I feel like maybe I need my own therapy session to unpack my feelings about this. Part resurfacing past trauma, part pure melancholy and part hopeful?

I think at some points in the beginning I was a bit frustrated with the lack of subtlety around Richard’s manipulations of Charlie. It felt like the author was explaining to us why what he was doing was bad or forceful instead of letting us figure it out for ourselves either in the moment or down the line. I think I would have felt more connected to Charlie a bit more if we were given the opportunity to fall in love with Richard the same way she did.

There were times I really didn’t like Charlie. I struggled to not get annoyed with some of her choices and thought processes but when I think about it I can 100% tell you that I have made so many of those same choices in similar situations at her age. Shared trauma, shared experience still incredibly uncomfortable to look at so closely.


At the end I think that maybe I feel a bit like Charlie felt. A bit nostalgic, a bit empty but pushing on and trying not to think too much on the past.

Ps my sincere apologies to Richard Osman who played the part of Richard in my brain throughout this entire book. I swear it’s only because the name, age, career and general description brought you to mind. I’m sure you’re lovely and would never be the Richard in this book.

Wow! Bitter Sweet was an immensely powerful novel that held me captivated over the course of 24 hours.
It's set in the publishing world where 23 year old publicity assistant Charlie begins an affair with Richard, a 56 year old married author whose book her team is publishing. I felt that the portrayal of Charlie was so real and I could really relate to how she became completely caught up in a manipulative and controlling relationship which she prioritised above the relationships with her peers and could not see how Richard was using her. I felt so much anger towards Richard and the publishing company and so much empathy for Charlie.
The writing is beautiful and effortless and really takes the reader inside both the publishing world and what it's like to be an outsider. The exploration of Charlie's grief and depression was sensitive and empathic and powerfully showed the impact of trauma.
My words cannot do justice to this beautiful and moving novel. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Thank you so much to Orion Publishing Group & NetGalley for the e-ARC!

4 stars!

This was such a deep and yet frustrating read. I love annotating my books but since it was an e-ARC my notes app took a few heated words from me as I was reading lol

Charlie, I wanted to shake you. I wanted her to listen to Ophelia and Eddy. I wanted to swing at Richard.

This holds so many themes within it such as mental health, loneliness, age gap affair, power dynamics, people pleasing all the sorts.

One thing that annoyed me about that Richard was how he constantly went on to mention the age difference between them, constantly mentioning or commenting, 'your age', 'before you were born' etc and yet when she makes a one off reply to his comment about his hairline - HE GETS MIFFED SO BAD!!!

Even though I was frustrated, I kept reading. I NEEDED to know what would happen to Charlie, I needed something to happen to get her away from Richard. With how this is written and the way grief & mental health is written and the whole dynamic of Charlie literally gaslighting herself really seeped in how much more deep this book and Charlie's story was than just a tale about an affair.

Bitter Sweet tells the story of a Charlie, a lower-middle-class female graduate entering the world of book publishing and her treatment at the hands of a manipulative older author. It is a debut novel that, unfortunately, left me feeling a little indifferent. I mean, it was ok. It didn't blow me away, but neither was it poorly written or boring. The ending was rather too neatly packaged for me (the poor husband doesn't even get a name!).

I was annoyed by a few things in this books: the protagonist, as you just wanted to shake her; the seemingly charmless Richard (what on earth did Charlie see in him?); the pretentiousness of some characters; the thinly veiled publishing house name… I do wonder if these are the writer's own recollections of a previous life in publishing writ large? Maybe that's what ultimately annoyed me; a sudden realisation that a lot of book writers are all ex publishing/media staff of some kind (possibly getting all their mates still in the biz to slip them a decent review).

I worked in academic publishing the late 90s/early 2000s, so I very much enjoyed reliving the nostalgia of wine-fuelled post-work Friday shenanigans. Academic publishing was a much less pretentious world though, and we didn't wait for a Friday for those shenanigans either.

