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Bitter Melon
Not yet published
Expected 22 Oct 26'Liv Little pulls you into a world where the characters feel like everyone you've ever known, loved and learned.
Bitter Melon
is deftly written, full of heart and human nature's complexities.' Candice Carty-Williams
The hotly anticipated second novel from Liv Little, founder of gal-dem and author of Rosewater
Jalissa and her dad aren't close, but when he invites her to Jamaica, his homeland, for the first time, she says yes.
She's running from heartbreak and a loss of her own; he's running out of time.
As they travel through sun-drenched towns and navigate tangled family roots, old wounds open and long-held silences begin to break. They're both trying to outrun something-but along the way, they cross paths with people whose stories shift their own, helping them face the past, reckon with the present and reimagine what comes next.
Bitter Melon is a tender, funny, heart-bruised road trip into memory, mortality and the fierce, fragile love between a daughter and the father she's still learning to understand.
'A beautiful, tender story about the relationship between a father and daughter, the meaning of home, and finding your way back to yourself. Little captures Jamaica, forever home to me, so beautifully. Thank you for taking me there.' Shani Akilah
'So moving and unguarded and beautiful. I didn't want to miss a word.' Lucy Boynton
'Brilliant, tender and intimate.' Elle
'A moving read about identity, fatherhood and family reconciliation.' Good Housekeeping
The hotly anticipated second novel from Liv Little, founder of gal-dem and author of Rosewater
Jalissa and her dad aren't close, but when he invites her to Jamaica, his homeland, for the first time, she says yes.
She's running from heartbreak and a loss of her own; he's running out of time.
As they travel through sun-drenched towns and navigate tangled family roots, old wounds open and long-held silences begin to break. They're both trying to outrun something-but along the way, they cross paths with people whose stories shift their own, helping them face the past, reckon with the present and reimagine what comes next.
Bitter Melon is a tender, funny, heart-bruised road trip into memory, mortality and the fierce, fragile love between a daughter and the father she's still learning to understand.
'A beautiful, tender story about the relationship between a father and daughter, the meaning of home, and finding your way back to yourself. Little captures Jamaica, forever home to me, so beautifully. Thank you for taking me there.' Shani Akilah
'So moving and unguarded and beautiful. I didn't want to miss a word.' Lucy Boynton
'Brilliant, tender and intimate.' Elle
'A moving read about identity, fatherhood and family reconciliation.' Good Housekeeping
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Deeply moving, complex and fiercely tender… a father-daughter story that you won’t forget…
Bitter Melon is told from the perspective of Jalissa and her father Delroy. Jalissa is 32 years old; she’s got a career she absolutely enjoy but recently things have been slowly falling apart in her person life. Since the loss of her daughter her relationship with the dad has been shaky. After a dinner together he told her he needs space because the grief’s been too heavy for them to bear. With this in mind, Jalissa decides to take a full step back by leaving her job and deciding to go to Jamaica with her father.
Delroy is a Jamaica living in London and for years he’s been a bus driver. He’s developed strong relationships with his coworkers who are now family. Delroy is a simple man, with a dream to go back home to Jamaica to retire. With a serious diagnosis, Delroy decides now is the time to visit Jamaica to learn more about his past and family. On a whim he invites his one daughter Jalissa. Even though they are no close, both need an escape and that is how they end up on a journey of a lifetime.
Bitter Melon is one of the most moving books I have read this year. I don’t think we read a lot about father-daughter relationships in Caribbean books, and Little did a specular job of taking us in their world. Being from Jamaica, it felt so authentic seeing my island being brought to life, some of my favourite places. This is truly an unforgettable read that had me bawling in the end.
Please read this one.
Bitter Melon is told from the perspective of Jalissa and her father Delroy. Jalissa is 32 years old; she’s got a career she absolutely enjoy but recently things have been slowly falling apart in her person life. Since the loss of her daughter her relationship with the dad has been shaky. After a dinner together he told her he needs space because the grief’s been too heavy for them to bear. With this in mind, Jalissa decides to take a full step back by leaving her job and deciding to go to Jamaica with her father.
Delroy is a Jamaica living in London and for years he’s been a bus driver. He’s developed strong relationships with his coworkers who are now family. Delroy is a simple man, with a dream to go back home to Jamaica to retire. With a serious diagnosis, Delroy decides now is the time to visit Jamaica to learn more about his past and family. On a whim he invites his one daughter Jalissa. Even though they are no close, both need an escape and that is how they end up on a journey of a lifetime.
