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.

This was a little bit of a confusing read and the main character was a little all over the place. The plot was ready but I was left overall confused.

I have been pleasantly pleased with many of this years debut novels. I don't really like reality TV because the people are awful, and Joan absolutely felt like that. However, I felt that Ashley's writing made me empathize with Joan even though I couldn't really stand her.

Bitter Texas Honey by Ashley Whitaker is a gripping novel that beautifully intertwines themes of love, loss, and resilience. The story follows a protagonist who grapples with her past while navigating the complexities of relationships in a small Texas town. Whitaker’s vivid descriptions and strong character development drew me in, making me feel deeply connected to their journeys. The emotional depth and rich storytelling kept me engaged from start to finish. This book is a heartfelt exploration of the human experience that will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page!

I thought I was going to love this but the main character was so loathsome and incapable of self reflection it was hard to read.

I unfortunately did not really like this book. I found it rambling with really no point. The main character is extremely unlikeable and really has no depth or growth. The most interesting character of the book is the cousin who is hardly even explained. To quote the book itself, a good story needs stakes and this book had none. The politics also served no purpose. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I always love a hot mess unlikeable narrator and Joan was no exception. Whitaker captured the wholeness of her humanity beautifully: from her privilege, woefully misguided political beliefs, and substance abuse issues to her writerly ambitions and love of her cousin, Wyatt. I found this debut smart, funny, and at times satirical. I loved it.

Really fun at first but by the middle I was kinda over it idk. The plot was a bit too meandering for me, and the protagonist is written to be shitty so I get that she sucks on purpose, but at some point, I must choose me and my peace <333 I liked the writing style a lot though, and would potentially read more from this author!

"Bitter Texas Honey" is a sharp study of influence—whether from toxic friends, dysfunctional families, substances, or opposing political views that push you to pick sides. It's a story of being shaped by those around us and navigating the haze of addiction, all while exploring what it means to be a writer or muse. At the same time, it's a sucker punch at the hypocrisy ingrained in American society.

Though I'm not usually a fan of chapter titles in general fiction, they worked brilliantly here. Joan's perspective—surrounded by terrible people, longing to fit in—was refreshingly different from my own. Despite an unlikeable cast, including Joan herself, their flaws make the book compelling, and the pages practically turn themselves. You can't help but wonder if Joan will finish her work or evolve as a character.

While I did. at times, dislike Joan, though not as much as other reviewers, I primarily felt sorry for her. I came to understand her, despite her flaws. She reminded me of someone I once knew, and reading about Joan helped me understand that person’s past toxic behavior, realizing it may have been a result of being utterly lost, yet privileged enough to recover over and over.

With fully developed characters and almost none of the usual debut missteps, it's a fantastic read. I did struggle a bit with the timeline, but it didn’t take away from the story’s impact.

I can’t wait to see what Whitaker writes next!
+4☆

Big thanks to the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, the author & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Ashley Whitaker's premier novel, Bitter Texas Honey, had me in a tight grip from the first chapter. A young conservative from Texas, Joan is struggling to finish her novel...or short story compilation...or collection of poignant haikus. She wants to make her mark on the world, but may be obstructing her own path, whatever it is supposed to be. This book chronicles her process through (her own as well as others') addiction issues, self-worth, and crazy family problems. I fell in love with the problematic Joan: ruining her own life, picking herself up again, being great at so many things, but struggling to make anything stick.

I'm very tempted to include my favorite quotes in passages, but won't spoil the story for anyone who plans to read it, (and everyone should plan to read it). Here's what I can promise: You'll see your family members, coworkers, friends, and lovers in this book. You'll fall in love, laugh, and break your own heart as you intertwine your stories with theirs. You won't soon forget the characters, and you'll learn quite a bit about yourself as you watch Joan do the same.

I can't wait for the next novel (....or short story....or haiku) by this author.

This didn’t quite land for me, despite the comparisons to Fleabag. While Joan, the main character, is indeed chaotic and full of contradictions, I didn’t feel the same wit or depth that typically draws me to that comparison. I went into this expecting sharp satire and dark humor, but what I got was a story that didn’t feel satirical enough to really hit home.

Joan, a self-proclaimed conservative rebel, felt more like a nepo-baby trying to justify her messy life than a character I could root for. While I could see how the book aimed to poke fun at her Tea Party Republican family and her own inner turmoil, it just didn’t come together in a way that felt satisfying. I found myself struggling to sympathize with Joan’s conflicts, and her narrative often felt more exhausting than engaging.

That said, the writing does have its moments of humor and cleverness, especially when it comes to Joan’s dysfunctional family dynamics and her relationship with her father. If you enjoy stories centered around chaotic family drama, you might find something to enjoy here, but for me, the satire and character development didn’t quite hit the mark. I did finish it and find things I liked and I know for sure that many readers will love it, it was just a near miss for me!

This book was hilarious and so deeply set in satire that I could not decipher if the author is a Democrat or Republican. The publisher was correct in comparing this to Fleabag. I'm glad Joan got a sort of redemption arc, although I'm pissed Roberto published a book before Joan did. Justice for Joan!

Bitter Honey is a debut novel that takes place 2011. It's an important point as politics are almost a character amongst the family. Our protagonist is Joan West show is a wanna-be author without a voice or a story to write. Once a radical lefty, she dropped out of college and accepted the warm embrace of her conservative Texan family.

Joan is now interning (unpaid of course) living off her family's dime and cataloging her every interaction with men (she is sworn off women) to hopefully mine a vein of a story. I laughed but felt some of the politics were forced. I am not sure, maybe a lighter touch and more springy description. I just might not be the right reader as many enjoy an unlikeable narrator (not me!)

There is another answer of course! Maybe this is just a little too much like myself - highly critical, reflexively defensive, rarely reflective and still waiting for that big moment to happy. This is a novel for anyone who likes an unlikeable narrator and a 20's something search for purpose!
#penguingroup #penguinbooks #bittertexashoney #ashleywhitaker

I wanted to root for Joan, but my god was she so unlikeable and that’s what made this such a fun read! A nepo baby of an audio recording school, an adderall addicted writer with nothing to show for her years of “work,” and literally a nightmare at love - Joan is so fun to follow just wondering how she is going to mess up next! She judges everyone around her so harshly, but she doesn’t appear to be capable of self reflection except maybe one or two moments that she quickly shakes off because she refuses to truly see herself. Her relationship with Wyatt is the highlight of the book for sure and I wish we had gotten more of it because it felt like coming home to hear the cousin shit talk about the rest of the family (while also being complete messes themselves). Overall, this was such a strong debut and I really enjoyed the mess and the honesty!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers and author for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️ I liked this debut novel but it just felt very chaotic at times and it kinda lost me in the way…

But what I did like is the author’s descriptions of Joan’s life and how she was trying to navigate that very confusing time in your early 20’s.

Good debut! I will keep my eye out for Whitaker’s future work.

TW: Suicide

This was a great book! I loved the emotion and the thought provoking writing from the author. I enjoyed this book and read it quickly, thank you for this book! It kept me interested the whole time

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

I could not put this book down. Joan’s journey as a writer, daughter, cousin and friend is so deeply engaging. This book starts as a curious view into Joan’s romantic and writing life and ultimately delivers so much more than that. I really appreciated how nuanced her family is and how much depth that added to her story and character growth. This book is a great fit for fans of My Year of Rest & Relaxation and Margo’s Got Money Trouble.

A perfect articulation of how strongly we are a product of our environments and habits. Joan will stick with me for a long time.

If you love The Royal Tenenbaums and Fleabag, you'll also adore Bitter Texas Honey.
Set in 2011, Joan is a nepobaby of a recording studio father and an ex-addict mother named Dolly. Wyatt is her lovable yet troubled cousin, and he is great. Joan and Wyatt made quite the pair, and the only downside to this was I wish there had been more shenanigans this duo had gotten up to. This story is set in Texas and my God- that is so real, and true to form. Joan is a newly established convert to conservatism, so she finally feels like she fits in at family dinners and whatever church meetings she may have to attend. Roberto is another focus of this book- does Joan love him, does she hate him? Either way, she fights to race him to finish her book before he does. This book is wildly original, quick paced, and contains multiple characters who are just a delightfully hot mess.
Thanks so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eArc!