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Bittersweet Symphony
326 pages, Paperback
Published June 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 4, 2026
More like 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars. I love how mildly open ended the end of this book is. BSS felt like a slow burn but when the story picked up, it was all I could think about. I hate that Dobby will forever be haunted by guilt. But I like that she’s willing to try and forgive herself. I hope there’s a future where Kalila and Nathan meet again.
Okay, not to give spoilers, I’d easily say, if you love YA fiction, give this book a chance or two if the font hurts your eyes. It’s totally worth your time!
The author is a detailed storyteller for sure!
Okay, not to give spoilers, I’d easily say, if you love YA fiction, give this book a chance or two if the font hurts your eyes. It’s totally worth your time!
The author is a detailed storyteller for sure!
October 7, 2026
Bittersweet Symphony is an emotional rollercoaster. From the author's bio, she said she's drawn to the complex, tender and beautiful inner worlds of teenagers, and it's safe to say her novel resonated that clearly. The book hit me right in the feels the more I read it. It reminded me of a time not too long ago, where I was just like the young teenage characters in the book: wide-eyed, idealistic, believing I knew everything whilst also being very naive.
Our two main characters: Dobby and Kalila are sisters and they were excellently written and totally believable. I've heard the author describe the dynamic as "Your sibling is someone you love to death, but you'll get annoyed if they borrow your charger" in verbatim. That was exactly the relationship between Kalila and Dobby, which isn't unfamiliar amongst people with siblings. I had to constantly remind myself that these characters were teenagers, because they got on my nerves quite a number of times. Dobby, especially. In a good way, of course.
What I really enjoyed about Bittersweet Symphony is how the author wrote the mundane, everyday experience with such accuracy. Not every experience is exciting, and the author showed exactly that and managed to make it very exciting and nostalgic. The descriptions were vivid, the dialogue was young and unapologetically Nigerian. Certain scenes were uncomfortable. The wedding reception scene in particular. I felt all the hands of embarrassment with that scene, and it's that sort of reading experience that fully immersed me in the book.
I love the themes tackled: sisterhood, family, relationships, societal and internalized pressure, and many more. I love how the author made the turbulent teenage experience a big deal, because it is. It's young, it's messy, it's confusing, and it's always filed away as unimportant, but this book shines a light on the emotional and mental struggles teenagers deal with. These struggles have long lasting effects if not addressed properly, and they never really are.
Another underrated thing I liked was the font used for the book. It was youthful and quirky. Very fitting for the book. Also, I liked how the chapters were very long. The book only had 14 chapters, excluding the epilogue.
There was a part where Dobby's POV was shown, way before Kalila's POV arrived at that part, and personally, I'd have moved Dobby's POV till after we were up to speed with Kalila, but I can understand why it wasn't done that way. There's other stuff I noticed that the author herself is aware of, so there's no need for me to say it. The reveal with Nathan, I could already tell that was going to happen, but that's just from personal experience. The main twist though, I didn't see coming at all. It truly spun me.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bittersweet Symphony. A solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Our two main characters: Dobby and Kalila are sisters and they were excellently written and totally believable. I've heard the author describe the dynamic as "Your sibling is someone you love to death, but you'll get annoyed if they borrow your charger" in verbatim. That was exactly the relationship between Kalila and Dobby, which isn't unfamiliar amongst people with siblings. I had to constantly remind myself that these characters were teenagers, because they got on my nerves quite a number of times. Dobby, especially. In a good way, of course.
What I really enjoyed about Bittersweet Symphony is how the author wrote the mundane, everyday experience with such accuracy. Not every experience is exciting, and the author showed exactly that and managed to make it very exciting and nostalgic. The descriptions were vivid, the dialogue was young and unapologetically Nigerian. Certain scenes were uncomfortable. The wedding reception scene in particular. I felt all the hands of embarrassment with that scene, and it's that sort of reading experience that fully immersed me in the book.
I love the themes tackled: sisterhood, family, relationships, societal and internalized pressure, and many more. I love how the author made the turbulent teenage experience a big deal, because it is. It's young, it's messy, it's confusing, and it's always filed away as unimportant, but this book shines a light on the emotional and mental struggles teenagers deal with. These struggles have long lasting effects if not addressed properly, and they never really are.
Another underrated thing I liked was the font used for the book. It was youthful and quirky. Very fitting for the book. Also, I liked how the chapters were very long. The book only had 14 chapters, excluding the epilogue.
