Bitter Texas Honey is the story of a young, drunk addicted, Republican ( former liberal) whose the heir to a trade school for sound recording. Her exploits include competing ( only to her) against a fellow writer and lover to publish a book, spiraling through writing about past family trauma and all the ups and downs with the relationships in her life. I truly enjoyed how raw and honest this story is, while also satrically hilarious. Her very real experiences with loss and finding yourself in your twenties is very relatable, no matter what party side you lie on.

This novel presents an intriguing, if somewhat uneven, exploration of identity, politics, and personal growth in the early 2010s. The protagonist, Joan West, stands at a crossroads between her family's conservative values and her former liberal ideals, which makes for a compelling character study. The contrast between her past and present selves—once a radical leftist, now a more conservative intern—is sharply drawn, though, at times, the transitions in her mindset feel abrupt and underdeveloped.

One of the novel's strengths is its portrayal of family dynamics. Joan’s dysfunctional family, particularly her cousin Wyatt, adds emotional weight to the narrative. Wyatt’s financial troubles and the crisis he faces inject some much-needed urgency and tension into the plot, forcing Joan to confront her own values and assumptions.

Overall, the novel captures a unique moment in time, focusing on a young woman grappling with political and personal contradictions. It offers a thoughtful, if occasionally flawed, meditation on self-discovery and the often messy process of becoming who we truly are.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A big thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this ARC for an honest review. This was a quick read, with an appropriate amount of tension to keep the reader turning the pages. I say it was quick because the storyline was very engaging from the beginning. The author does a great job of time progression without neglecting the protagonist’s past.

The official description notes that this is a debut novel.

“The Royal Tenenbaums meets Fleabag in this hilarious and dizzyingly smart debut about an over-the-top evangelical Texan family—and the daughter at its center racing to finish her very important novel before her ex-boyfriend finishes his.”

This doesn’t read like a debut at all. It’s very well crafted, dialogue is pitch perfect, and there aren’t the typical grammatical distractions often found in an author’s juvenilia. Whitaker did an amazing job of fleshing out her characters—not an easy task given the complexity of their political differences—and you could sense the turmoil that they felt at their core.

Looking forward to Whitaker’s future work.

Bitter Texas Honey by Ashley Whitaker is an absolute delight! The story is a perfect blend of romance, small-town charm, and a touch of drama that kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with just the sweetness and complexity. The Texas setting is beautifully described, adding a warm, cozy atmosphere to the story. Whitaker’s writing is smooth and engaging, making it easy to get lost in her created world. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a heartfelt romance with a bit of grit. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly - this book was so hilarious and heartfelt at the same time that I was simultaneously laughing while crying on more than one occasion. The best way I could describe it would be if Wes Anderson wrote the Righteous Gemstones. It had that dry, arid Texas feel but was drenched with evangelism and the wackiest family to the left of the Mississippi. The retorts were next level, the story itself incredibly zany, and despite all of that, you'll feel it tug on your heartstrings at each and every turn. Five stars from me!

I like the cover more than the story. I tried, but I couldn't connect with this book. I will try again because the writing is good, it just didn't feel good reading this. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.