Thanks to Net Galley for the review copy.

Bitter Sweet was a little hit or miss for me, but there were some great aspects for a debut novel. The book excels the most when focusing on the secret and problematic relationship between main character Charlie and the much older author Richard Aveling. This is the tale of an abusive relationship, though it is one born of manipulation from a position of power rather than obvious violence or cruelty. Coming from Charlie’s perspective it creates an interesting dilemma, since the many red flags in the situation are seemingly at odds with how kind and caring Richard is to her. It’s the true embodiment of “It’s Complicated”, capturing the phrase wonderfully.

Where I struggled with Bitter Sweet is the character building and setting outside of the relationship, which personally felt a little cookie-cutter and lacking in originality. Maybe I’ve just read too many books set in the publishing industry at this stage, but nothing was grabbing my interest for the first 50 pages or so before the main plot kicked in. It must be said though, the book really came into its own once the relationship started to grow, and I thought the ending was well written and put together. Thank you to Orion and to NetGalley for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for the ARC of this debut!

Bitter Sweet is a story of all encompassing love. The kind of love where there’s a before and after; and things are never the same again.

The story of Charlie and Richard is immersive, emotional and thought provoking.

Another theme throughout the book is friendship - the intense friendship in your 20s where you’re propped up as you navigate life and love.

This is a really compelling story and I flew through it - it was fascinating to get an insight into the world of publishing.

Charlie and Richard and their story reminded me so much of Coco Mellors’ Cleo and Frank.

It was such an emotional, powerful, realistic story of love and loss.

Really enjoyed this one, thank you.

Bitter Sweet
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
(Contemporary fiction)

This book was an absolute gem.
At first glance, the plot follows Charlie, a 23-year-old girl, as she becomes involved in a romance with Richard, a renowned (married) writer that she idolizes since forever, more than two decades older than her and with whom she also works as part of the marketing team for her next novel. However, the story goes far beyond than just representing the forbidden romance that occurs between the two of them.

Bitter Sweet is a kind of a coming of age book that uses the power disparity between the main couple to also explore topics such as the connections to things and people that may occur while going through a grieving process, trying to find our place in the world and mental health, but despite dealing with such complex situations, the pages turn by themselves. It is IMPOSSIBLE to stop reading and even having an idea of ​​what the ending could be, it still comes as a surprise.

The dynamic between Charlie and Richard is literally a roller coaster and I think the author knew how to perfectly handle that line where I, as a reader, often felt anger and anguish for no obvious reason. It's hard to explain without actually spoiling, but it wasn't so much the situations as the way the protagonist felt in many of them that made me feel uncomfortable while reading if that makes sense.

Something I really liked about this book, too, was the connection that Charlie felt with her friends. A full-fledged found family, where each one feels like a complete and well-structured character, with an unbreakable bond with one another above all and despite the initial prejudices that one reading may experience. Once again, the author filled with beauty and depth something that at first glance could seem banal and superficial.

I think it's clear that I loved both the narration and the story itself so so so much. I got excited, I got frustrated and I find it incredible that this is a debut. Totally recommended.

I saw an Instagram post the other day from bestselling author Libby Page where she talked about books that stay with you after you’ve finished reading them because of the impact they make on you.

After finishing Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams in a day, I can say this debut novel falls into that category for me.

Bitter Sweet, which will be published in July, tells the story of Charlie. The 23-year-old publishing assistant becomes involved in an affair with the world renowned author Richard Aveling, who is 56-years-old. He is about to publish his first novel in a decade and Charlie becomes involved in the work of marketing his next book and it is through her work that she ends up in a secret relationship with him.

I initially thought this book would be about relationship between the two main characters but it is so much more than that. It is also an incredible exploration of grief that has made Charlie more vulnerable and raw. After losing her mum at 16-years-old and shortly thereafter being the victim of a sexual assault, you understand how Charlie could so easily become victim to a man significantly older and where the power imbalance is completely off.

The novel follows Charlie as she navigates her affair and the push and pull of being at this older, more powerful man’s beck and call. Her friends Ophelia and Eddy, whom she lives with, try their best to steady the ship of Charlie’s life as it begins to fall apart as the death of her mother and the dysfunction of her relationship with Aveling come to a head. The tender friendship she shares with Ophelia and Eddy is very moving.

It is such a beautiful book and one that resonated for me on a number of levels. I lost my dad at 17 and like Charlie, I could recognise that awful cocktail of grief and change and the confusion that exists within the post uni days where you go to work and try to exist as an adult.

Hattie Williams writes with such delicate understanding of vulnerability through these experiences and does an incredible job of showing how easy it could be for someone so young to fall victim to the clutches of a powerful man who should know better.

I devoured Bitter Sweet—it’s one of those books that feels like watching a car crash in slow motion, impossible to look away from. Charlie, a 20-something in London’s publishing world, gets caught up with a much older, famous author, and let’s just say... he’s the worst.

I usually don’t love stories about young women making terrible choices, but here, I could at least understand it—Charlie’s past and her age make it all feel painfully believable. The writing is sharp, the tension is constant, and even when I wanted to scream at the characters, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. A gripping, uncomfortable, but completely absorbing read.

Hattie Williams’ debut novel, Bitter Sweet, is a compelling and emotionally charged exploration of power, desire, and self-discovery. Set in the world of publishing, it follows Charlie, a 23-year-old assistant who lands her dream job at a historic London publishing house. She’s ambitious, eager, and deeply passionate about literature—especially the works of Richard Aveling, a celebrated author whose words shaped her teenage years.

When Charlie unexpectedly finds herself in a secretive affair with Richard, the thrill of his attention blinds her to the risks. Their relationship, marked by a stark power imbalance, secrecy, and control, quickly consumes her. As Richard begins to rely on her input over more experienced colleagues, Charlie feels validated, but also increasingly entangled in something she doesn’t fully understand. The affair, though intoxicating, becomes a slow unraveling—one that threatens not only her career but her sense of self.

Williams crafts an intimate and devastating portrait of infatuation, manipulation, and the fine line between admiration and self-destruction. Bitter Sweet is not just a love story—it’s a story about agency, ambition, and the cost of loving someone who holds all the power.

"Never meet your idols" gets a whole new meaning here. Charlie not only meets her favourite author but starts an affair with him. Bitter Sweet is a very fitting title, as Charlie gets what seems like a dream come true but the man she's idolised is far from perfect. Charlie feels so real. I could understand her reasoning and it gave me flashbacks to some of my own past mistakes.
It's raw, well-written and at times difficult to read, but in the best way. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time!

This is a nuanced and layered account of a toxic relationship with a power imbalance and the effect of this on mental health. The characters are well drawn and vivid and I loved how the circumstances that made Charlie ripe for this coercion and treatment were carefully laid out. The progression of the story was propulsive and subtly layered as the notes of alarm sounded and red flags appeared. This was a beautifully written read with emotional truth. I loved this. It's already one of my favourite books of 2025..

The first thing I would say is that I can't believe this is a debut novel. It definitely reads like a confident writer who has a really strong voice.

The second thing I would say (and bear with me cause this is a compliment) is that I normally race through a book within a day or so, often within hours, but this one took me some time. Why? I just felt so uncomfortable reading it.

The novel tells the story of Charlie, 23, single woman currently working in a relatively low level job in a publishing company. Through this, she meets Richard Aveling, married, 50-something, successful novelist, Booker Prize winner and you can see where this is going...

Charlie is instantly attracted to Richard and they begin an affair, hidden from Richard's wife and the rest of the world. The novel then tells the story of how this affair plays out, affecting both Charlie and others towards its ultimate conclusion.

I genuinely read this with a sickening feeling in my stomach and I am not sure I can explain why. The power dynamic between them was so interesting and well-written but was difficult to read.

Although clearly vulnerable, Charlie is smart, funny, articulate with a strong support network of friends and colleagues and to see her fall for Richard was tough. The impact this had on her entire life was so beautifully written. Although she made some dubious life choices, I really loved her as a character.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group | Orion for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 🌟
Dark, toxic, and messy relationships are definitely a theme I tend to be drawn to in adult fiction (not sure what that says about me?! 🙈🤣) And Bitter Sweet did not let me down.

The relationship (affair) between Charlie and Richard takes place in the literacy world in the U.K.
I really enjoyed the setting because the majority of books I've read with similar vibes are focused more on Hollywood power with actors/directors, ect. So this was a welcome change.

From the get go, you just know it's going to end badly. It was like waiting for a car crash to happen.
I found Charlie to be naive but extremely relatable as a woman trying to thrive in a world that hasn't always kind to her. Ultimately, she just wanted to be loved, and Richard took her vulnerability and abused it. It was real, exhilarating and heartbreaking at times. It will take you through all the ups and downs.

Hattie captures raw emotions beautifully.
She shows you that love can hurt.
It was a little over filled with long descriptions of the places they were and everything around them/in the houses ect. But apart from that, I really enjoyed it.

This is one to watch for this July!

Bitter Sweet is one heck of a debut novel!

It fully consumed me and I was fully invested in Charlie, her life, her darkest moments and her toxic relationship with Richard.

I constantly had a knot in my stomach every time Charlie was with Richard and my heart ached for her. The author did such a wonderful job at portraying the grips of depression and grief which just made this story even more impactful.

I'd like to think we can all see something of ourselves in Charlie, be it longing for love, striving to do well at work, having those life long friendships, but most of all having the courage and strength to come out the other side from whatever life throws at you.

Stunning, beautiful, highly recommend.

In Bitter Sweet, Charlie is working in the publicity department of a large publishing house in London. She is in her early 20s and living with two young colleagues in a house owned by one of their parents. In the first chapter she meets Richard Aveling, one of the publisher’s most successful and respected authors and also someone who Charlie is a big fan of. Despite the age gap and his wife, he embarks on an affair with Charlie which sees them snatching time together in his London flat when he is there alone. Whilst the relationship continues for most of the book, you can probably predict that it does not end well and Charlie becomes a victim of his power in the industry.

I’ve struggled on whether to rate this 3 or 4 out of 5. I finished the book which I know I wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t enjoyed it to some extent. I think one thing the story does very well is show how publishing might seem to be a fun industry to work but is ultimately cutthroat and about money and reputations. I found the relationship between Charlie and Richard to not be very convincing and at many points just couldn’t understand why she was still seeing him. I found him to be repulsive.

When 20 something Charlie starts her new job at a publishing house she has no idea that she will be embarking on a secret love affair with her book writing hero.

She soon finds that this relationship has its ups and down and wonders if she is ready for all the rules it entails.

This is a book about love..but not the love we all dream about involving two people. Charlie is somewhat controlled by her lover. It is an emotive read and incredibly real...

A really compelling debut novel, I was utterly immersed into Charlie’s world and couldn’t put this incredibly raw book down!

Bitter Sweet follows Charlie who is twenty-three starting a new job at an indie publishing house. Charlie has adored and idolised the author, Richard Aveling. Charlie’s mother loved Richard’s books and Charlie ends up embarking on an affair with Richard but she has to hide her relationship with him.

This wasn’t my vibe at all. I can see people who enjoy power dynamics enjoying this book. This book focused a lot on the age difference between Charlie and Richard and the power dynamic of Richard being a famous author that Charlie idolised. Unfortunately, the writing wasn’t good for me and I felt there was way too much over explaining of simple events. In giving this 2 stars because I found it hard to get through. The writing needed to be more sophisticated in order to deal with this topic.