Bitter and Sweet: Award-Winning Lowcountry Novel

by Rhonda McKnight

From the beloved author of The Thing About Home comes a dual timeline tale of family, grief, secrets, and the sweet redemption that lies within the bonds of sisterhood.

-The Present-

When summoned to Georgetown, South Carolina, sisters Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland both assume their ailing grandfather's health has gotten worse. Neither expects their grandmother's undeniable request--save the family restaurant.

Mariah is at a crossroad in her life. After being dumped by her husband and forced to walk away from their diner that she helped rescue from bankruptcy, bitter feelings consume her. Even though the restaurant has been in the family for eighty-six years, giving her all to another struggling business isn't something she wants to do.

Living out of her van and striving for a fresh start, Sabrina yearns for stability for herself and her daughter and a chance to turn her baking hustle into a bona-fide business. The family restaurant may be just the blessing she needs--but as old tensions and angry disagreements resurface, Sabrina wonders if her sister will let her have a say.

-The Past-

After falling victim to a love she thought would last a lifetime, Tabitha Cooper finds herself away from home and struggling to survive in Charleston in the early twentieth century. She is determined to turn corn into cornbread and to take care of her children the best way she knows how--by serving food that's good for the soul--and along the way forges a path that leaves a legacy of success for generations to come.

Through letters that reveal Tabitha's complicated past, the sisters discover truths that just might be the right recipe to mend their hearts--if they can find a way to savor the blessing of today and leave the bitter aftertaste of old memories behind them.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Family, Christian

382 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2024

About the author

Even as she pursued degrees in Textile Technology, Organizational Leadership and finally, Adult Education, Rhonda McKnight’s love for books and desire to write stories was always in the back of her mind and in the forefront of her heart. Rhonda loves reading and writing stories that touch the heart of women through complex plots and interesting characters in crisis. She writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home with black tea, potato chips and chocolate on hand. At her feet sits a snappy mixed breed dog. She can be reached at her website at www.rhondamcknight.com and on social media at www.facebook.com/booksbyrhonda www.twitter.com/rhondamcknight www.instagram.com/authorrhondamcknight

Reviews

[Rhonda McKnight]

The ARC of Bitter and Sweet is available for reviewers on Netgalley! Woot! Woot!
I'm excited. I hope the world enjoys getting to know the complicated Cooper family as much as they loved getting to know the Blacks.

Here is the link:
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...

I'll have a Bookbub sale soon, so follow me on Bookbub to get the update. https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rhond...

At their grandmother's request, estranged sisters are reunited at the site of their family's eight-seven-year-old restaurant, where they must face complicated truths about themselves and their family history.
Learn more at my website. There are sample chapters too. https://rhondamcknight.com/bitterands...

[BookmarkedByAlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m still thinking about this story and all the cozy feels it gave me. Had to up my rating…


This is why I read… my goodness.
I absolutely love multiple POVs and dual timelines in any story, but what I love more is when those multiple POVs and timelines seamlessly come together for the reader. The writing was perfection and never fell flat.

I loved this story about breaking generational curses, forgiveness, resilience and strength of all the women in this one. It was amazing to see how the author made so many similarities of the way life was being lived from the great great grandmother all the way down to the grandchildren.
All of the love that was given to one another over their love of cooking, baking and saving a restaurant that had been in their family for 80+ years just made my heart so full.

The only gripe I have is that I wish we were able to get a peek of the letters that Tabitha wrote and more insight as to who they were actually written to.
I am definitely reading more by this author and was sure of that before I even made it to the 30% mark.
Beautiful🩷🍰🫙🍖

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

New-to-me author Rhonda McKnight examines the benefits of taking our eyes off ourselves and placing them on others. It’s not an easy thing to do as these women discover!

Mariah Clark is struggling to find a reason to live after her ten-year marriage ends in divorce and her husband steals their business. She can’t see a way to trust again after being manipulated and blindsided. She doesn’t think she has anyone she can turn to for help.

