food.

I loved everything about this book. The story line and the character building was great. This author has an amazing way of making her books relatable to her readers. This is another great read by Rhonda McKnight.

Bitter and Sweet by Rhonda McKnight is a compelling exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of family dynamics. The narrative follows a young woman as she navigates her relationships while confronting painful truths about her past. McKnight’s authentic writing captures the nuances of emotional struggles and personal growth, making the characters relatable and deeply engaging. Themes of forgiveness and resilience resonate throughout the story, offering readers a thoughtful reflection on the power of healing. This heartfelt novel is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction.

I love hos Rhonda takes difficult family and personal situations and weaves a story of hope. I could relate a bit to both sisters, at different times. The struggles of both are relatable. An excellent story of family.

A good read that kept me engaged in wanting to know how it would end for each of the main characters.

This is my first read by this author and will be interested to read more from her. This book was a beautiful multigenerational family story told through multiple points of view and also had dual timelines which I love. This was a heartfelt story of family and the trials and tribulations that families endure. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

A story of past and present, family, love, friendship where we follow three generations of a family through the ups and downs of their lives. This story is so real and really brings to your attention family relationships and dynamics. I love the family and how they work hard individually and as a family to overcome hardships and celebrate the good times. This is a story for everyone.

So well written and easy to follow and read the story and characters draw you in to their stories and their lives. It is a great book and a wonderful story to read. 4 1/2 stars for this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Bitter and Sweet

Rhonda McKnight

4 stars

Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland haven't had the easiest sisterhood, what with all the family drama from their childhood. As adults, they barely communicate, both avoiding the other to maintain their peace of mind. Now, they've both got their own messes to sort out. But when their grandma calls them back to Georgetown to run the family restaurant because their grandpa's health is going downhill, they've got to get their act together. They need to save the restaurant and keep the family name shining.

Their grandmother shared letters from their great-great-grandma Tabitha and encouraged Mariah and Sabrina to read them. Her old letters show the sisters that they're not the first in the family to deal with tough times or bad choices. Mariah's not the first to be let down by a guy, and Sabrina's not the first to make hard calls for her kid's sake. Tabitha’s persistent and determination in opening her own restaurant in the Jim Crow south is a testament to how important the restaurant, Tabby’s Meats and Sweets, is to their family heritage. While working together although reluctantly at first, the sisters are able to peel back layers and restore their relationship.

Rhonda McKnight's done it again with a book that hits you right in the feels. BITTER AND SWEET dives into some heavy stuff—postpartum blues, breakups, sorrow, unexpected pregnancy, It's a story that sticks with you and characters that feel like old friends. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good multigenerational story of strong women and the importance of family.

Bitter and sweet is a great way to describe the relations between the main characters who are sisters. They are called home to the Lowcountry of South Carolina to help our their grandparents. The grandparents have a family restaurant. They want the girls to reconcile and to possibly take over the restaurant. Both women are at a crossroads as one is reeling from an impending divorce and the needs a refuge after the untimely death of her husband and the responsibility of being a single parent.
Long held bitterness between them prevents them from being candid about each other’s needs the abilities.
Lessons in the story come from the parallel story of their great grandmother Tabitha who struggled as a single mother, restaurant owner in Charleston during the 1920s and 1930s.
I enjoyed this story.