Bitter Leaves

I had no idea what to expect from this ARC when I read in the front matter how it was published: “Unbound website, authors share the ideas for the books they want to write directly with readers. If enough of you support the book by pledging for it in advance, we produce (it)”. I ended up loving this story about the abuses perpetuated by wealthy householders against their maids. There was much depth and believability in these characters.

I enjoyed this book and it’s setting as I learned about a part of the world I knew nothing about. The characters were believable and well drawn.
Overall a good read
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

The carefully observed characters in this novel bring a unique view to the world of maids and their employers amidst the wealth of Singapore. These relationships didn't make for the most comfortable to read narrative and their interweaving stories give plenty of food for thought after the ending.
A fresh approach and well written story.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Bitter Leaves pulls back the curtain on the maid industry in Singapore. The story is told by a cast of both maids and employers, each highlighting a different aspect of the culture. There is both a good ma'am who treats her maid well as well as an abusive ma'am who sees her maid as an object to be used. There are also a variety of maids portrayed, both well-treated and abused.

I was intrigued by this story because I had no idea that there are so many domestic workers who are being used as household slaves. A quick Google search seems to suggest that as many as 6 out of 10 maids in Singapore are being exploited. I appreciated the author tackling this issue through telling the (fictional) stories of the maids and employers in their own voices.

Overall, it's decently written. The story dragged at different points and the editing was occasionally sloppy, but I did get attached to the characters and genuinely cared about how their stories ended. I appreciated how this book tackled an extremely difficult issue without ever coming across as being preachy. Definitely worth a read!

Thank you to Tabatha Stirling, Unbound, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This is a novel about maids and their employers in wealthy Singapore. It shows us how many maids are essentially slaves and not treated well. It was very eye opening to tbe treatment of people in another part of the world.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

An amazing novel! The characters are well-drawn and truly pull at your heart strings. I couldn't put the book down till I reached the final chapter. Highly recommended.

This read was incredible! 5 stars ⭐️. I’ve already posted on various social media accounts that this may be one of my favorite reads over the past few months! Well done!