Sabrina Holland is struggling, too. She’s hanging onto a dream, but doesn’t see any way to make it come true. She’s survived the death of a loved one and is now simply existing from day to day, living out of a van. She doesn’t know if she can get out of her rut.

When their grandma Gail calls and asks them to come home, they think it’s to provide care for their sick grandfather. They get a surprise - their grandmother needs them to help save their 86-year-old family-run business. After reading through their great-great-grandmother’s letters, the sisters learn about Tabitha Cooper’s own struggles and realize that if she could overcome with so much against her, there’s hope for them with each other for support and guidance.

Rhonda McKnight’s novel reminds us of a simple truth: family is the heart of everything.

What you’ll get:
✔️Dual timeline; contemporary and 1920s Charleston, South Carolina
✔️Women in crisis: Two estranged sisters and their great-great-grandmother
✔️Feature on role of women, people of colour, society’s divisions, cultural clashing, Jim Crow Laws
✔️Examination of facing the truth and accepting it prior to moving on with life
✔️multi-generational family saga
✔️A reminder about bridging the gap and the power of forgiveness
✔️An education about Gullah Geeche; the legacy, culture, food and how it brings people together
✔️inspirational story about preserving heritage and relying on Faith

I guarantee (1) that Great Great Grandma Tabitha “Bitta” Cooper will serve up a heartbreaking yet inspiring story full of Southern comfort soul food and (2) that you’ll realize we’re all struggling and moving on is easier with a support system. Some things are worth the effort involved.

I was gifted this copy by Thomas Nelson and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Wobilba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was indeed a bitter and sweet story. I loved how the author blended both the historic and contemporary aspect of the story together and how it flowed perfectly.

I loved the characters and how amazing they were. Mariah got on my nerves a couple of times but I did understand why she was the way she was and empathised with her. I'm glad she worked on herself to get better.

Tabitha, Sabrina and Mariah's trails and tribulations were gut wrenching to read about but it was what made their victories and joy so heartwarming

overall, I did enjoy the story, I just wished we had more of the Mariah and Dante romance.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the ARC!

[Kameel · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars

I love when issues can be addressed head on and resolved…in order for the healing to begin.

[Just A Girl With Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhonda has done it again!! She just has a way of reaching into those deep places of the heart and pricking it with truth. She has officially become an auto click author. She has a gift and I am always here for whatever she is penning. I love her dual time lines that goes back into the lives of a multi generational family. The Grandma’s in Rhonda’s stories always captured my heart completely. I wish I could have had that type of relationship with mine. This story is about healing and breaking those generational chains. It’s about forgiveness, not only to others but ourselves which at times tends to be the hardest to do. Guilt eats like cancer and the quicker we can forgive and let grace cover the shame of it, the more whole our lives will become. So many lessons in this one. I love it so much.

[LaToya Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

Another amazing multigenerational family story from Rhonda McKnight. I was HIGHLY invested in great grandmother Tabitha’s story.

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 very strong stars! Bitter and Sweet: a Lowcountry Novel was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Rhonda McKnight. Several years ago, I read The Thing About Home and really enjoyed it so when I saw that Rhonda McKnight had written a new book I was excited to read it. In my limited experience with this author’s books, I have noticed that she tends to write about strong women who were experiencing a problem in their lives. I am often drawn to books that feature strong, independent, intelligent and courageous women. In Bitter and Sweet, Rhonda McKnight featured three female protagonists, one that lived during the early 1900’s and two sisters who resided in present day. All three women belonged to the Cooper/Holland family but one was the great-great grandmother and the other two were her great-great granddaughters. Bitter and Sweet took place in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina and in the Upstate cities of South Carolina. It was written in a duel time line that was easy to follow. The chapters alternated between Tabitha, Mariah and Sabrina. I would classify Bitter and Sweet as a multigenerational family saga that spanned and encompassed a family’s history over a hundred year period. It was a very compelling story with complex characters and lots of lessons to be learned.

Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland were sisters by birth but one would never had suspected that when the two were together. They were estranged in every way possible. Both Mariah and Sabrina led totally separate lives and had little to no connection. Although both Mariah and Sabrina were going through rough times, neither one of them ever considered confiding or seeking advice from the other. At times, Sabrina wished her relationship with Mariah wasn’t as it was but Mariah had made it clear more than once that she wanted nothing to do with younger sister. Sabrina wan’t sure what she had done to warrant such dislike from her older sister but fixing it seemed impossible. Both sisters were going through some very difficult times and were forced to deal with the consequences alone. Within minutes of each other, Mariah and Sabrina, received text messages from their grandmother Gail. Her text implored both sisters to come home. Their grandmother needed them. Her text read, “I need you to come home.” Mariah’s and Sabrina’s first thought, after receiving their grandmother’s separate texts, was that something had happened to their grandfather. Grandpa Odell had recently suffered a massive stroke. Neither sister hesitated to do as their grandmother requested.

Sabrina’s whole life changed when her husband, Kendrick, tragically died in car accident. They had been married for almost five years and Sabrina was pregnant at the time. Sabrina was still having a hard time dealing with the grief she still felt for loosing her husband. When her daughter was born, Sabrina had difficulty caring for her. She often sought help from her mother-in-law, Ellen Guthrie. Sabrina was having financial difficulties as well. She lost her home and had been forced to live in her van. Her daughter, Kenni, now four years old, was practically living with her Nana Ellen. Sabrina was trying desperately to turn her life around but it was an uphill struggle. She was a very skilled baker and was in the midst of creating a business as a cake decorator but when Sabrina had gotten her grandmother’s text, she knew that she had to go and help her. Sabrina immediately went to Ellen’s house unannounced and picked up Kenni. The two drove to Grandma Gail’s home in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

Mariah Clark lived in Duncan, South Carolina. When she married her husband, Mariah had taken on the role of turning their restaurant around. Mariah had committed all her business sense, time, effort and energy into making the Clark restaurant a success. She also took the responsibility almost single handedly of caring for her mother-in-law when she was dying. Mariah had created a very successful cooking podcast after the restaurant was renovated and thriving. All those achievements came crashing down on Mariah when her husband told her he wanted a divorce. Everything that she had worked so hard to make happen was taken from her in a blink of an eye. Mariah learned that her husband had replaced her with a much younger woman who was also a chef. She was angry and bitter. Mariah had received her grandmother’s text message at this precise point in her life. She packed her bags, locked up her apartment and also went to help her grandmother not knowing her sister had received the exact same message and was also on her way to Grandma Gail’s and Grandpa Odell’s home.

Tabitha Cooper had grown up in Georgetown, South Carolina in the early 1900’s. She would become Mariah’s and Sabrina’s great, great grandmother. Tabitha or Bitta as mother and father and siblings called her, grew to be five foot nine inches tall. Many nicknamed Tabitha “the Giant” because she was so tall. Tabitha was very dark skinned as well compared to her siblings. She was brought up in the Gullah culture with strong religious beliefs and practices. Tabitha worked at the Market store after school. She cooked stews and soups on Fridays and Saturdays. Tabitha was a good cook and many enjoyed her cooking. One day, a stranger came into the store where Tabitha was serving her food. His name was Joseph McCoy. He swept Tabitha off her feet. Tabitha was quite a lot younger than Joseph McCoy and very inexperienced when it came to men and relationships. Against her family’s better judgement, Tabitha decided to go with Joseph to Charleston. He had promised her that they would marry there. Tabitha grew to love Joseph and respect him until she finally saw him for who he was. During that time period, Tabitha wrote letters that revealed her lifestyle, feelings, struggles and challenges.

Grandma Gail had discovered the box that contained Great, Great Grandmother Tabitha’s letters when she had cleaned out her own mother’s home after she passed. When Mariah and Sabrina both arrived at Grandma Gail’s they were informed that their grandmother needed their help in restoring the family restaurant, Tabby’s Meats and Sweets, and opening it again to the public. Grandma Gail also gave Sabrina the box of Tabitha’s letters to read. Sabrina was told to share them with her sister after she finished reading them. Those letters brought Tabitha’s story to heart for both sisters. They were both able to learn valuable lessons from their great, great grandmother’s mistakes, courageous acts and the inspiring instincts she possessed.

