This debut novel presents a compelling psychological exploration of forbidden love and its destructive potential. The relationship between 23-year-old Charlie and 56-year-old married author Richard Aveling creates an immediately captivating tension. What makes this narrative particularly nuanced is how it acknowledges both the intoxicating quality of their connection and its inevitable toxicity. The title "Bitter Sweet" aptly captures this duality—the temporary sweetness of forbidden passion against the bitter aftermath of its consequences.

Bitter Sweet is (unfortunately) a tale as old as time. A older man falls for a younger woman and preys on her insecurities and naïveté. The relationship takes place within the backdrop of the publishing world, a world driven by money and clout.

For me, this one was just an average retelling of such a common theme. There were some thought-provoking passages, and I enjoyed watching Charlie grow as a woman and professional, but most of the writing itself was just “ehh”. I’ve seen it compared to other literary fiction writers but the writing wasn’t as captivating to me as I wish it would have been. I did love the supporting characters, including Charlie’s friends and boss at the publishing company.

Bitter Sweet is an incredible debut from Hattie Williams about a toxic age-gap love affair in the publishing industry. It's a story that feels doomed from the start, but the journey through the affair as it slowly unravels is a rewarding one. I can't wait to see what Hattie Williams does next.

Bitter Sweet is one of those stories that is like an inevitable train wreck you know is going to happen & cause great pain but you still can’t look away.
From the moment the book starts, you know Charlie is doomed. She dives headfirst into an affair with the manipulative Richard Aveling and it ends in fiery flames (not the hot, good kind lol).

While maybe it’s hard for me to relate since I’ve never been in a similar situation (like attracted to someone way older than me), I just don’t get the Richard appeal. He sounds like a disgusting old man 🤣 I had the ick about him the whole time - or maybe that’s the point? However, I do resonate (& doesn’t everyone?) with doing something you know is wrong but you can’t seem to stop doing it, which is why I found this book hard to put down!

While not all stories have a happy ending, this one does. It’s best case scenario. Charlie finds herself, her independence, and most importantly self-love.

One quote from this book that stood out to me, that explains Charlie’s love for her job, was this “ Reading these books long before they were
shiny and polished and spellchecked and
typeset and bound into a book with a cover
sitting on a bookshop table, it was a privilege.
To see what they were before they became
books just gave them more magic”. That’s exactly how I feel having the privilege of reading this ARC on NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for sharing this delightful book with me!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'Bitter Sweet" by Hattie Williams - expected release date of 07/08/2025.

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ohhhh how I loved Charlie, the naive yet old-soul FMC. She's smart but kinda messy, and having all the normal fun of a 23 year old while still keeping her adult life together. Until she meets her much older, married idol, Richard, and falls head over heels in love with him, derailing everything she's built because she's in too deep. Her toxic journey with him is so relatable. It's something we've had friends go through, read about, seen in movies. And Richard totally preys on her, relishing her attention and infatuation. I just wanted to reach into the pages and shake her, warn her, but she wouldn't have listened anyway. She was too completely consumed and blinded by his manipulation in the relationship to understand what was happening.

What a debut. Williams writing was exceptional. The relationships between the characters were well thought out and special, and every character was perfectly developed (I loved Ophelia too). I really wanted a win for Charlie and I'm not gonna lie, I wanted her to end up with Finn!

Its crazy to think this is a debut novel!
This was absolutely great! It's addictive, and the best part was the friendships within this book. They had healthy communication, which is unheard of! This author is now and forever on my watch list because like I said this was great! But also who doesn't love a story about sensitive 20 year old's and found family!

Oh man do I have thoughts about this book. Mostly I want to say I loved it because it was so well written but Richard was not a good man (imo). Charlie was so vulnerable and pliable and I felt for her 100% and I just wanted to give her a hug and some motherly advice. Richard is smart, powerful, handsome and wealthy and I see why Charlie was into him but he was so wrong for letting this relationship unfold. Age gap aside, there were several other reasons these two should not have been together. There were so many opportunities for both of them to let this relationship go but their feelings got in the way of good sense every time. I wanted to reach into this book and smack some sense into them but I love that the writing was so evocative that it made me want to have this reaction.

This book was addicting and emotional and maddening at times and I ate it up!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was good. I really enjoyed it and thanks to Netgalley for the arc. There is age gap, workplace hookup. this book was thrilling and addicting, I recommend it.

I won't lie, I judged the book by its cover when I requested this arc, but I'm so glad that I did. I normally am put off by age gap romance and infidelity, but I found myself wanting to hug Charlie more than I wanted to shake her.


Bitter Sweet follows the story of Charlie, a 25 year old junior in the London publishing world, as she moves through her career and relationship with a married, high-profile author along with her best friends Ophelia and Eddy. I found the story to be honest and heartbreaking, and I was glad that Williams didn't glamorize the relationship between Charlie and Richard or the difficult power dynamics but rather looked at them in a way that was harsh, honest, and poignant. The writing is beautiful, and I found myself wishing I was the fourth roommate. The friendships throughout the story are beautifully written and drew me into the story. From the minute I picked it up, I couldn't put this book down, and I can't wait to read Williams' next novel.

It's defintiely a heavier read, but I would recommend it to anyone. Williams covered difficult topics like grief, sexual assualt, adultery, mental illness delicately and empathetically.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballintine Books for this beautiful arc in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t put this book down - the characters are complicated, the story had layers, and the author did a beautiful job of telling a story that I will be thinking about for a very long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine Books for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Out of all the books I’ve read so far in 2025, Bitter Sweet has had the most impact on me emotionally and I know it will stay with me awhile. I’m so impressed that this is a debut novel; Hattie is immensely talented and I can’t wait to read her next book.

This story is so real that it seems like you are reading about real people, as things are happening to them. Charlie is not a perfect person and makes many mistakes, as many do when they are 24. It brought up a lot of heartbreaking memories from that age, including relationships my friends and I experienced that were not healthy. However, it also reminded me of the good parts- the strong friendships that were solidified after going through such emotionally turbulent times. The entire book was so relatable, and while Charlie’s choices were upsetting, I understood why she made them.

I liked how the book gave a realistic view of living with anxiety and depression and how therapy can help. I also enjoyed hearing about the publishing industry and the process of turning a story into a book and marketing it to the public.

Overall, I give this 4.5 stars. My review has been posted to Goodreads.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A vulnerable young woman is lured into relationship that complicates her life. It takes years until she is able to fully see the predatory truths that she succumbed to earlier.

(Review posted to Goodreads)

I've never wanted to both scream at and hug a character more. Charlie is a young woman just getting into the publishing scene when she embarks on what will prove to be a devastating and injudicious relationship with one of the publishing company's much older authors—yet, it is all so much deeper than that. I don't want to get too much into the details of the plot, but will say it was very well written and had me hooked until the very end. Williams has an amazing ability to create such deeply complex and raw characters, highlighting both their faults and vulnerabilities in ways where you can't help but love the character and want the best for them, even if they make horrible decisions. Williams has some beautiful prose and descriptions, but what I love best about the writing in this is how real it feels. It's almost like crawling into the characters' brain and seeing every feeling and emotion so clearly to the point of understanding how it feels and why certain characters' do the things they do. Not only does this novel explore the complexities of relationships and the importance of great friendships, but of the significance of being able to be honest with oneself and acknowledge when something/someone isn't good for you and the harm your decisions are causing to yourself, and the ability to move on and get yourself out of the cycle. This is an excellent debut novel—Hattie Williams is one to watch.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Before reading, I heard that this book wouldn’t be for everyone and I agree. But even if it wasn’t for you I’d still think it would make a very interesting discussion.

While this was beautifully written and has the charm that many English contemporary fiction writers have, its main character makes decisions over and over you just wish she wouldn’t. There were many points I was a little uncomfortable and many points I was sad for the main character.

There are some very serious descriptions of depression, but also amazing friends and use of therapy for healing. I was incredibly thankful for a happy ending.

Adored the beautiful writing about Charlie, a 24-year-old woman working in publishing in London who meets her hero - the famous author Richard Aveling, 30 years her senior - and starts an affair. Never meet your heroes. Reminded me of a book I loved called "Adelaide" about an overwhelming affair. Chock full of all the behind the scenes of the publishing world - these workplace details made the book so much more than I thought it would be. Charlie's mental health issues from the affair and the death of her mom also made the book richer. I was engrossed the whole way and rooting for Charlie. Grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance read of what is sure to be a big book of summer.

I can't believe Bitter Sweet is a debut novel—Hattie Williams' writing is absolutely stunning! The story pulled me in with its raw emotions and beautifully crafted prose. While I often found myself frustrated with Charlie and her obsession with Richard, I also deeply sympathized with her. Williams does an incredible job of making Charlie’s emotions feel so real and relatable, even when I wanted to shake her. Her journey was messy, heartbreaking, and honest. And her friends? I absolutely loved them! They added so much heart and warmth to the story. This book left me thinking about it long after I turned the last page. I will definitely be ordering a physical copy of Bitter Sweet to reread and annotate. I can’t wait to see what Hattie Williams writes next! Thank you to Ballentine Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read a lot of books about women navigating life in their 20s—as a woman navigating my life in my 20s—and this one felt fresh and special.

It follows a woman struggling with her mental health and grief, resulting in her falling into self-destruction to cope. This book felt like a new take on the trope of a young woman with parental issues falling for an older man. Overall, the tone was hopeful, perfect for those that lean towards character-driven stories. I’m already excited to see what Hattie Williams writes next

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the ARC.

Bitter Sweet is a smart and engaging ready from start to finish. I was quickly pulled in to the characters and their relationships. The protagonist is likable and relatable as she navigates real-life coming of age situations. The pacing and story development holds your attention. Highly recommend reading this book.

Oh, I wanted nothing but the absolute best for Charlie and I’m so glad in the end she got that. I loved every page of this book, even when I was screaming internally at Charlie to just open her eyes and see Richard for what he really was. I was so angry and sad for her, and I think Hattie did an incredible job of describing what it’s like to be in your early twenties and think you know everything about the world and the people you choose to have relationships with. This is up there with a top contender for favorite book already this year and I want so badly to just listen to Foals for the rest of the year like Charlie

This book is an extremely nuanced character study of a young woman who struggles with her mental health and grief, resulting in self destructive tendencies. While on the surface the book follows the trope of a woman with parental issues falling for an older man, it’s done in such a fresh way. I loved how Charlie’s grief for her mother and disconnect with her stepfather led her to seek love with a man who was old enough to be her parent. I also found the ending extremely cathartic while still reflecting on the abuse Charlie experienced, leaving the overall story with a hopeful tone.