The storyline was captivating, and the narration was done with so much emotion! The narration was read where you really felt you could feel the characters pain and emotion. Also, a woman narrated doing a man's voice can be hard. It was nailed in this!

I laughed, I cried, I gasped, and I was left speechless. Once this story starts it does not stop. I never once felt like okay come on let's get to get the good stuff. The good stuff starts on page one and goes until the last page! The character development was strong and realistic.

Bridget is notified that her grandma has passed and left her the Bitter house. This is a shock to Bridget as they have not spoken since her grandmother kicked her out of the house years ago. Bridget is unsure what to do with the house but turns out she won't have to make that choice alone. Her grandmother also left the house to someone else. That is not even the tip of the ice burg. There are secrets locked away in this house and they are dying to escape. Can she trust her new housemate? Can she trust her family? Why did Vera leave them the house? Why did Vera kick her out and stop contact with any family? Did Vera ever care?

This is a fast past story that keeps you involved throughout the story. You become invested in the characters and what is to come next. Whether you read this story or listen to the wonderful narration, there will be zero disappointment. You won't be left bitter, that is the truth!

This was my first book by Kiersten Modglin and i can tell you it will definitely not be my last. I truly loved how the the story unfolded and the twists that werent really twists. I was rooting for Bridget and Cole to be together. The family dynamic was so hard to hear but in the end it turned out happy and it just goes to show that people show love in all different kind of ways. You may not know, see or feel it at the time but its there.

Bitter house by @kierstenmodglinauthor
🎧 Narration by Lauren Ezzo and Melanie Carey
Rating: 👍🏻

🏠Psychological thriller
🏠Mystery + suspense
🏠Romance sub plot
🏠Family secrets
🏠Multi timelines
🏠Enemies to lovers
🏠Childhood friends(ish) to lovers
🏠Close Proximity
🏠Dual pov

"She saved you. She raised you. You never really knew her."

Another Kmod that doesn't really fit into one genre.
Not thriller vibes this time...
More a mystery + small romance
Short, fast paced
Uncovering secrets from their past and loved ones. Two childhood *friends* are left ownership of their childhood home in her grandma's home.

Huge thanks to @dreamscape _media @netgalley and @kierstenmodglinauthor for ALCS

I love a mystery with a sinister mansion, and Bitter House was the perfect location for this quick and twisty story. Driven by letters left by a mysterious person, the gradual uncovering of the mystery of Vera was satisfying. The development of Cole and Bridget’s relationship added a captivating level of emotion, as we saw different sides of Vera through their eyes. As with another Kiersten Modglin I read recently, this was more a mystery romance than dark thriller.

I think what elevated this read for me was the narration. The emotional interpretation by the narrators created a more visceral sense of the mystery, and the interplay of Bridget and Vera’s voices at key points in the story made for a captivating and gripping experience.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.

Liked the uunderlying theme of this book but it felt a little rushed and short to me. Would’ve loved more epilogue.

Bridget is upset to learnthat after her grandma has died, she is now the co-owner of Bitter House, the house built by her grandma's first husband. This wouldn't be a problem but because the co-owner is the housekeeper's son, who got to stay at the house when her grandma kicked her out, there's a lot of anger and resentment on both sides. Bridget just wants to sell the house and be done with it, that is until she starts receiving anonymous letters that detail her grandma's secrets. Fighting her aunt and cousin to keep the house and digging through all the house's secrets creates a fast paced mystery that is resolved with a lot of emotions and a small twist that isn't really a twist. I didn't really like Bridget as a character, but she does grow on you. Not as dramatic as Modglin's other titles but still a satisfying story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Bitter House has the beginnings of a perfect mystery and throughout we are offered classic red herrings which keep the listener on tenterhooks.

Unfortunately, the author’s need for a more romantic focus is what lets the book down and ends like a romantic novel where we must all live happily ever after, leaving the plot twist falling flat.

What should have packed a punch left no impact and as a result this will not be a book I recommend.

A huge thank you to Dreamscape Media & NetGalley for Bitter House by Kiersten Modglin in exchange for my honest review.

Kiersten Modglin is one of my go to authors for a fast pace / binge worthy read! She never disappoints and Bitter House was no exception. This can be best described as “perception vs reality” in this mystery you’ll find yourself binge reading at record speed. The narrators did an awesome job keeping me engaged and gripped. They kept the story flowing so effortlessly and I loved that! There was never a slow go moment, just on your edge suspense that the narrators built up so well.

I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR!! I can’t wait to see what K Mod writes next. 4 binge worthy stars!

3/5 stars

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy!

SYNOPSIS -- When Bridget's parents tragically died in a car accident as a child, she was taken in by her Grandmother, Vera Bitter, only to later be cast away without reason. Now, years later, Bridget is called back to Bitter House upon her Grandmother's death, and given ownership of the property. She's shocked, however, to find out that she's sharing the property with a man she has always despised, and even further shocked to receive letters alluding to Vera's secret past. Will Bridget sell Bitter House, or will she uncover the secrets Vera has hidden here for many years?

This was a solid, enticing thriller. There wasn't as much suspense or chaos as in KMod's usual books, so that was a bit of a letdown for me. I enjoyed the dynamic between Bridget and Cole a lot, and I think that added to my overall enjoyment of the story. There were some really solid and unexpected twists in this one, and the ending was wrapped up nicely! Overall, I enjoyed this book but I don't think I'll remember major details in the months to come.