Tabitha’s summary of the meaning of life stayed with me long after I completed this book. She said, “Sometimes it’s funny, and sometimes it’s sad. Everything we struggle through has a purpose. That’s what God’s Word says. We have to take the good and bad and the bitter and sweet.” That quote summed up so much about this book and the characters, both past and present. Bitter and Sweet focused on family, love, forgiveness, healing, secrets and shame. There is no greater bond than that of family and sisters in particular if forgiveness and letting go can occur. I enjoyed all the detailed descriptions of food, especially those dishes that stemmed from the Gullah culture. I had never heard of the Gullah culture prior to reading Bitter and Sweet. Sabrina’s determination to keep alive her mother’s passion of making sweet cakes in a jar was touching. I enjoyed the romances that took root as well. Although Mariah’s character annoyed and confused me in the beginning, I was so pleased with the transformation Marian made. It was not any easy road for Mariah but by the end of the book I had come to understand her better and even admire her. There were so many messages, lessons and stories in this book that spoke to me and roused my many emotions. I enjoy reading books with strong women and this book did not disappoint. I highly recommend Bitter and Sweet by Rhonda McKnight to anyone who enjoys a good multigenerational story that takes place in the South and featured three strong women.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read Bitter and Sweet by Rhonda McKnight through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Breeee Ranae⚜️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missss Rhonda McKnight is becoming one of my favorite authors like fr. This is my Second 5 Star read from her & it was soooo refreshing to read. Multigenerational & multiple genres done so well. !

Two estranged sisters Mariah & Sabrina have to come together to save their grandparents restaurant that’s been in the family for generations. At the same time we get to hear the story of the great great grandmother Tabitha who started the business from the ground up LITERALLY.

I can’t even find the right words to describe how compelling this book was for me. The character development & accountability that everyone had made me feel soooo good like I knew these ppl personally. The last few chapters of this really had me in tears. YES hard down sobbing !! 🤦🏾‍♀️😭😆🥹 I really want an update on these ppl like real BAD ! 🤣

Joseph was a no Good dog right along with Mariah’s husband. Where is my Quintan ?? He was EVERYTHING 😍

READ THIS RIGHT NOW !

[Lit_Vibrations · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get into it . . . . Get into it . . . GET 👏🏽 INTO 👏🏽 IT‼️ This is my second book by McKnight and she delivered a masterpiece yet again. You know a book is good when it evokes a million emotions out of you. One minute you’re happy smiling, the next you’re emotional and in your feelings, then you become angered by some of the actions of these characters.

Dare you to ask what McKnight brought to the table. She served up a multigenerational family story filled with drama, sisterhood, survival, trauma, family legacy and traditions, with a dash of drama, and a whole lot of forgiveness. The title was so perfect for this book because I felt like Mariah was bitter and Sabrina was sweet. But once you really get into their backstory’s you understand why they behave so differently.

I know I’m not the only one who thought Mariah was gonna do her soon-to-be ex-husband like Helen did Charles in The Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Had she done so I wouldn’t have been against it lol sometimes people need to see what it’s like when the shoe is on the other foot. The dual timelines 🤌🏽 (chef’s kiss) I really enjoyed Grandma Tab’s timeline. Joseph……Joseph…..Joseph‼️

Overall, I loved everything about this book highly recommend y’all give this one a read. It was compelling, immersive, and filled with unforgettable characters promise you won’t put it down. The character development and exploration of their emotions was perfectly executed. I literally sympathized with them all even Mariah. I just knew there was more to her mistreatment towards Sabrina. If you’re looking for a book that’s both heartwarming and thought-provoking, and will leave a lasting impression you found it. Special thanks to @authorrhondamcknight @hearourvoicestours & @tnzfiction for my gifted copy‼️

[Rae | My Cousin’s Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

I really enjoyed this story overall, but it did seem really really long. Maybe the audio feels longer than reading the physical book, but the narration was pretty good.