There was a part where Dobby's POV was shown, way before Kalila's POV arrived at that part, and personally, I'd have moved Dobby's POV till after we were up to speed with Kalila, but I can understand why it wasn't done that way. There's other stuff I noticed that the author herself is aware of, so there's no need for me to say it. The reveal with Nathan, I could already tell that was going to happen, but that's just from personal experience. The main twist though, I didn't see coming at all. It truly spun me.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bittersweet Symphony. A solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
July 14, 2026
Sarah Ajiri Ikogba’s Bittersweet Symphony is a contemporary youth adult novella that depicts the lives of an ordinary family in Nigeria.
The story revolves around two sisters, Kalila the second daughter and Doris the first daughter, who are both students of a prestigious school in their locality. Dobby is the social one dating the hottest guy in the school, while Kalila is the reserved one with a normal life until Nathan, the half-Korean guy walks into the school and sets his eyes on her. But Nathan’s appearance and his crush on Kalila isn't the one that shakes her life, but the night she wakes up from sleep and finds her elder sister on the floor overdosed from her medication.
I love the theme of friendship the novella pictures. Kalila with her best friend Smile, and their mutual friend Femi, Dobby and her two friends. It doesn't show the sweetness among friends alone, but also the struggles and arguments between friends. Kalila argues with her best friend and she also avoids her other friend, Femi.
The relationship between the two sisters is also very realistic— the strain in communication, annoyance, unspoken love, and adjustments for one another.
Another likeable strength of the novella is the characters’ voices that are different and easily recognisable when a character speaks, especially when the mother of Dobby and Kalila is speaking.
Reading the Nigerianess of the book is pleasing, as there are stories of neighbours, aunts, and others that have nothing to the main story, but will appeal to a Nigerian reader who understands that ‘gossip’ and ‘small talk’ is the norm in the average Nigerian society.
There is the mention of church which is quite common in Nigeria society, the novel however is not deeply spiritual enough to accommodate the vision-like experience between Dobby and Obehi that settles the major conflict of the book.
Through the use of flashbacks we see the importance of the school as it is the place where Dobby and her sister connect and form relationships with their friends. But the school doesn't exactly portray the known shenanigans of a Nigerian school because dating the rich hottest boy in school and girls fighting over the hottest guy in school speaks more of the American or K-drama school shenanigans.
The ending may not be satisfactory to lovers of justice.
Overall, the novella is an enjoyable read, the morally grey characters make it enjoyable and engaging. The story delivers well on its emotions, the suspense is nerve-wracking giving nothing away and the plot twists unexpected. The title serves its purpose, recounting the sweet and tender moments mixed with pain and tears.
It is a five star for me. I recommend it to YA readers, lovers of drama and Nigerian fiction.
The story revolves around two sisters, Kalila the second daughter and Doris the first daughter, who are both students of a prestigious school in their locality. Dobby is the social one dating the hottest guy in the school, while Kalila is the reserved one with a normal life until Nathan, the half-Korean guy walks into the school and sets his eyes on her. But Nathan’s appearance and his crush on Kalila isn't the one that shakes her life, but the night she wakes up from sleep and finds her elder sister on the floor overdosed from her medication.
I love the theme of friendship the novella pictures. Kalila with her best friend Smile, and their mutual friend Femi, Dobby and her two friends. It doesn't show the sweetness among friends alone, but also the struggles and arguments between friends. Kalila argues with her best friend and she also avoids her other friend, Femi.
The relationship between the two sisters is also very realistic— the strain in communication, annoyance, unspoken love, and adjustments for one another.
Another likeable strength of the novella is the characters’ voices that are different and easily recognisable when a character speaks, especially when the mother of Dobby and Kalila is speaking.
Reading the Nigerianess of the book is pleasing, as there are stories of neighbours, aunts, and others that have nothing to the main story, but will appeal to a Nigerian reader who understands that ‘gossip’ and ‘small talk’ is the norm in the average Nigerian society.
There is the mention of church which is quite common in Nigeria society, the novel however is not deeply spiritual enough to accommodate the vision-like experience between Dobby and Obehi that settles the major conflict of the book.
Through the use of flashbacks we see the importance of the school as it is the place where Dobby and her sister connect and form relationships with their friends. But the school doesn't exactly portray the known shenanigans of a Nigerian school because dating the rich hottest boy in school and girls fighting over the hottest guy in school speaks more of the American or K-drama school shenanigans.
