2 stars

I appreciate this writer's skill, but I absolutely loathed this book. Transparently, I dislike the protagonist and her belief system (and truly EVERYTHING about her so much) that I think this overshadowed my ability to be objective about the read overall.

Joan, the m.c., is...horrible. I found it impossible to root for her at any point because of her revolting political beliefs and bizarre behavior. She's weirdly privileged but somehow also deeply uncultured and full of only bad decision-making skills and outcomes. When an actually terrible thing does happen to her, it's easy to feel bad for a person in her situation but still challenging to apply that to her, specifically.

And her "creative" spirit? Ugh.

I pushed myself to read this because I thought I'd enjoy it and that it might help me build some understanding of a belief system that is basically the opposite of mine, but it turns out I am just not that enlightened (and am not particularly sorry about it either). I'd like to read more from this author but through a totally different set of characters and motifs.

I was excited for this debut, anything that is compared to Fleabag has my immediate attention, and although I can see why the comparison was made I couldn’t connect with Joan like Fleabag.

The book overall reminded me of Joan’s addiction to sugar free Red Bull… bursts of chaotic energy but left a bitter aftertaste where it lacked the authenticity of sugar.

The thing I’m most excited for is the emerging talent of Ashley Whitaker. I will definitely be watching for her next book but sadly this one fell somewhere in the no man’s land of three stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for my review.

Unfortunately this book didn't work well for me. I liked what it was trying to do, but I couldn't connect with the narrator at all. I loved fleabag and can see the comparisons, but I struggled with this.

While I can’t say I would recommend this book, no doubt this is a talented author who will have success. This one was just too chaotic in all of the wrong ways. The complications of the plot and other characters really don’t add anything but frustration to an already unlikeable protagonist. There has to be a redeemable quality at some point to keep you engaged but every attempt falls flat in that it’s not believable or too meta to its own devices.

There is so much in this one that exudes talent and the need for a plot that fits the authors tone and style. I will want to see what she can do in the future!

Bitter Texas Honey is a dark, satirical yet emotive novel focused on our narrator Joan who is a once leftist- bisexual turned republican, trying to make it big as an author despite the fact she spends more time imagining herself writing than actually writing.

Joan is so cutting and astute with her observations of others yet completely clueless and delusional when it comes to seeing her own imperfections. She is a walking contradiction and it is wonderful to read. She is insane and unlikeable but throughout the book I found myself thinking of her tenderly and genuinely laughing out loud at some points (I have so many parts highlighted.) I related heavily to her addiction to sugar free red bull and also her general ambivalence towards what on earth she was doing with her life.

Joan’s family and their dysfunctional dynamic felt so real and raw, with all the characters feeling well developed, especially her relationship with her cousin Wyatt. I found myself so invested in all of the little side plots her family entered into and genuinely rooting for them.

The writing as a whole is so snappy and cutting and bold and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Joan’s life goal is to be a writer but it’s difficult when she can’t take her adderral anymore and needs a muse. She used to be like her peers; liberal and bisexual, but now lives on conservative talk radio and Red Bulls.

This was a great debut and I can’t wait to read what this author writes next. As much as I hated Joan’s beliefs, I still enjoyed her voice and character. Her life and family were so dysfunctional and she exhibited so much controversy that it was hard to hate her simply for her beliefs (which trust me, is usually quite easy for me). The heart of this story was the family dynamics, and everyone was well developed and unique.

“This was a sin from the universe. It was time to wake up. The reason her writing all sucked was that she’d been focused on the wrong subject - herself - all along.”

Bitter Texas Honey comes out 4/15.

Funny, but dark. Or maybe dark, but funny.

Unlikable narrator with an unexpected redemption arc.

Always fun to read a book set in Austin! Interesting exploration of political differences in this weird state.

This was a fun read, a palate cleanser for sure as I normally read horror! The MC wasn’t very likable but it wasn’t bad enough to quit reading, lol!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to reading this book early. Unfortunately the writing style was not for me, and I found it hard to enjoy what I was reading. I do believe that there is an audience for Whitaker’s writing, and they will love this book and its characters.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this one pretty early on as immediately I did not enjoy or appreciate the voice of this one. I saw someone say it was "republican fan fiction" and I couldn't agree more. Not for me!

