Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

This is an amazingly twisted book. I don’t usually enjoy books that have political figures as the main characters but I loved Shanora’s other thrillers and knew I had to read this anyway. Every character in this book has secrets and when you think you have it all figured out, more twists pop up. I loved the overall message of the book. The most important thing to take away from this book is to make sure you have a friend like Shavonne and always be a Shavonne.

Rating: 4.5

Are you looking for a summer read that leaves you suspecting every character of some wrongdoing - read The Bitter Truth! This thriller had me turning the pages to find out who was stalking the governor and if his wife was innocent in it all.

Meet Dominic, the governor of North Carolina and his wife, First Lady Jolene. Together, in the public eye, they look like relationship goals. She is the supportive wife in his drive for public service. The public loves her even more than they love him. But as they navigate the complexities of public life and reelection, the shadows of their past actions loom large.

Jolene is also a heiress, but not a spoiled one. Her father ensured she knew what it meant to work and get an education with his loving guidance. On the other hand, her mother may have sowed some seeds of self-doubt and low self-esteem. Dominic had the opposite upbringing; he raised himself since his mother had severe mental problems that led to her death while he was still young. She had a substantial impact on his life. He had to work extremely hard to make it to college and believes he needs to be in control for his life to make sense.

Now that Dom is preparing for reelection, someone keeps leaving messages regarding his past that he thought was dealt with. This leaves him on edge. Jolene noticed Dom's behaviour and saw certain activities that made her question her trust in him. But who is this woman, Eden, who keeps appearing around Dominic? Hmmm....keep turning the page.

The twists and turns of the book kept me turning the pages!!! It's an addictive thriller read.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Page-turner, Twisted, Unpredictable

This book started pretty slow for me but after the mid point I started having whiplash with all the twists I didn’t see coming and the story got really exciting ! I also loved the friendships in this book 🩵 it’s always nice reading about good friends - we rarely get them in thrillers !

Jolene “Jo” Baker, the dedicated wife of North Carolina Governor Dominic Baker, finds her loyalty tested as their seemingly perfect life unravels. Shanora Williams blends suspense and rich character development, making readers question the true motives behind each character's actions.

The story's strength lies in its intricate plot and the relentless pace of the narrative. As Jo grapples with the ominous presence of a stalker and Dominic's inexplicable paranoia, the tension escalates, leading to a series of shocking revelations. There were several times when I went "ope! plot hole!" just to realize that it was all part of the plan.

Fans of high-stakes thrillers and complex characters will find "The Bitter Truth" a gripping read. The book's exploration of love, loyalty, and the lengths one will go to protect their image is both thought-provoking and entertaining. Shanora Williams has crafted a rich-people-behaving-badly drama that is sure to leave a lasting impression. How far would you go to protect your image? How far would you go to exact the perfect revenge? This book will make you wonder.

Thank you Shanora Williams, Kensington Publishing, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I enjoyed this book very much! The characters were well developed and the storyline kept me engaged the whole way through. I’d definitely recommend this book to others.

I liked this one. I enjoyed the scandal and mystery surrounding this story, but I struggled to connect with any of the characters. The pace and overall believability were tough at times too. I did like it and will recommend it on my platform :)

This book was really good, so many twists and turns and so many ups and downs from each character in this story. It will have you all over the place, but I couldn’t for a second put this book down. I kept wanting to know what was about to happen. This follows the Governor of NC, Dominic and he’s married to Jolene Baker. They seem like the perfect couple and everything seems perfect until all these secrets of Dominic’s start coming to light. This book had me on the edge of my seat.

Wow what a thriller I could not put this down. I love the dual POV and whatever I guessed was wrong, it certainly keeps you on your toes.

Politics, history, seduction, lies and truths which is it. This was written so well and the character development top notch.

I loved this one so much! From start to finish it was packed with drama, mystery and suspense. I read this one so quickly because I could not stop reading.
One thing I love about this author is that her thriller books always hook you right away. There's no slow or dull moments. There were so many twists and turns! I loved the multiple povs and different time lines. I highly recommend this one if you love a good drama filled thriller with a satisfying conclusion.

Shanora Williams is the Queen of thrillers!!! THE BITTER TRUTH is an earth shattering read that I h a d the opportunity to read early. Anytime a book has me on the edge of my seat in anticipation it is worth it. Things are not always what they seem, Especially in a relationship and the need to protect the perfect image is common. Adrenaline rush, and a must read for the Summer !!!

thriller on steroids and I LOVED IT!

This story had a strong provocative plot with so many moving pieces, the build up and suspense kept me guessing until the very end.

Secrets, lies, and a murder wrapped seductively in the lives of a married power couple made for an enticing, exciting and suspenseful story.

This author got me good with all the juicy details as I thought the story was going to go on one direction and BAM nope something else happened.

Complex and complicated characters shined as we try to figure out what’s what and who’s who.

Nothing is what it appears to be!
I was captivated from beginning to end!

This is my third book by Shanora Williams. I absolutely enjoyed The Wife Before and liked The Other Mistress. So naturally, I was ecstatic when I was approved to an ARC of her new book. I had such high hope for this one, but unfortunately it fell short.

At first, I was immediately hooked when I read the prologue. It had an eerie element and drew me in. I loved that the characters were short and that you get to see the POVs of multiple characters. I loved the premises of the story - a government official who has a dark secret, men with big egos ignited by greed, fame, and fortune. There was underlying theme of men, especially men in power, getting away with things they do wrong. I also really appreciated the women empowerment vibes.

Although the first half of the book started off promising, the second half went downhill. The twists were not twisting. They made no sense and left me with more questions than answers. They were so farfetched and I found myself rolling my eyes for most of the second half. Although I love multiple POVs, I felt like there were too many unnecessary POVs. There were repetitive and unnecessary details and long winded thoughts.

I wanted to love this book because I enjoyed her other books, but this one just was not for me. However, you might enjoy it. So I encourage you to give it a try.

𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕂𝕟𝕠𝕨
✍🏾 Domestic Thriller
✍🏾 Multiple POV
✍🏾 Revenge Plot
✍🏾 Dark Secrets & Lies
✍🏾 Political Scandal

⚠️This book has some dark themes and topics so check the trigger warnings.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc. Although this was an overall fast read the central issue that weighs it down for me was the perceptive it was told from. Dominic’s perceptive was way to dominant in this novel and I thought it took away from the enjoyment of the book. Reading from bad characters can be interesting at times but in Dominic’s case his perceptive is just so unbearable that I found myself being taken out of the book and hoping his parts would be over soon. I think the point of trying to show how a narcissistic man thinks could have been shown in only a few chapters, more than that took away from the overall enjoyment for me.

First, thank you to Netgalley and Shanora Williams for a chance to read this one early! This thriller is scandalous and twisty. While there was one character I did not care for very much, Jo started to grow on me. Even though she has her own issues. We start by following different characters and points of view from Dominic, Jolene (Jo),Brynn, and Daphne. Each character is able to tell their views and contribute to the story line in a different way. This popcorn thriller kept me turning the page to find out what was about to happen next. While I did feel as though some parts were a little bit rushed, I do think the ending was wrapped up cleanly.
⭐️:2.5
📖: thriller, mystery, suspense.

So. Much. Scandal.

This one is full of surprises. Every single character seems to have a secret here.

Definitely a popcorn read and our characters – especially one – are of the train wreck variety.

While I did think the plot ended up unnecessarily complex, I also realize that I just wanted to end one particular character with extreme prejudice and found myself a tiny bit irritated at the…um…extremely complicated way of dealing with them.

I found that I liked Jo immensely, though she’s definitely got her own issues, and was full on rooting for her and some of the other women in this book.

A good read!

• ARC via Publisher

"The Bitter Truth" by Shanora Williams is a gripping political thriller that expertly intertwines suspense, secrets, and a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story centers around Jolene “Jo” Baker, a devoted wife to Dominic, a North Carolina gubernatorial candidate. Jo's unwavering support for Dominic is tested as they start encountering strange and ominous events on the campaign trail, including the appearance of a mysterious woman and a series of dangerous accidents.

