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Bitter Melon
Not yet published
Expected 22 Oct 26Jalissa 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.
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.
Audible Audio
Expected publication October 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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
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's deep connection to and love for Jamaica really stood out to me, along with the pride he felt towards his daughter. He was my favourite character, and I could distinctly hear his voice when reading from his perspective. Jalissa, on the other hand, was harder for me to connect with, and I felt like I didn't really get to know her.
A moment that particularly stood out to me was when Jalissa recalls how Delroy let her down as a child, before the narrative shifts to Delroy's perspective on those same memories. I loved how this highlighted the complexity of their relationship and the way two people can experience the same moment 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 authentic portrayal of Delroy, the writing didn't quite work for me. At times I found myself a little confused, with the pacing feeling uneven and the dialogue not always sounding 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.
Bitter Melon is a story about family, connection, and belonging. Although some aspects of the writing didn't quite resonate with me, Delroy's heartfelt perspective and the evocative depiction of Jamaica were the novel's standout qualities.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dialogue Books, and Liv Little for the providing me with a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Delroy's deep connection to and love for Jamaica really stood out to me, along with the pride he felt towards his daughter. He was my favourite character, and I could distinctly hear his voice when reading from his perspective. Jalissa, on the other hand, was harder for me to connect with, and I felt like I didn't really get to know her.
A moment that particularly stood out to me was when Jalissa recalls how Delroy let her down as a child, before the narrative shifts to Delroy's perspective on those same memories. I loved how this highlighted the complexity of their relationship and the way two people can experience the same moment 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 authentic portrayal of Delroy, the writing didn't quite work for me. At times I found myself a little confused, with the pacing feeling uneven and the dialogue not always sounding 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.
Bitter Melon is a story about family, connection, and belonging. Although some aspects of the writing didn't quite resonate with me, Delroy's heartfelt perspective and the evocative depiction of Jamaica were the novel's standout qualities.
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 - 3 of 3 reviews