I knew I was going to love "Bitter Texas Honey" by Ashley Whitaker as soon as I laid eyes of that amazing cover. I love literary fiction, and I love novels that make me laugh out loud. This book is a dark comedy about a dysfunctional family living in Texas. This novel takes place during Obama's first term. Our main protagonist, Joan is a conservative Republican, but she's a walking contradiction and a total hypocrite. I love unlikeable characters, so I really enjoyed reading about Joan's chaotic descent into alcoholism and pill addiction. The only person Joan connects with is her deeply troubled cousin, Wyatt. Her relationship with Wyatt was the sweetest part of the book. I could really feel their love and admiration for each other. The first half of the book is Joan trying to write her debut novel while juggling 2 love interests, Vince and Roberto. The second half is when we meet Joan's extended family. Even though I loved this book from beginning to end, the 2nd half of this novel really came alive, and the dry humor had me in stitches. Joan comes full circle towards the last 20% of this book. The scenes in this novel felt very cinematic. I can totally see "Bitter Texas Honey" being developed by a major film studio someday. I loved following Joan's journey and personal growth, warts and all. Highly recommended!

Thank you, Netgalley and Dutton for the digital ARC.

DNF at 52% - Privileged white women being conservative and lamenting on a time when she was queer. I love an unlikeable characters but this one just was not doing it for me. Thanks Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Joan, a messy, privileged writer spiraling through her twenties, is hard to like but impossible to look away from. She’s caught between her own bad choices, toxic relationships, and the pressure to make something of herself, even when she’s not sure what that “something” is. Her story explores addiction, ambition, and the people who shape us—for better or worse.

Joan is far from a hero. She’s selfish, cruel, and stuck in a loop of self-destruction. But she’s also fascinating. Her judgment of everyone around her feels harsh, especially since she refuses to take a real look at herself. Still, there’s something raw and real about her that made me want to understand her, even if I didn’t always like her.

This debut is bold, messy, and honest, and I can’t wait to see what the author does next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—I loved the wild ride.

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

Fleabag-esque? Hmm, not to me, but I guess I understand the comparison. I'm not quite sure what to think about this book. It kept me entertained, but I was never quite sure what the purpose was. The narrator was hugely unlikable, and and not (to me) in a humorous way. The references to "Conservative talk radio" seemed a little forced, and her family, while as messed up as Joan herself, didn't seem to be religious zealots at all. The continual drug use, bad decisions and painful dialogue just added up to some negative feeling for me while reading.

There's no doubt this will have a wide, adoring audience. I'm sad to say I'm not one of them, but I d0 appreciate the author's candor in how Joan and family were presented.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Bitter Texas Honey is a compelling debut novel that delves into the complexities of family, identity, and self-discovery. Joan, the protagonist, is at a crossroads in her life, struggling to find clarity in the surrounding chaos. Her romantic escapades frequently involve emotionally unavailable or immature men, which she hopes will provide the inspiration she needs for her writing. These choices often leave her adrift, grappling with the gap between her ideals and reality. At the same time, she struggles with her addictions that sometimes turn her unaccountable.

The writing in Bitter Texas Honey is a standout feature—vibrant, vivid, and evocative. It brings Joan’s world to life, immersing the reader in her struggles and triumphs. However, I personally find Joan’s character polarizing; while her flaws make her relatable, her tendency to treat her family unfairly and deflect blame can make her challenging to sympathize with at times.

This novel is a strong and promising debut that captures the messiness of being young and lost while trying to carve out a place in the world. Joan’s story may frustrate you, but it will also resonate deeply, offering a vivid portrait of a woman searching for purpose and meaning. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate layered, imperfect characters and a richly described narrative world.

It hurts me to say I just couldn’t finish this book. I gave it 25%, but just found the prose choppy (too much start/stop on the narrative) and the story all over the place. And there was such an interesting plot outlined in the description, with action following Joan, an aspiring writer who grew up with oft-married parents in a conservative, evangelical household. Though she experimented as a left-wing firebrand, she is conservative to her core and interning for a Republican legislator while she searches for a plot for her upcoming (and so far imagined) novel. This is right up my alley since I am a self professed political dork and have a background working for legislators myself, so I was let down when I couldn’t get through it after multiple attempts. Someone may love the story, it just isn’t me.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

This book was a stand out for me, and I’ve already convinced a few friends to read it once it’s published. I see The Royal Tenenbaums meets Fleabag, and I raise you My Year of Rest and Relaxation meets HBO’s Girls.

DNF at 30% - This one i had to put down. Normally i'm okay with unlikeable characters but this one just isn't for me. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know that I totally enjoyed or disliked this one. It's going to be polarizing, the main character is a pretty staunch Republican (just for the current political landscape this feels like a gamble). I couldn't tell what was satire and what wasn't which was a little difficult, but I didn't hate the writing or the general little images scattered throughout that made this an incredibly unique story. I think Wyatt's storyline was the one that hit that hardest.