Williams crafts a compelling tale of political ambition and personal turmoil, as Jo begins to dig into Dominic's past to uncover the truth behind his increasingly paranoid behavior. The narrative is enriched by multiple points of view, allowing readers to piece together the puzzle through different perspectives. The dual timelines and the past events add depth and build suspense, making it difficult to put the book down.

The characters are well-developed, with Jo standing out as a determined and resilient protagonist. Her journey from a supportive spouse to a woman desperate to uncover the truth is both engaging and relatable. Dominic's portrayal as a man haunted by his past adds layers to the story, keeping readers guessing about his true nature and the extent of his secrets.

While the pacing is generally effective, some parts of the story felt slightly rushed, and a few plot points could have benefited from further exploration. However, the twists and turns are well-executed, culminating in a satisfying and unexpected conclusion.

"The Bitter Truth" is a fast-paced and thrilling read, perfect for fans of domestic thrillers and political dramas. Shanora Williams delivers a captivating story that explores the complexities of trust, betrayal, and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones. Thank you to NetGalley and Dafina for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shanora Williams' always dishes out the BEST thrillers and this one is hard to beat with all the twists and turns it takes. The Bitter Truth features a prominent Governor and his perfect wife. But things at home are not what they seem and Dominic Baker has a bit of a violent side. His wife wants to leave him and all of his secrets start to spill out in ways he never imagined they would. For him, he believed he could do whatever he wanted and get away with it all.

But there is so much more to this story! Every character in this one has something about themselves that their struggling with. Their own internal flaws. These flaws drive the story into so many directions that you'll forget which way is up and which way is down. Lying, backstabbing, and cheating to be the victor on the other side of this. No one really knows who is on their side and who is out for themselves.

The perfect cat and mouse game that's deadlier than sin, and it's full of sins. Dominic Baker is the Governor of North Carolina and up for re-election. He loves being in control and knowing everything, including have the perfect wife by his side. Jolene Baker, his wife, was raised in a family with her own trust fund and is the reason her husband is even successful in the first place. But as Dominic's sins start to add up, Jolene seems to want to take him down. But there are many obstacles in the way, including her own attachments and indiscretions.

I loved the unknown directions this story took and not having any idea what anyone was really doing from chapter to chapter. It kept me guessing, it kept me engaged, and I had to know how it all plays out. If you've ever read anything by Shanora Williams, you know her endings are always the best! She throws so many surprise curveballs that I'm always left shocked at the end!

I love to support BIPOC Authors especially those that can suck you into a story and never let go until the bitter end.

Dominic is the governor of North Carolina. He and his wife Jolene are a political power couple who have it all.

With greatness comes responsibilities or in this case reminders of the past. Things take a harrowing turn when Dominic begins to receive threatening messages. Messages reminding him of a past he has worked hard to hide. Secrets from the past that will have devastating consequences. Is his wife Jolene aware of Dominc’s past? Is she aware of his secrets? Does she have secrets of her own?

Politics, Secrets, Lies, Blackmail, Corruption and Murder. Who can you trust? Are you even trustworthy yourself? Talk about a wild ride with no breaks.

This is a must read thriller for the summer! I love that it is told from multiple perspectives. This book is a thriller mixed with juicy drama that keeps you turning the pages. I thought I was going to be rooting for the main character Dominic and feel bad that he was being stalked and tormented by his past mistakes on his way to political success but my oh my how the plot thickened! As you read to uncover who and what happened to Brynn and her connection to Dominic, you will be on the edge of your seat. This book is filled with secrets, lies, childhood trauma, relationship drama, power and privilege, and ultimately revenge at the hands of some very clever, smart, and deserving women. Even if you aren’t a thriller lover the drama in this book will have you hooked. This is a must read for the summer and 2024. Shanora this might be my favorite of your thrillers yet! They just keep getting better!