I liked how the book went back and forth between current time Bridget and past Vera. It was a quick read and kept my interest going. Just a few things that caused me to decrease my rating - for one, the way she reacted towards Cole made it seem like he did something really awful, when it was just that they weren't friends growing up. And then their chemistry didn't seem genuine. I did like how the story wrapped everything up.

I didn't expect this BUT I enjoyed it, I love a bad ass character and Vera Bitter was the epitome of that, she took matters into her own hands and made sure that the women around her didn't have to put up with abuse. Overall, this was a fast-paced entertaining story and the narration was great.
Thank you @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for the ALC

Vera's past comes back to haunt Bridget and Cole...
Bitter House expertly weaves a tale of mystery, tension, and unexpected twists. The dynamics between Bridget and Cole add layers of intrigue, making it impossible to put down. The narrators, Lauren Ezzo, and Melanie Carey were wonderful!! I thoroughly enjoyed the tones and inflections used. I could especially feel the emotions in their tones. Very well done! Every page had me on the edge of my seat, and the secrets unveiled were both shocking and satisfying. This is a must-read for anyone who loves a gripping, suspenseful story!

Quick paced and suspenseful! I enjoyed the past/present perspective and a twist I did not see coming. The story flowed well and held my interest and curiosity throughout. The narration was very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the arc

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ALC. This was a quick easy listen. I liked the narrators and the story flowed easily. I enjoyed the added romance and the extra cast of characters.
3.5 rounded up to 4

Maybe I’ve outgrown Kiersten Modglin. Her novels were always on my must read but the last few have not been for me. She writes fantastic thrillers but lately they seem more like romance with a little suspense involved and they’re not my favorite. This particular story has the most unlikeable main character so far in Bridget and it was a chore to get through this story. Vera’s story should have been more prominent but it seemed buried in the seemingly forced chemistry between Bridget and Cole. I usually also have no issues with narration but this was so overly dramatic that it made me cringe at times. I may have to take a break from this author for a while.

I recently finished and loved listening to *Bitter House*! It was sooo thrilling and twisty—I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The part where Bridget was reading Vera’s diary, and the voices overlapped? Sooo cool and eerie! It really gave this audiobook depth. I was super skeptical of Cole and some of the other characters, but let me tell you, the ending blew my mind! I did not see that coming.

Another winner and probably one of my favourite of Kiersten’s to date! Full of twists and turns, toxic family traits and secrets with a side of romance.

Bridget has a tumultuous relationship with her grandmother Vera. So when she learns that Vera has bequeathed her home to Bridget she is shocked. She is further shocked to learn that it has also been left to her arch-nemesis from her childhood.

Without giving too much away, the duel timeline and plot, drip feeds a shocking and emotional story - I even shed a tear towards the end.

In true Modglin style, I was hooked form the beginning to the end. Highly recommended!

🎧 Narration by Lauren Ezzo and Melanie Carey was pitch perfect!

💌 Huge thanks to @dreamscapemedia @netgalley and @kiersten for ALC🙏🎁

Bridget’s grandmother who Bridget has had a strained relationship since she was kicked out of her childhood home, Vera Bitter, has died but her secrets are still buried but are ready for exhumation. Vera left her esteemed mansion to Bridget as this was her childhood home after her parents were tragically killed in a car accident. Unbeknownst to Bridget, Vera has also left her mansion to Cole Warner, the son of Vera’s house manager and the misery of Bridget’s childhood while living at Bitter House. As Bridget tries to navigate the thought of having to share Bitter House with the person she hates most, a letter arrives with the promise of additional letters. These letters expose Vera’s deepest, darkest secrets that neither Bridget nor Cole knew. As Bridget receives these letters, she must envision what her future has to hold for her at Bitter House and who she can trust.
This book had me intrigued from page one and was told from two POVs. This story was fast paced, and it gives the reader all the necessary information without including extra details that bogged the reader down. The secrets that continued to be revealed kept me interested and then to learn how they all connect! WOW! Vera was bitter but her hard outer core was for good reason! This story was not only a mystery/thriller there was also romance! I enjoyed the enemies to lovers' chemistry that Bridget experienced. The romance aspect was just a minor piece of this bigger story, but the pinch of spice was the perfect additive to this recipe.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book. The narrators were Lauren Ezzo and Melanie Carey, and the reading was beautifully completed. The narration was clear, and it was appropriately paced. The designation of chapter and POV changes were done clearly. The voices were appropriate for the characters that they were impersonating.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this early access audiobook and for allowing me to provide my honest opinion.

This was my first novel by Kiersten and it did not disappoint! This audio book was so good! The way these characters were brung to life and the story was told by the narrator! She did a wonderful job when Bridget’s grandmother died she came back to her childhood home and was faced with the pst and secrets of the present, then she runs into Cole enemies to lovers, this is a must listen 🎧 thank you NetGalley and dreamscape for the ALC

I couldn’t put this down!! I flip flopped on everything! I was pointing my finger at everyone accusingly!! There’s a spicy scene at the end if you need to be warned otherwise it’s a fun thriller with a romantic spin. Just a good fun read!

Great multi-voiced audio! So many questions asked and secrets revealed!

Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media! More like this! ♥️