[WellReadAndRatchet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful multigenerational family story! We start with Grandma calling sisters, Sabrina and Mariah, home under vague prentices. They know their grandpa is sick but she doesn't say much. Grandma has a few ulterior motives though and one is for her girls to save the family restaurant. Their stories are told through multiple POVs and dual timelines (which I loved as a historical fiction girly.) It's a story steeped in secrets, shame, and heartache but overcoming it all with love. There's elements of the family's Gullah culture and Christian faith as well. What I particularly loved was it wasn't one of those "let's pray about it" books, but they followed through with action (i.e. therapy.) I loved the main characters (and loved to hate Mariah) and their interactions with the supporting characters. We even get a glimpse of a few budding romances as well. Great- great Granny Tab was my favorite character. Her strength and determination drove her success no matter what obstacles she faced. I just wanted a tiny bit more of her and her restaurant's story. I loved that it worked out for everyone but it may have been a little too perfect for me. But in the end, we see Grandma indeed had the recipe for it all! You should definitely grab a copy to see how it all plays out.

Rating: 4.25/5

[Rashawnda · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We are strengthened when we are healed.”

When past meets present what will you do?! And let’s not forget the saying where history has a habit of repeating itself. For sisters Sabrina and Mariah, they had no idea how true this statement would ring!

Both sisters are off in the world living their lives. Lives that consist of heartbreak, betrayal, loneliness, anger and alienation. How does one bounce back from these daily struggles?! Well they start by answering the call or on this case text to come home because one thing you do when your grandmother reaches out is bring your tail home. Neither sister knew why she wanted them home but nevertheless they went.

The trip home forces these estranged sisters to come face to face with harsh truths and decide whether or not to continue down the same path or channel their great grandmother Tabitha’s legacy and build the life they want for themselves despite the odds stacked against them. If closed mouths don’t get fed was a book it would be Bitter and Sweet!

I LOVED the way the author effortlessly weaved these women’s stories together. I often wonder what type of life my ancestors lived and would have loved nothing more than to have letters retelling the highs and lows, wins and losses that made them who they were and I am today! Grandma Tabitha gave that to these girls and who wouldn’t want to make their ancestors proud and continue a legacy so amazing! This was my introduction to Rhonda and i absolutely cannot wait to dive more into her work! 4.5 ✨

[Emaleigh Nichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be back later after I collect my thoughts. This was so good.

Ok I’m back.

This story reads like a movie. Dual time lines, past and present. What I enjoyed most was the nuances of the characters. There are a lot of people to keep up with in this family drama that spans generations but you get to know each one and how different they all are but have similar life experiences. Two sisters learn their family history and meet their great-grandmother through her letters that their own grandmother had been saving for them. Sometime you aren’t ready to learn a lesson or the timing of information will not be beneficial for you and their grandmother held on to those letters until they were needed.
This family had so many secrets. The past held dangerous but not surprising secrets. The present held secrets that were simply rooted in shame. This story is told so that you learn history of the family before you learn the families secrets. You see in both the past and present how and why those lies and webs began to unravel. This story is well written and the characters are people you know, some of your family, present and long lost. This is a story of family. A story of Gullah culture. A story of forgiveness. A story of love. I recommend this story if you love a family drama/saga or a multigenerational story.

[Samantha | samanthakreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful, heart-wrenching story is filled with family, hardship, and deeper messages. I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, and the three narrators who played the voices of Mariah, Sabrina, and Tabitha did a wonderful job! It brought Rhonda’s writing to life as if you were with the characters, feeling their emotions in real-time time and immersed in the history and detail.

The characters were raw and relatable, showing their struggles, flaws, and hardships. You will find yourself happy, sad, and frustrated while rooting for them along the way. I enjoyed following Mariah and Sabrina as they navigated their grief and healing and Tabitha through her strength and survival. Although harder situations are discussed, Rhonda did it respectfully, showing true depictions that readers will be able to resonate with, connect to, and learn from.

