What do you think?
Rate this book
Bitter Sweet Love
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Poetry (2016)Michael Faudet’s whimsical and often erotic writing has captured the hearts and minds of literally thousands of readers from around the world. He paints vivid pictures with intricate words and explores the compelling themes of love, loss, relationships, and sex. All beautifully captured in poetry, prose, quotes, and little short stories.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2016
185 people are currently reading
7522 people want to read
About the author
Michael Faudet
8 books1,612 followersMichael Faudet is the author of the international bestsellers Dirty Pretty Things, Bitter Sweet Love, Smoke & Mirrors, Winter of Summers, Cult of Two, and Playing with Matches. His books have been nominated in the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Poetry.
Dirty Pretty Things was also selected by Sylvia Whitman, the owner of the iconic Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris, as one of her personal favorite books of 2016.
He frequently explores the intricacies of love, loss, relationships, and sex in poetry, prose, and short stories. His lyrical and often sensual writing continues to attract readers from all around the world.
Before turning his hand to writing books, Michael enjoyed a successful career in advertising as an award-winning executive creative director. He managed creative departments and developed advertising campaigns for major brands in many countries.
Michael is represented by the literary agency Writers House, New York. He currently lives in New Zealand in a little house by the sea with partner and author Lang Leav.
Dirty Pretty Things was also selected by Sylvia Whitman, the owner of the iconic Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris, as one of her personal favorite books of 2016.
He frequently explores the intricacies of love, loss, relationships, and sex in poetry, prose, and short stories. His lyrical and often sensual writing continues to attract readers from all around the world.
Before turning his hand to writing books, Michael enjoyed a successful career in advertising as an award-winning executive creative director. He managed creative departments and developed advertising campaigns for major brands in many countries.
Michael is represented by the literary agency Writers House, New York. He currently lives in New Zealand in a little house by the sea with partner and author Lang Leav.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews
October 18, 2016
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Some poems are good but there are pieces that I find dull and ordinary. I don't mind erotic poems, it's just that I don't feel any emotions on it. Michael Faudet's writing isn't bad, I like this book but I wasn't struck by it and I recommend this book for mature readers.
Some poems are good but there are pieces that I find dull and ordinary. I don't mind erotic poems, it's just that I don't feel any emotions on it. Michael Faudet's writing isn't bad, I like this book but I wasn't struck by it and I recommend this book for mature readers.
October 25, 2016
A collection of romantic and erotic poetry that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. You can feel the author’s emotions come off the pages. I found it beautiful, fascinating, and different. A very sensual read created by a truly talented writer.
ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
March 17, 2018
Just like Faudet's first published of compilation of poems, this 2nd book of the author didn't please me. There are few prose and poems that are a bit okay yet still far to be considered remarkable or exceptional.
October 10, 2017
Paled in comparison to book 1. There was less content, and very little of it even held my interest. These are poems interspersed with little short-short stories, and there were a TON of those in this and they got so boring and redundant that i started skipping them. there was really no cohesive theme to this and none of the quotes or poems struck me as profound. just a major step down from book 1, but i got an early copy of his third book so we’ll see if he can recover, because I know he has talent buried somewhere in that pen of his
November 23, 2016
DNF @20%
I really tried giving this a chance... I just couldn't :/
I don't want to be mean, but this was really bad. I don't know why it's so highly rated. Can't even call this poetry. It's full of cliches and I just couldn't...
Pass
I really tried giving this a chance... I just couldn't :/
I don't want to be mean, but this was really bad. I don't know why it's so highly rated. Can't even call this poetry. It's full of cliches and I just couldn't...
Pass
February 7, 2017
Can you remember
the moment
our fingers let go?
The stars rushing
backward,
no hope left
below.
****
Falling so madly in love with you is a tragedy. Nothing in my world will ever seem so beautiful
again.
the moment
our fingers let go?
The stars rushing
backward,
no hope left
below.
****
Falling so madly in love with you is a tragedy. Nothing in my world will ever seem so beautiful
again.
January 6, 2023
I really like Michael Faudet's first poetry collection, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS. I thought it cheeky, accessible, and sexy. I also thought it was the kind of playful poetry that would encourage people who might not otherwise do it to read more poetry, or write poetry of their own.
As much as I like Faudet's first collection, I don't like this one as much. To begin with, it contains more micro prose than poetry, which is fine if the book is marketed that way.