The ending may not be satisfactory to lovers of justice.
Overall, the novella is an enjoyable read, the morally grey characters make it enjoyable and engaging. The story delivers well on its emotions, the suspense is nerve-wracking giving nothing away and the plot twists unexpected. The title serves its purpose, recounting the sweet and tender moments mixed with pain and tears.
It is a five star for me. I recommend it to YA readers, lovers of drama and Nigerian fiction.
June 30, 2026
4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
Define nolstagia, and you'll get this book. The story follows the journey of two sisters during their final year of secondary school right up until their mom unexpectedly tells them they have to move to a new location. Reading this story. brought me right back to the "good old days" when life wasn't so complicated and all you had to worry about were school crushes and annoying siblings. The title is absolutely perfect, and the cover is so beautifully symbolic.
The character development in this book is wonderfully thought out, and the writing style is deeply layered and engaging. We are introduced to Nathan, a half-Korean boy and the "newbie" at school, whom Khalila falls in love with. Their romance is just so sweet and wholesome! But oh well that heart-twisting ending just had to happen. 😭
Beyond the romance, this book tackles some incredibly important topics. It beautifully illustrates how to navigate situations when a family member is going through a depressive moment. It shows how complicated family dynamics can be, especially when parents don't know how to be vulnerable and instead try to sweep heavy issues under the rug. The ultimate message is so powerful: no matter what grievous guilt claws at one, the solution is never suicidal tendencies, because there is always hope.
While I absolutely adored this book, I did have a few reservations about some parts of the story that left me with unanswered questions. For instance, during a big revelation scene, the POV suddenly switches from Khalila to Dobby, which left me feeling a bit confused at first because there was no heads-up. Additionally, the scene where Dobby, her secret boyfriend Noah, and a third crying girl came to the house wasn't fully resolved (I might have missed it, though).
Even with those minor lingering questions, this story was a fantastic, highly engaging read with an easy-to-follow writing style. I highly recommend it for every young adult, and I really cannot wait to read more of this author's work!
Define nolstagia, and you'll get this book. The story follows the journey of two sisters during their final year of secondary school right up until their mom unexpectedly tells them they have to move to a new location. Reading this story. brought me right back to the "good old days" when life wasn't so complicated and all you had to worry about were school crushes and annoying siblings. The title is absolutely perfect, and the cover is so beautifully symbolic.
The character development in this book is wonderfully thought out, and the writing style is deeply layered and engaging. We are introduced to Nathan, a half-Korean boy and the "newbie" at school, whom Khalila falls in love with. Their romance is just so sweet and wholesome! But oh well that heart-twisting ending just had to happen. 😭
Beyond the romance, this book tackles some incredibly important topics. It beautifully illustrates how to navigate situations when a family member is going through a depressive moment. It shows how complicated family dynamics can be, especially when parents don't know how to be vulnerable and instead try to sweep heavy issues under the rug. The ultimate message is so powerful: no matter what grievous guilt claws at one, the solution is never suicidal tendencies, because there is always hope.
While I absolutely adored this book, I did have a few reservations about some parts of the story that left me with unanswered questions. For instance, during a big revelation scene, the POV suddenly switches from Khalila to Dobby, which left me feeling a bit confused at first because there was no heads-up. Additionally, the scene where Dobby, her secret boyfriend Noah, and a third crying girl came to the house wasn't fully resolved (I might have missed it, though).
Even with those minor lingering questions, this story was a fantastic, highly engaging read with an easy-to-follow writing style. I highly recommend it for every young adult, and I really cannot wait to read more of this author's work!
June 30, 2026
This book was such an interesting blend of family drama, friendship, grief, first love, and self-discovery.
One of my favorite parts was the relationship between Dobby and Khalila. Their dynamic felt incredibly realistic and reminded me so much of a typical Nigerian household. Even though Dobby was the older sister, there were moments when Khalila seemed more mature and level-headed, making their relationship feel authentic, messy, and love-hate like.
I also loved how the story explored life in a blended family. The effects of divorce, parental expectations, sibling relationships, and trying to find your place in the world were handled with so much care. The characters weren’t perfect, and that’s exactly what made them feel real. They made mistakes, carried regrets, and struggled through emotions that many young people can relate to.