If you enjoy audiobooks, I highly recommend checking this one out!✨

Thank you so much, Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction, for sending me an advanced audiobook copy to rate and review; all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 [mentioned but not described]
•Cancer, Infidelity, Pregnancy out of wedlock, Loss of a loved one, Divorce, Threats, Single parent, Stabbing, Kissing

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Rhonda McKnight, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and NetGalley.

This is so good! I was unfamiliar with this author before this review but I am most definitely a new fan. This is a family drama about love, growth, and faith. The main characters are Mariah and her younger sister Sabrina. There is a third supporting character, Tabitha, the sisters great-great-grandmother who opened the family restaurant that the sisters are there to save.

This is set in the south with alternating timelines between Mariah & Sabrina in our current times and Tabitha starting about 1910. Mariah is reeling from a sudden unexpected separation and pending divorce which has turned nasty when she gets a call from her grandmother asking her to come immediately. Her grandfather is back in the hospital and they need help with the family restaurant. Sabrina is living an alternative lifestyle in her van and recovering from the loss of her partner and temporary separation from her daughter while trying to build a business when she gets the call from her grandmother to come help at the restaurant.

There is a deep wound between the sisters with its roots in childhood. This addresses parent loss, partner loss, and child abuse. It's handled delicately with respect for how these issues impact a lifetime. It felt very relatable. This presents a wonderful example of the transformative power of therapy. There's also cute kids and light romance.

I'm not a Christian and found the religious aspects of the story mostly sweet, nothing preachy or awkward at all. The importance of love, forgiveness and family are the main Christian themes.

The narrators are Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Angel Pean and Lynnette R. Freeman. All three ladies are amongst my top five narrators. I also love, love, love when audiobooks have individual narrators for each pov character.

Thank you to Rhonda McKnight, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

[The Bookish Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you TNZ Fiction and HearOurVoices for the gifted copy.

Rhonda McKnight has done it again with this one. This book flowed so well from the first page to the last. I don’t know what it is about her books, but every time I read them, I feel every emotion and somehow feel comforted by the end of the book.

We are following two sisters in this book who couldn’t be more different. Sabrina and Mariah are brought together by their dear grandmother to figure out their differences, along with revamping the family restaurant. This leads to a journey of healing, love, and understanding.

I loved both timelines, especially Granny Tab’s. Her resilience and strife are a reminder of the foundation that a lot of African American families are built on. Her need to try to figure things out on her own to avoid shame reminds us that if there is a shoulder to lean on, lean on it. Her shame reminds us that epigenetics is real, and we see that carried throughout the entire family. While I loved almost every bit of this book, I do wish we got more of Granny Tabitha’s POV (I’m greedy), and I wish the turn-around for Mariah wasn’t so quick. Some things in the book were almost too perfect for this reader, but that doesn’t take away that much from the story, just something to note.

I have 250 annotations/highlights for this book; if that doesn’t tell you to read it, I don’t know what will. Rhonda McKnight is an auto-buy author for me after this book. She’s earned her place in my book lover’s heart. If you read her work, you will not be disappointed. I’d highly recommend this book.

[Darcy J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I was hoping you would fight."

Two estranged sisters. One sick grandparent. One historical restaurant. Sabrina and Mariah are sisters who haven't talked in a while because of a fallout from years ago. But their grandmother has forced them together to reopen their family restaurant.
Sabrina is a single mother to a four year old named Kenni and is currently living out of her van after her husband passed away. Mariah, who deemed herself the "mean sister," is currently going through a divorce in secret.

Secrets, communication, grudges, and bitterness keeps the sisters at odds and it's heartbreaking to witness. But old letters from their great great grandma in the early 1900s heal them in ways they were not expecting. Not only are they healing but their lives of the three women parallel each other in many ways.
Sometimes, (all the time) you need God and therapy when life is shifting and I found myself highlighting so many beautiful quotes.
Rhonda incorporates historical fiction in her stories so beautifully and it's my favorite part of every novel.

I enjoyed Bitter and Sweet and it felt so good to be back in Georgetown. Yes, I am a resident.😂
I really hope Rhonda gives us more stories from this beautiful small town.
✨Small Town
✨Family Drama
✨Historical Fiction

[Sheronda H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this book. I loved reading Tabitha’s story from the past and the Mariah’s and Sabrina’s stories in the present. I did not like Mariah for a good portion of the book. But I’m glad everything worked out.

[Tina Plintz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book from Rhonda McKnight and definitely won’t be my last.
She captivated me right from the first chapter. I had such a hard time putting it down.
It’s a powerful story of family and the trials and tribulations that families endure.
A heartfelt story of how sometimes you need to talk and seek out help to get over the past to help you through.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really fantastic. It was about legacy and bridging the gap between past and present. Also about healing and forgiveness. Forgiving yourself most of all. Guilt and shame can eat you alive. Don't let it. I absolutely loved this story. Rhonda McKnight is quickly becoming a favorite author. Happy reading!

[Vanessa Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story. Perfect vacation read! Author does an amazing job with multiple POVs and a dual timeline.

[Keeping.Volumes.Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good story that evoked a variety of emotions. It truly was an emotional roller coaster. The shifting between the past and present enhanced the narrative, providing a deeper understanding of how the sisters felt in the present. I can't wait to read another book by Ms. McKnight!

[Jenise · Rating 5 out of 5]

EASY 6 ⭐!!!!

I thought The Thing About Home was good and then here comes Bitter & Sweet.

This book brought me to tears multiple times. WOW..... RHONDA!!!!

Again, I felt connected to this book because the low country is written in a beautifully familiar way. I LOVED the Geechee written in this book so much! It reminded me of my grandmother in such a deep way. 🥹

The 3 POV's were done BEAUTIFULLY and seeing the mirror images of their lives from the last and present really made me reflect on how similar and connected we are to those that came before us. We are a reflection of one another and can/should learn from our lived experiences.

Rhonda's books make me think of legacy deeply. What kind of legacy was I left and what will I leave to those that will come after me?

The love in both books reminded me of when I fell in love with my husband. Pure, deep, sincere. I LOVED IT SOOOOO MUCH!!!! Whew. I'm def gonna read both books as well as more from Rhonda McKnight because I just need a lot more of these types of stories in my life!💕🎉

[Nae · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS!!!! ♥️

[Adanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estranged sisters Mariah and Sabrina are summoned home to save their family’s historic restaurant. Arriving while dealing with difficult challenges in their lives, the Holland sisters must learn from the past, face some hard truths, and settle their differences to keep the restaurant going.

Bitter and Sweet is such a wonderful, multigenerational story! This emotional read told through an alternating timelines explores the bonds of sisterhood, the lingering effects of grief, and the impact of living with regrets.

I truly enjoyed getting to know exacting Mariah and free spirit Sabrina. My heart ached for these women when the root of their estrangement was revealed. Because of all the bitterness these two have experienced, I was thrilled to see them grow and be able to rekindle their sisterly bond so they could enjoy the sweetness that had been missing from their lives for so long.

The story of Mariah and Sabrina’s great-great grandmother Tabitha is simply inspiring. It is through Tabitha’s letters that the sister gain perspective on dealing with life’s struggles and see her resilience in action. These two couldn’t have a better role model.

I highly recommend this moving family saga focused on resiliency and forgiveness.

I received an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Casey R Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was incredibly nervous about reading this book. I was introduced to this author from her book The Thing About Home. I loved that book so much that it was my number 1 read of 2023 out of 190 books. So this book had some big shoes to fill because TTAH set the bar extremely high. I procrastinated cracking this one open for fear of disappointment. Now that I have finally read it, WTH was I waiting for?

This book was so good and was extremely well-written. I am a huge fan of dual timeline stories especially those that are based in historical facts. I loved the drama of the two estranged sisters as they navigate their relationship. The forced proximity opens up the path for healing and is reminder of the importance of forgiveness. The author explores the role of Black women and the impact of society’s divisions caused by Jim Crow. This is a story of reckoning and redemption illustrated as a multi-generational saga. We learn about the Gullah Geeche culture and the impact on South Carolina history. This is. a beautiful lesson in history, faith, and relationships.

This book has solidified Rhonda McKnight as an auto-buy author for me.

[Readwithchan_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great read… I will say although fiction there were a few parts that took away from the story because it just seemed as if it was too perfect as far as the ending. I get Mariah had a turnaround however it was as if she became too perfect too quick…

I loved everything about Great granny Tab and I wished we had more especially seeing how everything turned out for her.

Sabrina I loved her and I’m so happy how things worked out for her. She deserved everything that she got and I would love to see how the sisters work together in their place..

All in all this was a great read

[tre be · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd like to take a second to add Rhonda McKnight to my short list of new favorite authors! She's nailed it again!!
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Rhonda is back with another low country, family style Southern charm! It’s definitely a warm, cozy book hug of a book!
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This dual timeline follows Ms. Tabby back in the 1920s and her great granddaughters, and sisters, Mariah and Sabrina, in the present day. Ms. Tabby was the root and the girls were the branches.
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Great grandmother T was a dynamic, resilient matriarch whose thoughtful and brave actions forged a strong path for her life and future legacy when all of the odds were stacked against her.
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Years later, her granddaughters have been called home to work together to save the family business, continue the legacy, and also heal their own weary souls.
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Mariah had a pretty unique perspective as we got to know more of her. There was a lot of hurt behind her tough, bitter exterior and I have shared her feelings about motherhood as well. I could deeply empathize with her.
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Ms. T’s story instantly won me over. She had so many obstacles in her way but it never stopped her from pursuing her passion. At one point I wished that the entire story was focused on her. But, the end came together so beautifully that I was glad to come along on Sabrina and Mariah’s journeys.
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I love Rhonda’s knack for showing family, food and history as chicken soup for the soul. This book made me wonder what characteristics I may have inherited thanks to the generations of women in my bloodline.
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This story is a testament that bonds can be restored,  forgiveness is necessary and relationships can be healed and be better than ever before. We truly have to take the bitter with the sweet. Life can be difficult, but the tender, sweet moments help balance it all.
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Bitter and Sweet lives up to all of the hype and the expectations one has of the next novel, following a great one.
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Rhonda's stories always pique my interest for the Low Country culture and food. I'd love to dine at Taby's Sweets and Meats and soak up all the history there over a glass of sweet tea!
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𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐠/booksta?

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

*****3.5*****
I enjoyed this book. It's about two sisters and their great-great-grandmother and how the stories connect and reflect each other. Mariah and Sabrina have their own alternating first-person perspectives, and Tabitha, the great-great-grandmother has a perspective, too, but it's third-person. The book takes place in South Carolina in modern day for the sisters and in the early 1900s for Tabitha. Each story builds slowly, giving context and details, before getting into the hearts of the individual conflicts and the connected conflicts (when it comes to the sisters).
The setting is rich with detail, and the plot and characters are well-developed. For me, though, the beginning of each plot line is much stronger than the ending. I really appreciated the resolutions of conflict and felt emotional about certain moments, especially one in particular, but I also felt that many threads wrapped up very quickly for the extent of the conflict that had built up and that some resolutions weren't realistic, likely because they did wrap up so quickly. I also didn't care for one of the characters much even though I was supposed to like him, and this took away a bit from my appreciation of some of the resolutions.
What was really interesting for me in this book was to see Christian beliefs like what I believe reflected so openly and so simply but also super contemporary beliefs about therapy, mental health, and making decisions for one's own wellbeing reflected so openly. These are ideas I've seen on Instagram and Twitter but never reflected in a book, so that was also interesting to see. I like that McKnight doesn't shy away from talking about the need for God and for therapy and portrays mental health in a very detailed way.
I recommend this book to people who like stories about sisters and family, to people interested in the resolve and strength of Black women, especially during Jim Crow, to readers who enjoy Southern literature, and to people who like light romance with the focus more on character development and personal conflict than on romantic tropes.
Overall, I liked this book and am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an e-copy for review!