Bitter Melon is one of the most moving books I have read this year. I don’t think we read a lot about father-daughter relationships in Caribbean books, and Little did a specular job of taking us in their world. Being from Jamaica, it felt so authentic seeing my island being brought to life, some of my favourite places. This is truly an unforgettable read that had me bawling in the end.
Please read this one.
Review of advance copy
(An incredibly strong, almost 5-star read)
Bitter Melon is a deeply moving, beautiful, and profoundly touching exploration of ancestral roots, family reconciliation, and emotional rebirth. The story follows Jalissa, who is actively running from the wreckage of severe heartbreak, and her estranged father, Delroy, who is embarking on what will likely be his final journey back to his homeland after receiving a terminal diagnosis.
The characters of Jalissa and Delroy are brilliantly realised, and telling the story through their dual points of view is where the book truly shines. The way their contrasting perspectives blend into one another's narratives is beautifully actualised, allowing us to see the generational and emotional gaps close in real-time as their relationship evolves.Because I was so captivated by this narrative flow, I ultimately found myself wishing the setting had leaned more heavily into the local dialogue to match that depth. I wanted to read more patois and feel truly enveloped by the language. I wanted to experience the sensory richness, rhythm, and warmth of Jamaica right alongside Jalissa.
What ultimately held this back from being a perfect five-star read for me was the pacing in the final act, which felt completely off balance. For most of the book, the journey is slow and gentle, moving at a wonderfully relaxed rhythm that perfectly mirrors the unhurried ease of island life. But as the story approaches its conclusion, the narrative speed suddenly shifts gears, becoming incredibly rushed almost like a chaotic sprint through city life. Because of this abrupt change in tempo, the final choice of Delroy and Jalissa came as a genuine shock. The pivotal decision felt frustratingly rushed almost as if a monumental shift in perspective was brushed under the rug rather than earned. At the start of the book, Jalissa is introduced to us as an "ice queen." Because the narrative skipped the necessary internal processing and emotional buildup to justify her final actions, it felt as though she suddenly reverted to that cold, detached persona. It was jarringly at odds with the profound growth she had undergone during that slow, gentle island journey.
This breakneck pace unfortunately carried right into Jalissa’s final chapter. The loss of her first child is arguably the most central, defining catalyst for her character development, and skipping over the events of her final chapter, we see a glimpse of that vulnerability but rushing the event of that final chapter, felt like a major narrative oversight to me. I wanted to read Jalissa's experience and I wanted to feel her relief and how this helped to heal her from her emotional experience previously. Delving into the raw beauty, innate power, and intense grief of her first experience and intertwining it with her awakening roots in Jamaica would have offered a spectacular, full-circle.
My frustration with this rushed finale was further compounded by Robbie’s unexpected reappearance. Their earlier phone call was beautifully written touching, cathartic, and a moment that actually made me respect Robbie as a character. It provided the perfect sense of closure. Leaving things there would have honored both of their independent paths, especially since Robbie is on his own distinct journey toward health and happiness. Jalissa had already undergone her rebirth; she had reclaimed her independence and grown immensely strong. She was entirely capable of facing her future independently. Dragging the past back into her final, defining moment felt unnecessary and slightly diminished her hard-won autonomy.
Yet, despite my grievances with the pacing of the final chapters, the core message of the novel remains absolutely stunning. There is a perfect quote embedded in the pages that beautifully encapsulates the entire narrative arc: "You just need to know how to handle it." This sentiment perfectly mirrors the intricate, heavy healing process that both Jalissa and Delroy endure. It is a powerful, emotionally resonant story, and one that I will enthusiastically recommend to anyone looking for a deeply touching family novel.
Bitter Melon is a deeply moving, beautiful, and profoundly touching exploration of ancestral roots, family reconciliation, and emotional rebirth. The story follows Jalissa, who is actively running from the wreckage of severe heartbreak, and her estranged father, Delroy, who is embarking on what will likely be his final journey back to his homeland after receiving a terminal diagnosis.
The characters of Jalissa and Delroy are brilliantly realised, and telling the story through their dual points of view is where the book truly shines. The way their contrasting perspectives blend into one another's narratives is beautifully actualised, allowing us to see the generational and emotional gaps close in real-time as their relationship evolves.Because I was so captivated by this narrative flow, I ultimately found myself wishing the setting had leaned more heavily into the local dialogue to match that depth. I wanted to read more patois and feel truly enveloped by the language. I wanted to experience the sensory richness, rhythm, and warmth of Jamaica right alongside Jalissa.
What ultimately held this back from being a perfect five-star read for me was the pacing in the final act, which felt completely off balance. For most of the book, the journey is slow and gentle, moving at a wonderfully relaxed rhythm that perfectly mirrors the unhurried ease of island life. But as the story approaches its conclusion, the narrative speed suddenly shifts gears, becoming incredibly rushed almost like a chaotic sprint through city life. Because of this abrupt change in tempo, the final choice of Delroy and Jalissa came as a genuine shock. The pivotal decision felt frustratingly rushed almost as if a monumental shift in perspective was brushed under the rug rather than earned. At the start of the book, Jalissa is introduced to us as an "ice queen." Because the narrative skipped the necessary internal processing and emotional buildup to justify her final actions, it felt as though she suddenly reverted to that cold, detached persona. It was jarringly at odds with the profound growth she had undergone during that slow, gentle island journey.
This breakneck pace unfortunately carried right into Jalissa’s final chapter. The loss of her first child is arguably the most central, defining catalyst for her character development, and skipping over the events of her final chapter, we see a glimpse of that vulnerability but rushing the event of that final chapter, felt like a major narrative oversight to me. I wanted to read Jalissa's experience and I wanted to feel her relief and how this helped to heal her from her emotional experience previously. Delving into the raw beauty, innate power, and intense grief of her first experience and intertwining it with her awakening roots in Jamaica would have offered a spectacular, full-circle.
My frustration with this rushed finale was further compounded by Robbie’s unexpected reappearance. Their earlier phone call was beautifully written touching, cathartic, and a moment that actually made me respect Robbie as a character. It provided the perfect sense of closure. Leaving things there would have honored both of their independent paths, especially since Robbie is on his own distinct journey toward health and happiness. Jalissa had already undergone her rebirth; she had reclaimed her independence and grown immensely strong. She was entirely capable of facing her future independently. Dragging the past back into her final, defining moment felt unnecessary and slightly diminished her hard-won autonomy.
Yet, despite my grievances with the pacing of the final chapters, the core message of the novel remains absolutely stunning. There is a perfect quote embedded in the pages that beautifully encapsulates the entire narrative arc: "You just need to know how to handle it." This sentiment perfectly mirrors the intricate, heavy healing process that both Jalissa and Delroy endure. It is a powerful, emotionally resonant story, and one that I will enthusiastically recommend to anyone looking for a deeply touching family novel.
Review of advance copy
An arc gifted for a super secret project. All opinions remain 100% genuine.
This was so welcoming as soon I opened the page. It felt like I was reading about family members, it felt so familiar in tone.
It reminded me of how I felt when I read Ingrid Persaud's love after love, and it was such a great feeling.
This was a heartbreakingly, beautiful novel about a father and daughter learning to navigate hard news and find their way back to each other.
Both Delroy and Jalissa were going through their own journeys... One starting a new one and one coming to an end, both grieving various closed chapters of their life.
The setting was mesmerising and the writing made me feel like I was sitting beside our characters, rather than reading about them.
I loved that they were flawed individuals just trying to figure out real life and almost having later coming of age moments, which was so beautifully explored and handled.
There were a few things that sort of had me scaring my head a little, though. One of them was how Jalissa's announcement in the hospital, though far from surprising, felt hasty and confusing to take in, especially as glossed over as I felt it was. It just seemed so random in placement and this leads me on to my next criticism.
I found that a lot of the scenes felt really disjointed from each other, and I couldn't get a sense of time passing, but I'm hopeful that is a fault of the manuscript arc, that will be polished up later.
More of a character critique (which perfectly somes up the flawed, human sensibilities of our characters), was how flippantly Malik was pushed out. I get that it wasn't going to be a deeper connection that what we got, but Jalissa really did become a little bit of that Ice Queen that Robbie had accused her of and I thought it was rather unnecessary. It wasn't a messy situation and it could have ended more sweetly than it was, because they both seemed like cool people that could get on with life... I don't know, just felt a bit unnecessarily handled.
Anyway, I loved this story. It felt so tender and I was a little bit of an emotional wreck whilst reading this (probably why it took me longer than it should have done to finish), finding some mirrors to my own experiences in some ways, but mainly feeling like it could be easy to relate to for so many readers.
I really felt like I was taken on a powerful and emotional journey and I absolutely adored it.
Keep your eyes peeled for this one when it releases in the 'ber months, later this year! You'll need a little bit of sunshine that this book brings, when we get to Autumn, because I guarantee you'll be missing this disgusting heatwave we currently have in the UK, when it's gone!
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
This was so welcoming as soon I opened the page. It felt like I was reading about family members, it felt so familiar in tone.
It reminded me of how I felt when I read Ingrid Persaud's love after love, and it was such a great feeling.
This was a heartbreakingly, beautiful novel about a father and daughter learning to navigate hard news and find their way back to each other.
Both Delroy and Jalissa were going through their own journeys... One starting a new one and one coming to an end, both grieving various closed chapters of their life.
The setting was mesmerising and the writing made me feel like I was sitting beside our characters, rather than reading about them.
I loved that they were flawed individuals just trying to figure out real life and almost having later coming of age moments, which was so beautifully explored and handled.
There were a few things that sort of had me scaring my head a little, though. One of them was how Jalissa's announcement in the hospital, though far from surprising, felt hasty and confusing to take in, especially as glossed over as I felt it was. It just seemed so random in placement and this leads me on to my next criticism.
I found that a lot of the scenes felt really disjointed from each other, and I couldn't get a sense of time passing, but I'm hopeful that is a fault of the manuscript arc, that will be polished up later.
More of a character critique (which perfectly somes up the flawed, human sensibilities of our characters), was how flippantly Malik was pushed out. I get that it wasn't going to be a deeper connection that what we got, but Jalissa really did become a little bit of that Ice Queen that Robbie had accused her of and I thought it was rather unnecessary. It wasn't a messy situation and it could have ended more sweetly than it was, because they both seemed like cool people that could get on with life... I don't know, just felt a bit unnecessarily handled.
Anyway, I loved this story. It felt so tender and I was a little bit of an emotional wreck whilst reading this (probably why it took me longer than it should have done to finish), finding some mirrors to my own experiences in some ways, but mainly feeling like it could be easy to relate to for so many readers.
I really felt like I was taken on a powerful and emotional journey and I absolutely adored it.
Keep your eyes peeled for this one when it releases in the 'ber months, later this year! You'll need a little bit of sunshine that this book brings, when we get to Autumn, because I guarantee you'll be missing this disgusting heatwave we currently have in the UK, when it's gone!
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bitter Melon by Liv Little had me hooked from the very first page.
Having a complicated relationship with my own father, I think this book hit me a little harder than I expected. There was something so deeply personal about watching Delroy and his daughter, Jalissa, navigate their own relationship, and it completely pulled me in.
This is such a heartwarming yet heartbreaking story. At times, my heart felt two sizes bigger, and at others, it felt completely shattered.
The story follows Delroy and Jalissa, who don’t have the closest father-daughter relationship. But when terminal illness enters their lives, they embark on an adventure to Jamaica, where they begin to rediscover their family history, their roots, and ultimately, themselves.
I absolutely adored this book. It had me grinning, it had me crying, and it left me with that ache you get when you desperately want a story to keep going.
More than anything, it made me think about my own dad. It had me dreaming about having more time together and wanting to take a little trip down memory lane.
A beautiful, emotional and unforgettable read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars!
I could genuinely read this one again. If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, reflect and feel all the feelings, put Bitter Melon on your TBR.
Beautiful book. One I think everyone needs to read.
Having a complicated relationship with my own father, I think this book hit me a little harder than I expected. There was something so deeply personal about watching Delroy and his daughter, Jalissa, navigate their own relationship, and it completely pulled me in.
This is such a heartwarming yet heartbreaking story. At times, my heart felt two sizes bigger, and at others, it felt completely shattered.
The story follows Delroy and Jalissa, who don’t have the closest father-daughter relationship. But when terminal illness enters their lives, they embark on an adventure to Jamaica, where they begin to rediscover their family history, their roots, and ultimately, themselves.
I absolutely adored this book. It had me grinning, it had me crying, and it left me with that ache you get when you desperately want a story to keep going.
More than anything, it made me think about my own dad. It had me dreaming about having more time together and wanting to take a little trip down memory lane.
A beautiful, emotional and unforgettable read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars!
I could genuinely read this one again. If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, reflect and feel all the feelings, put Bitter Melon on your TBR.
Beautiful book. One I think everyone needs to read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Bitter Melon" is all about the relationship between Jalissa and her father, Delroy, and the demons they are both fighting individually.
This book, for me, is genuinely a 5 stars with fireworks, it's too bad I can't give it a little "plus" sign...it is everything I would want in a book and more. Lots of contemplation and reflection paired with a solid plot and very well-developed characters; it managed to reflect upon many topics in just one story without feeling crammed, overloaded or dispersive, which is really hard to achieve - from identity and heritage, to immigration, to pregnancy loss and motherhood to illness and the right to a dignified death; all this while making you travel in spirit to Jamaica, making you feel the sunshine on your skin and admire the pristine water and taste all the flavours.