An excerpt, from "I Miss You" p155:
...
A saucer of milk
left untouched,
the familiar meow
of a cat silenced,
by a final click
of a door closed----
forever.
This whole poem is about a breakup, which typical people experience in the typical course of their lives. But who the heck treats an animal like this? So, maybe he doesn't have a great grasp on metaphor.
He's also shaky with pronouns, and story progression in all the prose he includes in this collection.
So this collection doesn't deliver the same pleasure, nor does it have the same cultural impact. Best pieces in this collection are "Chasing Love" p3, "Parachutes" p44, and "The Boardwalk" p162.
Rating: 🐈⬛🐈⬛ / 5 abandoned cats
Recommend: No. Read the first collection instead.
Finished: January 1 2023
As much as I like Faudet's first collection, I don't like this one as much. To begin with, it contains more micro prose than poetry, which is fine if the book is marketed that way.
An excerpt, from "I Miss You" p155:
...
A saucer of milk
left untouched,
the familiar meow
of a cat silenced,
by a final click
of a door closed----
forever.
This whole poem is about a breakup, which typical people experience in the typical course of their lives. But who the heck treats an animal like this? So, maybe he doesn't have a great grasp on metaphor.
He's also shaky with pronouns, and story progression in all the prose he includes in this collection.
So this collection doesn't deliver the same pleasure, nor does it have the same cultural impact. Best pieces in this collection are "Chasing Love" p3, "Parachutes" p44, and "The Boardwalk" p162.
Rating: 🐈⬛🐈⬛ / 5 abandoned cats
Recommend: No. Read the first collection instead.
Finished: January 1 2023
October 30, 2016
I give this 4.5 stars, which rounds up to 5.
To be honest, I'm not quite sure I liked this as much as his first book, Dirty Pretty Things. I think it was because it didn't have as much erotic poems. That being said I still enjoyed it a lot. This collection was like falling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland and it was a beautiful experience. I can't really put into words how I feel about this book.
To be honest, I'm not quite sure I liked this as much as his first book, Dirty Pretty Things. I think it was because it didn't have as much erotic poems. That being said I still enjoyed it a lot. This collection was like falling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland and it was a beautiful experience. I can't really put into words how I feel about this book.
February 2, 2018
RATING: 3.25 stars
I have read a number of Michael Fauldet's poems on Instagram, and most of them, I really liked. It's one of the reasons why I picked this up. I wanted to see how I'm going to like the other stuff he wrote.
Bitter Sweet Thing... was okay. I wasn't completely blown away by it - unfortunately. I liked the concept of collating poems and short stories about how love have two sides: bitter and sweet.
The problem I had with this was how disconnected I felt with it. I was expecting for this to stir my emotions, to make me feel something at least. But nada, this didn't do anything for me. Well, there were a few standout, but most of them were just meh.
Another problem for me is the occassional switch of really short poems to short stories. I would have preferred to just have poems entirely.
The poems that I really liked though were mostly the ones with the more sensual feel to it. They way he used words was just beautiful. And you know what he even does better, he makes them sound so real. Here's the perfect example.
See what I mean? The way he writes these sexual prose is great. I wish it was the same all around. If it was, I would have loved this more.
I have read a number of Michael Fauldet's poems on Instagram, and most of them, I really liked. It's one of the reasons why I picked this up. I wanted to see how I'm going to like the other stuff he wrote.
Bitter Sweet Thing... was okay. I wasn't completely blown away by it - unfortunately. I liked the concept of collating poems and short stories about how love have two sides: bitter and sweet.
The problem I had with this was how disconnected I felt with it. I was expecting for this to stir my emotions, to make me feel something at least. But nada, this didn't do anything for me. Well, there were a few standout, but most of them were just meh.
Another problem for me is the occassional switch of really short poems to short stories. I would have preferred to just have poems entirely.
The poems that I really liked though were mostly the ones with the more sensual feel to it. They way he used words was just beautiful. And you know what he even does better, he makes them sound so real. Here's the perfect example.
Daydreaming
You destroyed me with lips thirsty for thighs and knees pushed apart. Strong hands my undoing, fingers firmly pressed into pale white skin. My mouth open, moaning, neggomg fpr ruthless kisses and hair pulled hard. Buttons ripped, black bra unclipped, my fantasy fulfilled in a field of blushing daisies.
See what I mean? The way he writes these sexual prose is great. I wish it was the same all around. If it was, I would have loved this more.
May 30, 2019
The only good about this is that it was a fast read, but the rest...didn't enjoyed it at all.
July 12, 2017
once again, i read another book for Michael Faudet, a book about all his past breakups and hookups and his mournings over the loss of his ex lovers. (Who all have milky white skin and *dusty* pink nipples)
I wasn't really fond of this book, and to be quite honest, I felt like it was just a book about acknowledging ones past mistakes and living in them. I expected how any poem would end/go/begin. It wasn't so special, just that Michael had knack for good smut scenes, but other than that, it wasn't that good. Nope.
However, I was able to find some fragments of words that I really liked.
“My hand between willing legs, writing a reply in cursive circles.
Upon pretty pink paper unfolded.”
-
“When we plant weeds in a beautiful garden, it is often tears of regret that water them.”
-
“I have never felt the touch of falling snow,” she said. “But like love, I know it exists. Somewhere.”
-
Also, some short poems that I really liked like Eyes Closed, A Tragedy, and It Was Love. All in all, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you just broke up with someone and want to be horny and feel a little better about your own misery.
I wasn't really fond of this book, and to be quite honest, I felt like it was just a book about acknowledging ones past mistakes and living in them. I expected how any poem would end/go/begin. It wasn't so special, just that Michael had knack for good smut scenes, but other than that, it wasn't that good. Nope.
However, I was able to find some fragments of words that I really liked.
“My hand between willing legs, writing a reply in cursive circles.
Upon pretty pink paper unfolded.”
-
“When we plant weeds in a beautiful garden, it is often tears of regret that water them.”
-
“I have never felt the touch of falling snow,” she said. “But like love, I know it exists. Somewhere.”
-
Also, some short poems that I really liked like Eyes Closed, A Tragedy, and It Was Love. All in all, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you just broke up with someone and want to be horny and feel a little better about your own misery.
April 18, 2018
I seriously feel weird reading this after reading Dirty Pretty Things, but I no longer care who wrote it, what's real and what's not, I'll just comment on the writing. But I have to add that if a van Gogh painting had Monet's name under it I would consider it a typo (and vice versa) you can't fool a person by typing another person's name under their work.
I tried to separate my feelings and thoughts from my review but I kept feeling cheated. This is just so wrong. My favorite short story was "The Boardwalk" it was different and quite magical.
I tried to separate my feelings and thoughts from my review but I kept feeling cheated. This is just so wrong. My favorite short story was "The Boardwalk" it was different and quite magical.
December 22, 2016
i don't know why i keep reading these. i don't enjoy them.
March 16, 2018
Juvenile, redundant, cliche. That's the only way I can sum up this horrendous cluster. I enjoyed Faudet's first poetry collection, it was cliche as well but had just enough of a lewd edge to make it good. 'Bitter Sweet Love' was simply painful to read. If I were to read this without any prior knowledge and had to guess the age range of the writer, I would say closer to 15-17 years old. Which would be good for that age range, but certainly not a well established poet. Didn't cut it for me, I needed more substance and quite honestly, I just wanted quality writing. I unfortunately didn't find it with this one.
January 11, 2017
Poo poo
February 6, 2017
Different book, same shit writing.
February 14, 2017
“– wrong suddenly feels wonderfully right.”
Read
August 26, 2017DNF.
Read
July 2, 2018I've always longed to turn the last page of romantic novel
but
it]s seems my life destined to remain a book
of short stories
but
it]s seems my life destined to remain a book
of short stories
November 10, 2016
I hate giving this such a low rating after how much I enjoyed his first book of poetry, but I think loving the first book so much made my expectations for this too high, and it ended up just disappointing me.
June 6, 2017
~2.5 stars~
A bit too much vodka, hentai clips, and mini-skirts the second time around. Yeah...
A bit too much vodka, hentai clips, and mini-skirts the second time around. Yeah...
February 9, 2020
I really enjoyed reading the poems, but I didn't care for the stories.
April 13, 2025
Perfect for lovers of Rupi Kaur and lukewarm Instagram poetry. I just absolutely love when male poets write about women as sex objects under the guise of prose. Juvenile and done a million times over before.
January 3, 2018
This is my second Micheal Faudet book, and sadly once again I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would’ve liked.
I have his third book ready to read, so I’m hoping that one will win me over!
I have his third book ready to read, so I’m hoping that one will win me over!
March 9, 2023
it was better than the first one but the same things that annoyed me in the first annoyed me in this as well. the obsession with pale skin and the inability to describe women and what they are wearing with any other words than panties, wetness or fuck(able). i‘m sorry, i‘m sure erotic poems can be quite nice but it‘s completely missing any beauty (and poetry tbh) and if the beauty of intimacy and sex was never intended to be written about and someone was just horny - which once again: completely fine, sex isn‘t a shameful thing, go off - and finding a way to vent about that it‘s still written terribly flat and like… it‘s just not good i‘m sorry. some of the poems were good though and once again i enjoyed that more than the snippets that just feel clunky and bad
February 6, 2017
Faudet tells us ‘She was like the northern lights on a cloudless night’
and then whispers gentle and lovely and lewd and thrilling and charming words about love
not to impress, but to let us see that feelings, platitude, desire, and sexuality are all ingredients of a relationship. The book is a collection of scenes of life painted frankly with clear contours or diffusely with enchanting nuances of bright colours. For all those who know the meaning of love, who know nothing about it but want to learn something, who are searching for some good moments, who are looking for a wonderful reading, this book can deliver so much delight. Alternating poems and short prose build up an interesting story. I liked very much the synchronicity between the writing style and the depicted images.
We Made Love
"...Our trembling hands reaching out, trying to grasp the last watery rays of a dying sun. Where our hearts collided and shattered into a million tiny stars."
Petals
"When our eyes met, all time ceased to exist.
The dying seconds frozen like the petals of red roses kissed by autumn frost."
Rainbow
"You are forever
my secret rainbow-
beautifully written
upon a rainy,
gray page.
Where hope,
like love,
can be found again-
This gold
we share,
is ours."
"When we plant weeds in a beautiful garden, it is often tears of regret that water them."
"I certainly know right from wrong, she said, but the trouble is, whenever I feel your hands ...- wrong suddenly feels wonderfully right."
"We all make mistakes.
Mine was falling madly in love and forgetting to pack a parachute."
"My Heart
My heart has become a broken compass. Every time i try to leave you, I always find myself running back into your arms."
Borderlands
"I am somewhere,
strangely nowhere.
A lone comma,
placed midsentence.
...
Lost is a lovely place
to find yourself"
"The Bed We Made
A bed we made
of thorny sheets,
of jagged rocks,
a chasm deep,
cruel words once said
a mountain steep,
cannot be climbed
in restless sleep,
a nightmare shared,
now ours
to keep,
for what is lost-
tired eyes
will weep."
"We joined the dots
from A to B,
the line we drew
from you and me,
traced empty shores
across the sea,
over mountain top,
past forest tree
along the roads
and walking tracks,
all bridges burned,
no looking back,
for the love
we have,
no gate can stop,
no barking dog
or bolted lock,
for what is real
is meant to be,
when two hearts
beat-
in proximity"
"Picking up the pieces of a broken relationship is like gathering up shards of glass with bare hands and eyes closed."
"..For what is lost,
a willow weeps."
"I wish I could forget it all.
Erase the past in an instant, hit the delete key, and open a new page.
Anything to escape the relentless surge of a miserable tide that swept me away next morning, only to drown me in sorrow come nightfall..."
Cherry Blossom
"....
Farewell my love,
to fallen love,
the wind became
your words,
the emptiness
between us,
the silent petals
upon the earth."
and then whispers gentle and lovely and lewd and thrilling and charming words about love
not to impress, but to let us see that feelings, platitude, desire, and sexuality are all ingredients of a relationship. The book is a collection of scenes of life painted frankly with clear contours or diffusely with enchanting nuances of bright colours. For all those who know the meaning of love, who know nothing about it but want to learn something, who are searching for some good moments, who are looking for a wonderful reading, this book can deliver so much delight. Alternating poems and short prose build up an interesting story. I liked very much the synchronicity between the writing style and the depicted images.
We Made Love
"...Our trembling hands reaching out, trying to grasp the last watery rays of a dying sun. Where our hearts collided and shattered into a million tiny stars."
Petals
"When our eyes met, all time ceased to exist.
The dying seconds frozen like the petals of red roses kissed by autumn frost."
Rainbow
"You are forever
my secret rainbow-
beautifully written
upon a rainy,
gray page.
Where hope,
like love,
can be found again-
This gold
we share,
is ours."
"When we plant weeds in a beautiful garden, it is often tears of regret that water them."
"I certainly know right from wrong, she said, but the trouble is, whenever I feel your hands ...- wrong suddenly feels wonderfully right."
"We all make mistakes.
Mine was falling madly in love and forgetting to pack a parachute."
"My Heart
My heart has become a broken compass. Every time i try to leave you, I always find myself running back into your arms."
Borderlands
"I am somewhere,
strangely nowhere.
A lone comma,
placed midsentence.
...
Lost is a lovely place
to find yourself"
"The Bed We Made
A bed we made
of thorny sheets,
of jagged rocks,
a chasm deep,
cruel words once said
a mountain steep,
cannot be climbed
in restless sleep,
a nightmare shared,
now ours
to keep,
for what is lost-
tired eyes
will weep."
"We joined the dots
from A to B,
the line we drew
from you and me,
traced empty shores
across the sea,
over mountain top,
past forest tree
along the roads
and walking tracks,
all bridges burned,
no looking back,
for the love
we have,
no gate can stop,
no barking dog
or bolted lock,
for what is real
is meant to be,
when two hearts
beat-
in proximity"
"Picking up the pieces of a broken relationship is like gathering up shards of glass with bare hands and eyes closed."
"..For what is lost,
a willow weeps."
"I wish I could forget it all.
Erase the past in an instant, hit the delete key, and open a new page.
Anything to escape the relentless surge of a miserable tide that swept me away next morning, only to drown me in sorrow come nightfall..."
Cherry Blossom
"....
Farewell my love,
to fallen love,
the wind became
your words,
the emptiness
between us,
the silent petals
upon the earth."
January 9, 2017
A trickle of silvery moonlight ran down her cheek. "We all drown a little," she whispered. "That's how we learn to swim."
This is a beautiful work of words, short stories and poetry. It takes you into a rabbit hole of love, heart ache, rough sex and honest feelings. Perfect for a cold winter night with a cup of creamy hot cocoa.
To be honest, despite that I love how Michael Faudet has his own splendid way with words, I'm not such a fan of erotic poetry. At least not so explicit. Although, I have to admit, how Michael puts it, it turns out even beautiful. But I'm more of a "non-explicit" kind of person. But I don't mind it anyways.
I recommend this book to everyone who loves some bitter sweet poetry, and everyone who is mature to understand.
4.5 stars for this one, because it was a lovely reading.
"I have never felt the touch of falling snow," she said. "But like love, I know it exists. Somewhere."
This is a beautiful work of words, short stories and poetry. It takes you into a rabbit hole of love, heart ache, rough sex and honest feelings. Perfect for a cold winter night with a cup of creamy hot cocoa.
To be honest, despite that I love how Michael Faudet has his own splendid way with words, I'm not such a fan of erotic poetry. At least not so explicit. Although, I have to admit, how Michael puts it, it turns out even beautiful. But I'm more of a "non-explicit" kind of person. But I don't mind it anyways.
I recommend this book to everyone who loves some bitter sweet poetry, and everyone who is mature to understand.
4.5 stars for this one, because it was a lovely reading.
"I have never felt the touch of falling snow," she said. "But like love, I know it exists. Somewhere."
February 6, 2017
My opinion with poetry is that it is the most meaningful and understandable to the writer as they usually are writing through their experiences and their eyes. That said, some of these poems I failed to understand but all of them are so beautifully crafted; words weaved together in such vivid artistic beauty.
There were a lot of poems I grasped and adored immensely, whereas the ones I couldn't grasp as well I managed to appreciate them still. This writer still remains a favourite of mine: passionate and soulful.
And he has a wicked way with words.
There were a lot of poems I grasped and adored immensely, whereas the ones I couldn't grasp as well I managed to appreciate them still. This writer still remains a favourite of mine: passionate and soulful.
And he has a wicked way with words.
August 16, 2017
In the words of Pablo Picasso, "Sex and art are the same thing". This book literally embodies that quote. It's pretty hilarious! All I can say is I hope you enjoy this one 😜 and definitely check out Michael Faudet's other pieces
October 20, 2018
it’s shame the hyper-sexualisation of sapphics by a straight man tainted this book for me. i enjoyed much of the poetry, but found some of it to be very stereotypical pretentious emo straight male poet nonsense. a lot of it was enjoyable, but i have real mixed feelings about the book as a whole.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews