Bittersweet By Hattie Williams

‘Bittersweet’ is the debut novel by Hattie Williams.

Charlie is twenty-three, single and the new publicity assistant at the independent London publishing house Winden & Shane. Richard Aveling is fifty-six, married and the author that has defined his generation. Charlie has long idolised the charming, illustrious writer, who also represents a link to her late mother, who loved his work. But as they embark on an illicit and all-consuming affair, Charlie is forced to hide the relationship from everyone she cares about. And when the success of Richard’s latest book launches him to a new level of fame where all anonymity is lost, she realises she might just be in too deep.

I started this book late one evening and right from the first page I was gripped as this book really gets under the reader’s skin.

The story is seen through the perspective of Charlie, a young woman who works in the publishing assistant and gets the opportunity to work Richard Aveling, an author that she loved since she was a teenager.

But she is drawn to him and his masculinity and power and begins an illicit affair with him and he brings her into to his world.

I loved this story, it focuses on many issues grief, coercive control, mental health trauma rape and makes for dark reading in parts. Charlie is a lovely character, she’s a sweet girl who has never got over the sudden death of her mother, she’s vulnerable and Richard preys upon. Also it was mother that introduced Charlie to Richard’s writing so it was a connection to her mother that made Charlie fall for Richard.

Richard is the typical successful charming man that women fall for and it made for sad reading times how he treated Charlie and how she latched onto each moment with him as it was their last. I hated how he gaslit her and made her feel that she was not worthy of his attention. I loved Charlie’s friend Ophelia and Eddy and how they took her under their wings and looked out for her. I also loved the observational insight into relationships in this and how they progressed, whether is was professional, friendship and Charlie’s relationship with Richard.

This story is a fantastic one and perfect for people that enjoy a darker romance, with a sweet protagonist that you immediately connect with and want to protect. ‘Bittersweet’ is an immersive and addictive story that is cleverly crafted about first love and its dark side.

You can buy ‘Bittersweet’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.