It is the kind of book that takes you on a real emotional rollercoaster and makes you need a break to recover afterwards, in the best way. I will be recommending this to everyone I know.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book, for me, is genuinely a 5 stars with fireworks, it's too bad I can't give it a little "plus" sign...it is everything I would want in a book and more. Lots of contemplation and reflection paired with a solid plot and very well-developed characters; it managed to reflect upon many topics in just one story without feeling crammed, overloaded or dispersive, which is really hard to achieve - from identity and heritage, to immigration, to pregnancy loss and motherhood to illness and the right to a dignified death; all this while making you travel in spirit to Jamaica, making you feel the sunshine on your skin and admire the pristine water and taste all the flavours.
It is the kind of book that takes you on a real emotional rollercoaster and makes you need a break to recover afterwards, in the best way. I will be recommending this to everyone I know.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2026
Bitter Melon explores the mending of a relationship between father and daughter whilst on a trip to Jamaica.
The description of Jamaica was detailed and really brought it to life for me.
While the book did grip me in the beginning, I felt parts of it were rushed and left unexplored. Also the timeline seemed to jump quite a bit and I wasn’t sure exactly where I was in some points of the book.
Overall, I did enjoy most of the book and read it within a day.
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read the advanced copy.
The description of Jamaica was detailed and really brought it to life for me.
While the book did grip me in the beginning, I felt parts of it were rushed and left unexplored. Also the timeline seemed to jump quite a bit and I wasn’t sure exactly where I was in some points of the book.
Overall, I did enjoy most of the book and read it within a day.
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I found the way the narrative unfolded and the overall mood or feeling that was established within the book to be quite enjoyable and commendable.. I liked the descriptions of Jamaica, and overall, I found it to be a good read. I got some issues with the writing style and the development of the characters. If you like to read about family complex relationships you may be interested in read this book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beautifully written with enough local dialect to make the geography come alive. Good premise and plot with an ending that delivers. It didn’t go the way I anticipated that it would but still very enjoyable and I’d happily recommend to a friend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jalissa is 32 and at a crossroads in life when she agrees to accompany her father, Delroy, on a trip to Jamaica to visit his homeland. They haven't had the close relationship that they both longed for, and this might be their last chance to finally get to know each other.
Delroy was by far my favourite character, and I could distinctly hear his voice when reading from his perspective. His love for Jamaica and the pride he feels for his daughter really stood out to me. Jalissa was harder for me to connect with, and I felt like I didn't really get to know her.
There was a moment where Jalissa recalls how Delroy let her down as a child, before the narrative shifts to Delroy's perspective in recollecting that same time period. I loved how this highlighted the complexity of their relationship and the way two people can experience the same events so differently. I would have loved to have seen more of this throughout the novel, as it really resonated with me.
Whilst I enjoyed the overall storyline and the portrayal of Delroy, the writing didn't quite work for me. At times I found myself a little confused with the the pacing, and the dialogue didn't always sound natural to me. There were moments of beautiful prose throughout, but I found the overall style a little inconsistent.
That being said, the way the author brought Jamaica to life was by far my favourite part of the book. I was able to really get a feel for what an incredible place it is, and reading about it made me want to visit Jamaica for myself.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dialogue Books, and Liv Little for the providing me with a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Delroy was by far my favourite character, and I could distinctly hear his voice when reading from his perspective. His love for Jamaica and the pride he feels for his daughter really stood out to me. Jalissa was harder for me to connect with, and I felt like I didn't really get to know her.
There was a moment where Jalissa recalls how Delroy let her down as a child, before the narrative shifts to Delroy's perspective in recollecting that same time period. I loved how this highlighted the complexity of their relationship and the way two people can experience the same events so differently. I would have loved to have seen more of this throughout the novel, as it really resonated with me.
Whilst I enjoyed the overall storyline and the portrayal of Delroy, the writing didn't quite work for me. At times I found myself a little confused with the the pacing, and the dialogue didn't always sound natural to me. There were moments of beautiful prose throughout, but I found the overall style a little inconsistent.
That being said, the way the author brought Jamaica to life was by far my favourite part of the book. I was able to really get a feel for what an incredible place it is, and reading about it made me want to visit Jamaica for myself.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dialogue Books, and Liv Little for the providing me with a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews