kept me decently entertained - but even just a few days later i forgot a lot of the plot! another one that would be good for lit fic lovers

Ugh I loved this. The writing is so beautifully done that it sucked me in immediately. I loved every single character, but especially our MC Charlie. She frustrated me to no end but I still felt a lot of love for her. I dream of having people in my life as amazing as her people are. This novel did an extremely good job at making me feel. I was mad, frustrated, joyful, maligned, and everything in between. This isn't a book I would normally be drawn to pick up but I am so so so glad I did.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC.

"Bitter Sweet" will be released on July 8, 2025. A big thank you to the publisher and author for providing an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

The writing in this novel is superb. Was the prose beautiful, and the vivid, descriptive language compelling? Yes—no questions about that. Was I constantly saying to myself, “girl stand up!!!!” multiple times while reading? Also yes.

Charlie, a young publicist, finds herself in an enthralling workplace love affair with a much older (and married) famous author, Richard. The reader can clearly see that Richard is a narcissist, but we have to watch Charlie fall for his lies for 300 pages. It was a heartbreaking read, and maybe I'm not the target audience for this one, but I don't see myself picking it up for a reread.
There’s no doubt that Hattie Williams has incredible writing talent, and I would definitely try another one of her works—but this one just wasn’t for me.

I enjoyed this book more than I originally thought I would. I found the writing of Charlie to be very relatable, for better or worse. I loved the friendships portrayed, which gave a heartwarming contrast to the raw and melancholy of the relationship between Charlie, and the much older author she starts a relationship with. The amount of grief, healing, and growth that Charlie goes through in the book does make the story reflect the title, bitter sweet.

Wow, I really loved this. Well-written. Painful read in the best way. I think this will be a great book club discussion title and will be recommending it to library staff as a book club pick.

This novel was truly a punch to the gut. I struggled to rate it because of the discomfort of similar experiences. At its core, this is a story about mental health and is a study in the manipulation that stems from lack of self-worth. I've read quite a few novels with this "flavor", but this one has stuck with me, mainly because of how viscerally angry I was throughout. Upon finishing it, I rated it 2-stars, but now I've had enough time to reflect. I do not hate the book and am definitely interested in reading Williams' future works, but I hate the story. How real and frustratingly painful it is. And I actually think that's what the author meant to elicit in readers. We are supposed to feel discomfort and anger at the protagonist's situation and choices. I would prefer to not go into specifics on this one, but the writing was beautiful and the dark truths within will be very important and eye-opening to a certain audience.

Sometimes it’s best not to meet your idols; they might just disappoint you.

Bitter Sweet delves into the messiness of idolization, mental health, power imbalances, and workplace toxicity; all while maintaining a sense of tenderness and hope. It’s a story that isn’t afraid to explore the uncomfortable, yet still manages to feel intimate and emotionally grounded. The characters are beautifully nuanced, the prose is clean and accessible, and the themes run deep.

The novel follows Charlie, a 23-year-old Londoner working at a large publishing house. On paper, her life looks ideal: a great job, a charming flat shared with her two best friends, and a calendar full of work events and pub nights. She’s ambitious, grounded, and doing everything “right.” But when she’s assigned to assist Richard Aveling, her literary idol and the agency’s biggest client, her world begins to unravel. What starts as professional admiration quickly spirals into a scandalous affair that threatens to pull Charlie back into a version of herself she thought she’d left behind.

Richard could have easily been painted as a one-note villain, but Bitter Sweet resists that simplicity. He’s frustratingly complex: at times ignorant and deeply unlikeable, yet occasionally thoughtful, charming, and kind. It’s this duality that makes him feel so real—and so dangerous. A perfectly depicted narcissist through and through. Charlie, too, is strikingly human. She’s not a heroine on a pedestal, but someone grappling with trauma, mental health, and the quiet ache of wanting to feel seen. She knows the right choices—but makes the wrong ones anyway. (Relatable.)

Though the prose is simple and digestible, it carries an unsettling undercurrent. I often found myself bracing for the worst, only to be met with something more subtle; still painful, but quieter. Maybe that says something about my own trauma! Either way, Hattie Williams writes with a distinct sensitivity that lingers long after the final page.

Bitter Sweet may not be for everyone. But for readers drawn to darker emotional terrain, explorations of mental health, and stories steeped in the world of publishing, this novel offers a rewarding and resonant experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m excited to follow Hattie Williams’ career—she’s definitely one to watch.

I can’t believe that this is a debut novel! I honestly couldn’t put this book down from start to finish. I appreciated how the main character felt so real and relatable, almost to the point of making my own anxieties come to head 🙊 I loved everything about this book, from the setting of a London book publisher to the dynamics of relationships between people in their 20s and those twice their age. It was raw and gripping and I hope we get more from this author.

Bitter Sweet is a character exploration novel that follows a young literary publishing assistant, Charlotte “Charlie,” as she embarks on a secret relationship with a much older esteemed author, Richard Aveling.

Reading this story in my 30s, I constantly felt myself judging Charlie’s poor and predictable decision-making. But when I think back on my own questionable choices in my early 20s including entering into a similar one-sided relationship with an older co-worker, I realized how much I viewed life like Charlie did when I was in my 20s.

In her debut novel, Hattie Williams pens an emotionally complex protagonist faced with layers of trauma, which impact all her relationships — friendly, familial, professional, romantic.

Overall, it took a while for me to get through this one. I would recommend for those readers who are okay with a slow burn solely focused on character development.

I don’t read many literary fiction books but this was absolutely captivating. I found it be very engaging and relatable.

I love reading books with characters involved or working in the publishing business. This book has a hungry and vulnerable tone. I enjoyed reading about the dynamic of the characters and exploring their mindsets.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for the arc!

**3.75 stars** A toxic workplace affair set in the publishing world? Yes–sounds right up my alley. This book was challenging for me to rate because the author did such a phenomenal job of evoking frustration but sympathy at the same time.

23-year-old Charlie lands a job as an assistant at a London publishing house where she meets her favorite (disguised obsession) author: a married, 56-year-old, Richard Aveling. Charlie is assigned to deliver a proof copy to Richard’s house which leads to spend a considerable amount of time together. One thing led to another and the two start a secret affair. We follow Charlie’s tumultuous journey as she navigates her job, judgment from friends, a rocky relationship with her father—all while hiding her forbidden, toxic relationship with Richard.

This book perfectly captures the poignant “my life is a movie” vibe. Watching Charlie make questionable decisions was so frustrating, I have to commend the author for making me feel so angry yet still engrossed in the story. I felt the secondhand embarrassment, the emotional trauma Charlie has suffered from her childhood, and the isolation that resulted from this relationship. ​​It’s a strong and realistic portrayal of a toxic workplace dynamic, written with subtlety and nuance.

Writing was so real and raw, it felt like watching a sad indie film. I loved how the author explored Charlie’s life before, during, and after the affair. It was such a good progression and it was paced very well. You can tell the author took great care in crafting a story that, while deeply traumatic, leaves room for hope.

If you were a fan of Therese Bohman’s book, “Andromeda”, you will love this! They have similar premises, but are executed differently. I’m glad I stumbled upon this author and am interested in reading more books by her!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Grief, mental illness, self-doubt, vulnerability, power imbalance, and a toxic relationship are at the core of Hattie William's debut novel "Bitter Sweet" which left me feeling a mix of sadness and relief by the novels end.

Our protagonist, Charlie, is an assistant to a publicist at Winden & Shane, a publishing house in London. Having gone through life searching for a sense of family and belonging after her mother's untimely death, we find her living with her two best friends; colleagues who are coming up the ranks together and living for delicious industry gossip and workplace drama. Though their bonds of friendship are strong, given her history, Charlie always anticipates that the rug to be pulled from her at any time; a bit of foreshadowing for how "Bitter Sweet" will play out.

When we meet Charlie, she's on the precipice of a huge moment in her life. For years, Charlie has idolized and obsessed over a prestigious novelist by the named Richard Aveling whose books Charlie's mother introduced her to, making his work all the more meaningful. And now? Charlie gets to work on his latest novel release - a huge thrill and opportunity. But when a chance encounter on a cold rainy London night leads to more than a professional relationship for the very junior staff member, Charlie's life will be turned inside out and unresolved issues begin to come to the surface.

Fans of Genevieve Wheeler's novel "Genevieve" are sure to enjoy this.

I thought this book beautifully showed what living with grief can look like. Although at times I wanted to strangle Charlie, I was always rooting for her. I think people who loved Conversations with Friends and Normal People will love Bitter Sweet

This story is not something that I would typically reach for, but I am glad that I did. For a debut novel, this felt very settled and confident in the writing. I, like a lot of reviewers, felt quite uncomfortable reading this throughout due to the subject matter, but in a way that I know was intentional by the author. I enjoyed seeing the character growth and I think this story is important and will resonate with a lot of readers.

I procrastinating reading this because I was worried it would be hyper focused on the affair and might have an insufferable main character but I was wrong! I regret not reading it sooner, I kept thinking about it after I put it down.

Not sure why it's tagged under romance, I would not call this romantic at all.

It's an intense and uncomfortable read because of how realistic it is. Charlie is filled with so much conflict and confusion about how she feels. She had the desire to get close to Richard because she was trying to feel reconnected with her mom, his books were a major thing they shared before she died. She was attracted to him physically but I don't think she'd of slept with him if she didn't want to know more about him as an artist.

Richard's behavior was disturbing immediately. I felt sick when he emailed her to see if she was in the office then made an excuse to summon her to his apartment and drink with her alcohol before even knowing how old she is.
Charlie felt uncomfortable when he invited her over because she knew it was inappropriate. Not to mention she felt the need to lie to her friends about it because she knew they wouldn't approve.

And what really bugs me is why didn't Cecile intervein or warn Charlie about his reputation? There are ways to say something without saying it directly.

I really like how Charlie was supported by everyone when she needed them. Her rebuilding her relationship with her father was very sweet.

What a great book, it made me feel a lot.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the Advanced Review Copy.

I’m going to be at a loss for words for how much I loved this one. The entire time I was reading this, I couldn’t believe that this was a debut novel, Williams has already mastered the art of creating a character that feels incredibly raw and real.

Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams follows Charlie, a twenty three year old living in London, who recently got her dream job working in PR at a publishing house. With time, she begins to work with Richard Aveling, a much older man, who is her favorite author whom she absolutely worships. They begin an illicit affair that quickly becomes unhealthy as Charlie’s life and well-being begins to spiral.

I love a character driven novel when done well, and the writing in this was exceptional. There were one or two parts in this that began to lag, but it quickly picked back up, leading me to finish this in 24 hours because I was unable to put this down. Maybe it’s because Charlie reminded me so much of my younger self, kind of lost and seeking male-validation. Throughout it I found myself simultaneously wanting to hold her and shake her until she saw reason. The suffocating sensation of seeing Charlie slowly get trapped in this toxic relationship was so well done that I also felt smothered. But at the same time, there are moments when you’re reminded just how young she is, how much more life she has to go live, and you just want to help her see that.

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books and Netgalley for letting me have early to this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

interesting story about a girl who has depression and falls in love with an author and her friendships with her housemates and how she is trying get better . The author doesn't really love her and wants her at his beck and call.

This was a top read for me! I hands down know this is going to be so popular. It was real and raw and hit me in all the right places. If you liked books like My dark Vanessa, Conversations with friends, Thirst for Salt or even The Rachel Incident then this is a must to read.

This book took a deep dive into a young woman’s interest and obsession with a much older, famous author. I could feel how she got sucked into his world and isolated from those around her while in this secret relationship. There was an obvious power imbalance and I kept wishing she would see how unhealthy the relationship was before she was forced to deal with the inevitable end. I found parts of her story frustrating though understandable given her youth and the power he had over her. I was cheering for Charlie all along and just wish she had gotten past this dysfunctional relationship sooner.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.