Bitter Sweet

A Novel

By: Hattie Williams

Narrated by: Rosie Sheehy

A young book publicist finds herself in an all-consuming workplace affair with her literary idol in this “very impressive debut” (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark).

“Beautifully crafted, with aftershocks of conscience that will leave you processing for hours with others who’ve read it.”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

Sometimes the things you love most are the very things that can tear you apart.

Charlie is twenty-three, single and the new publicity assistant at London’s preeminent independent book publishing house. Richard Aveling is fifty-six, married and the author who has defined his generation.

Charlie has long idolized the charming, illustrious writer, who also represents a link to her late mother who loved his work. But as they embark on an illicit and all-consuming affair, Charlie is forced to hide the relationship from everyone she cares about.

Too soon, she can’t imagine her life without Richard, and too late, she understands that losing him will unravel more than just their relationship—it might also unravel her.

Tender and poignant, Bitter Sweet is an intimate exploration of power, of vulnerability, of what it means to love another person and what it means to love yourself.

Critic reviews

“The power dynamic between artist and consumer of art blurs in this unsettling account of a young publicist who meets her idol—a much older author. The lines of consent, control, and even reality shift. Like our main character we know this can’t end well—but we also can’t pull away from the impending implosion. This is beautifully crafted, with aftershocks of conscience that will leave you processing for hours with others who’ve read it.”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

“Bitter Sweet is a quietly devastating debut about desire, grief, and power imbalance.”—Bustle

“Nuanced . . . Readers will be moved.”—Publishers Weekly

“Beautifully written with compassion, hope, and heart . . . Bitter Sweet is a timeless tragedy, a story of the intricacies and illusions of true love, equality, and the heartbreaking disparity between what is shown to us and what we choose to see. It’s a very impressive debut.”—Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark

“Bitter Sweet is raw and beautiful and true. Hattie Williams writes so honestly on love and loss that it hurts. This book will make you ache for your twenties and make you equally glad you survived them.”—Abigail Dean, New York Times bestselling author of Girl A

“Wondrous . . . This instant classic of a debut—as innocent and enthralling as first love; as wise and (yes) bittersweet as the hangover—recalls the likes of Caitlin Moran and Curtis Sittenfeld, but Hattie’s voice is all her own: honest, winning, breakable. What a defiant novel—you’ll devour and savor it at once, impossibly, and turn the final page having made a friend for life.”—A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

“Williams’s writing on early-twenties friendships and their enmeshed intensity was so convincing. I enjoyed it so much.”—Marian Keyes

“Nuanced . . . Readers will be moved.”—Publishers Weekly

Wonderful Story of Trauma and Recovery

The narrator is great. each word is clearly articulated. The story is almost old fashioned - many women in Charlie’s situation would have exploited it. It seemed autobiographical in the details. I loved it for the strong, empowered female characters.

Story is fine, awful narrator

Why is the narrator whispering?? I can’t hear her and it’s so distracting. I keep getting bored and zoning out

Excellent!

I loved this read. The characters, the plot, the narrator were all great. Unusual storyline and I couldn’t guess the ending.

Absolutely devoured this story

Writing and narration was superb … I will think of Charley and RÃ for a long time. So aptly named… truly so Bittersweet ❤️

Totally immersive, uncomfortable and addictive

I loved this story and the journey I went on with Charlie! I took a star off for performance because sometimes the narrator was so raspy I kept having to rewind.