This review will be posted on June 22, 2024 to: https://instagram.com/amandas.bookshelf

Wow. Buckle up, readers, because this psychological thriller was BANANAS. And, I mean bananas in the best possible way!!! @reallyshanora absolutely comes up with the BEST twisty-turny plots! I sped through this, unable to put the book down and my mind reeling from all the turns. (HOWEVER. Do be sure to read the Author's Note at the beginning with trigger warnings. Read with care.) #TheBitterTruth Rating: somewhere between 🙂 / liked it AND 😊 / really liked it
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This book is scheduled for publication on June 25, 2024. Thank you Dafina/@kensingtonbooks for providing me this digital ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I’m not the type to give anything away. But I want you all to read this book!
Shanora never misses. I’m glad I was able to get an arc copy of this thriller book that is coming out next week.(thank you @netgallery) I love how good a thriller book can build up a suspense and have you overthinking what will happen. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was wrong. Oh well that just made me keep turning the pages.

I thought a book of 4 parts, coming out to 69 chapters, it would take me forever to finish but nope! Only 2 days and I’m not shocked. I’m a fast reader especially when the book is really good. This book was really good.

I love the different POV, the back stories and current events. Everything made sense and blended together perfectly! Love a black politician with drama and honeyyy it was some juicy drama.
I will definitely recommend this book to all my thriller book lovers! 🙌🏽

Side note: there are some triggers as rape, domestic violence, weight issues, mental health and suicidal.

Shanora has done it again! I love a good revenge story and Dom deserved all the smoke! Thank you so much for allowing me early access to this amazing book.

I discovered this author through Hailey Hughes' vlog and have already added some of her books to my list, although I haven't read them yet. However, when I found her new book on NetGalley, I immediately requested it, and I was fortunate that the publisher approved my request right away.

The story features four different points of view and unfolds across two timelines. It bravely addresses sensitive subjects such as mental illness, suicide, rape, and physical abuse, so I want to provide a trigger warning for those who may find these topics difficult to read about. Throughout the story, I found myself rooting for the three women who face abuse as they bravely stand up for themselves.

It's noted here that trauma often creates bonds between people, and it's inevitable that hurt individuals may inadvertently hurt others, reflecting a facet of human nature. While I strongly dislike the abuser, I can understand his perspective to some extent, though I don't condone his actions throughout the story.

Some scenes were quite graphic for my taste, but that's just a personal reaction. My intention is to commend the author for depicting how women can endure various forms of abuse irrespective of their race, social status, or age.

Oooh a political scandal, relationship drama, and a terrible secret (or is it secrets?!) from the past. This book took so many turns, right when I thought I had the story figured out, we were hit with more jumps into the past for the true answers and many shock waves throughout. I loved Jolene (the political wife) and related to her so much with her struggle for acceptance... and whether that "acceptance" really led to the happiness she was looking for. There are some REALLY tough scenes in this book and when I say I hated some characters in this book... phew. The character descriptions and developments were so well done and the different POVs (past and present) were perfectly timed. The story was nicely medium paced - enough time for it to sink in the secrets behind the masks, but also to keep you on your toes the entire time.

Another explosive thriller from Shanora Williams. A real page turner with an interesting flowing plot that kept me on edge and pondering all the way through. 

What I liked about this story was that I didn't instantly know who to love, who to hate or who to trust, they were all very intriguing. It made it so much more exciting trying to uncover all their secrets and boy some of these characters had a lot to hide.

The Bitter Truth was an exhilarating thriller where power plays and politics, deception, seduction and greed all reveal secrets that have to be stay buried, no matter what. 

Loved it.

I'm a fan of many of Shanora Williams' previous books, so I was ecstatic to get an advanced copy of The Bitter Truth. While normally her writing immediately pulls me in, I couldn't connect with this story. The multiple perspectives and sensitive subject matter were also blockers to holding my attention. (Though I greatly appreciate the author putting a trigger warning up front!) This one wasn't a fit for me, sadly, but I am absolutely watching out for her next book.

I really enjoyed this one! The lies and the drama. The pacing was perfect and the drama kept me engaged throughout. As the story unravels, we’re learn more about each character and the things they’ll do to protect themselves and find the truth. This would be a great book to pull you out of a slump.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc,

Dominic and Jolene are a political power couple, Dominic is the governor of South Carolina, he’s a very busy man but than one day he is getting mysterious letters about a woman from his past that he thought he got rid of. Jolene knows there’s something up with her husband but can’t figure it out.

Dominic is panicking and rushing to get rid of whatever is hunting him and Jolene is trying to uncover what Dominic is hiding and how she can escape her marriage after finding out Dominic has been secretly putting some of her inheritance in offshore accounts.

This was such a quick enjoyable read, the story sucks you right in. I think this is perfect for people who are beginning their thriller era. My only critique is that it was very predictable.

Jo and Dominic - a match made in, well, you decide…

I don’t know how to expect anything less from Williams. She knows how to rock the boat EVERY time.

The characters fall anything flat between their careers, relationships, history and expectations for the future. Jo and Dominic’s marriage is on full display to the public-smiles and picturesque in appearance, though, they struggle to store every secret with such little patience they have left for one another.

As with all of her thrillers, Williams sends us spiraling into quite the hole some of the characters have dug themselves into and who will be the one to find their way??

I really enjoyed this book. I appreciated the trigger warning at the beginning of the book and was able to skim through parts that were uncomfortable for me. Huge thanks to the author for this!

I’ve enjoyed Shanora Williams’ previous thrillers, but this one felt like a slog. I’m all in for messy characters, and I don’t need them to be redeemable, but there also wasn’t much in the way of intrigue in this book either.

Jolene, Dominic, and Brynn tell this story of a politician and the secret that can take him down. Jolene has been with Dominic, now the Governor, since forever but there is one thing she's never known. And Brynn does. The appearance of. a stalker at campaign events opens the secrets. And there are secrets, lies, and crimes afoot here. It's a nicely twisty thriller with good characters and a believable plot. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This book was great! I love a political thriller & this was that & more. Dom is the upstanding governor….but, he’s got secrets (seems like they all do in this one!)! All his secrets seem to come crashing in on him.
I love a story where all the characters are morally gray, who do you root for?!? The Bitter Truth has it all… you’re gonna love the twisty, psychological thriller! Enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc. Dominic and Jolene are the perfect couple. Or so it looks from the outside. He is the Governor, she his wife. Then Dominic gets some threatening messages and keeps seeing a lady he believes may be stalking him. This one had intrique, secrets, revenge and suspense.

Dominic is the Governor of North Carolina and Jolene is his doting wive. They seem to have it all. That is until Don starts getting threading messages. Sex, lies, murder, drugs, and politicians all make for a very suspenseful political thriller.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. #netgalley #thebittertruth
Pub date: June 25, 2024

This had me HOOKED from page one! Multiple POV’s, the different timelines, the descriptive writing, the emotions. This was a true thriller, through and through. I loved that the twists were delivered all throughout the book keeping me deeply engaged for the whole ride.

Whats it about? — An upstanding political candidate. A determined stalker. A shattering lost weekend. Now, when his worst secret comes calling, how far will one man's elegant, all-too-devoted wife go to uncover the truth... or bury it?

Jolene is married to her college sweetheart Dominic Baker who is now in the running for governor of North Carolina. He thinks it’s sweet until his past catches up to him & things go awry. It all starts with a special visit at his campaign rally. From that moment on, Jolene is set on uncovering the truth and Dominic’s past is set on ruining his future.

Trigger warnings — suicide, SA, domestic violence.

Releasing 6/25, READ IT.

Thank you to Netgalley for the digital ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed.

4.5 rounded up to 5! This was my first read by Shanora Williams, & definitely won't be my last! What a wild ride.
Unlikeable characters, political drama, domestic disputes. A very juicy thriller with so many twists throughout the entire storyline. It would have been a 5 for me but some elements were a little too over the top/ far fetched that it was not believable in my opinion.

I sped through this over-the-top thriller! Shanora Williams sure knows how to create evil characters. The plot was interesting - I like stories about politicians. I sympathized with the female characters who suffered so much at the hands of predatory men. I am sure this novel will be a hit!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book. The novel will be published on June 25.

4.5 stars ⭐

This book follows several perspectives, couple Jolene (a first Lady with inheritance money and her own company) and her husband Dominic (governor),  and Brynn (a woman whom had relations with Dominic in the past).

This book follows these individuals as Dominic gets sent threats in the mail stating they "know what he did" in the past and how their stories all come together in a twisted thriller. This is a tale of secrets, lies, revenge, and what people will do for power and with power.

There are several trigger warnings in this book including misogyny,  rape, DV, emotional violence,  disordered eating, mental health, bullying, suicide, and racism. Please check these before reading this book.

Shanora wrote a book so intriguing I read it in one sitting. Shanora is definitely an auto-read author for me as I've loved the other books I've read from her as well.

If you want a book with karma, revenge, rich people drama, secrets, twists, and fast paced then this is for you! Thank you to Netgalley,  Shanora Williams, and Kensington Publishing Corp. for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.