Title: Bittersweet
Author: Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
Pages: 384
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Literature
Source: Advanced Reader’s Copy from Goodreads First Reads
Rating: A-
Note: As stated under the Source (above), I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I read this book over a year ago, and reviewed it on Goodreads at that time. My reviews are always honest, regardless of where I get the book.
Summary: Mabel Dagmar is a college student from a working class family who has gone away to school to escape the realities of her life and the mistakes she has made. Her roommate, Genevra (Ev) Winslow, is a very well-off society girl who Mabel considers herself lucky to befriend.
As the semester comes to an end, Ev invites Mabel to her family’s summer escape, and she gladly accepts, dreaming of what the summer will hold, thankful to be able to escape a summer with her own family. She does not, however, anticipate the family’s deep dark secrets, the ugliness behind the veil of wealth and propriety, and she finds herself sucked into a mystery.
As the summer unravels, so to does all that the Winslow’s have tried to hide. Along the way, Mabel discovers a lot about herself, and, I think, human nature in general. She learns a great deal about love and loss, and what people will do to keep what they have (including herself), to protect the people they love.
Review: Were it not for two factors – a beautiful cover and having won it through Goodreads First Reads giveaway – it is unlikely I would have read this book. However, I’m glad that the stars aligned to land this book in my lap. Had I not read it, I would have been missing out.
The writing is beautiful (I cannot emphasize this enough!), the story is wonderful, the character development is superb. Every step of the way, Mabel’s story resonated with me. At some point, I felt I knew her so well, I knew what she would do next. Never, at any point, did I suspect what the real family secret was. The detail helped me feel I was there all throughout. A wonderful read that I highly recommend.