The friendships added so much warmth to the story, while the themes of grief and loss brought emotional depth that stayed with me long after I turned the last page. I also enjoyed the school setting,it captured the beauty and awkwardness of teenage life, from friendships and first crushes to the growing pains that shape who we become.
Overall, Bittersweet Symphony is a heartfelt coming-of-age novel about family, friendship, love, loss, and finding yourself. If you enjoy character-driven stories with relatable family dynamics and emotional depth, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
4.5⭐️
One of my favorite parts was the relationship between Dobby and Khalila. Their dynamic felt incredibly realistic and reminded me so much of a typical Nigerian household. Even though Dobby was the older sister, there were moments when Khalila seemed more mature and level-headed, making their relationship feel authentic, messy, and love-hate like.
I also loved how the story explored life in a blended family. The effects of divorce, parental expectations, sibling relationships, and trying to find your place in the world were handled with so much care. The characters weren’t perfect, and that’s exactly what made them feel real. They made mistakes, carried regrets, and struggled through emotions that many young people can relate to.
The friendships added so much warmth to the story, while the themes of grief and loss brought emotional depth that stayed with me long after I turned the last page. I also enjoyed the school setting,it captured the beauty and awkwardness of teenage life, from friendships and first crushes to the growing pains that shape who we become.
Overall, Bittersweet Symphony is a heartfelt coming-of-age novel about family, friendship, love, loss, and finding yourself. If you enjoy character-driven stories with relatable family dynamics and emotional depth, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
4.5⭐️
September 24, 2026
Ratings : 4.5⭐️
Bittersweet Symphony is a tender and deeply relatable YA debut that explores the complex, unspoken bonds of sisterhood, the crushing weight of guilt, and the secrets we keep to protect the people we love.
The story follows Kali, who has always felt like she lives in her older sister Dobby's shadow....believing Dobby got the better half of everything: their parents' patience, attention, and an easier path. But their world comes crashing down one ordinary Sunday when Kali finds Dobby on the bedroom floor after an overdose.
The strongest part of this book for me was the sisterhood between Kali and Dobby. Their relationship felt incredibly real...the unspoken communication, the weird ways sisters interact, and how they still cover for each other even when they're drifting apart. As someone with sisters, this hit very close to home🥺✨
I also loved how the book handled heavier themes like self-forgiveness, divorce, friendship, parental expectations, and drug overdose, especially the way it showed how easily a child's pain can be overlooked.
And as someone who has lived all my life in
Port Harcourt🤭, the secondary-school
setting felt like a nostalgic time capsule. The friendships, bants, and drama transported me straight back to my own school days and made the story feel even more personal.
My only frustration was the unanswered questions😭….I definitely wanted more closure, but the ending still left me thinking about the story long after I finished!!!
Kudos to the author because she really did an amazing job with the writing style. Overall, if you love YA, sisterhood, realistic family dynamics, and stories that make you feel, this is definitely worth picking up!
Bittersweet Symphony is a tender and deeply relatable YA debut that explores the complex, unspoken bonds of sisterhood, the crushing weight of guilt, and the secrets we keep to protect the people we love.
The story follows Kali, who has always felt like she lives in her older sister Dobby's shadow....believing Dobby got the better half of everything: their parents' patience, attention, and an easier path. But their world comes crashing down one ordinary Sunday when Kali finds Dobby on the bedroom floor after an overdose.
The strongest part of this book for me was the sisterhood between Kali and Dobby. Their relationship felt incredibly real...the unspoken communication, the weird ways sisters interact, and how they still cover for each other even when they're drifting apart. As someone with sisters, this hit very close to home🥺✨
I also loved how the book handled heavier themes like self-forgiveness, divorce, friendship, parental expectations, and drug overdose, especially the way it showed how easily a child's pain can be overlooked.
And as someone who has lived all my life in
Port Harcourt🤭, the secondary-school
setting felt like a nostalgic time capsule. The friendships, bants, and drama transported me straight back to my own school days and made the story feel even more personal.
My only frustration was the unanswered questions😭….I definitely wanted more closure, but the ending still left me thinking about the story long after I finished!!!
Kudos to the author because she really did an amazing job with the writing style. Overall, if you love YA, sisterhood, realistic family dynamics, and stories that make you feel, this is definitely worth picking up!
July 2, 2026
This book starts off not holding your hand and throws you in without a parachute. I loved the dynamic between both sisters, the family drama, and how the concept of divorce was addressed in this book. It was a good read, and I highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews