Bitter and Sweet

Award-Winning Lowcountry Novel

By: Rhonda McKnight

Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Angel Pean, Lynnette R. Freeman

A 2025 CHRISTY AWARD WINNER!

"A poignant story of sisterhood, motherhood, and new love found in old places. McKnight's writing is as delectable as the Gullah cuisine at the heart of the novel." --Denny S. Bryce, bestselling author of The Other Princess and Wild Women and the Blues

From the beloved author of The Thing About Home comes a dual timeline tale of Lowcountry flavor, family, grief, secrets, and the sweet redemption that lies within the bonds of sisterhood.

The Present. When summoned to Georgetown, South Carolina, sisters Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland both assume their ailing grandfather's health has gotten worse. Neither expects their grandmother's undeniable request--save the family restaurant.

Mariah is at a crossroad in her life. After being dumped by her husband and forced to walk away from their diner that she helped rescue from bankruptcy, bitter feelings consume her. Even though the restaurant has been in the family for eighty-six years, giving her all to another struggling business isn't something she wants to do.

Living out of her van and striving for a fresh start, Sabrina yearns for stability for herself and her daughter and a chance to turn her baking hustle into a bona-fide business. The family restaurant may be just the blessing she needs--but as old tensions and angry disagreements resurface, Sabrina wonders if her sister will let her have a say.

The Past. After falling victim to a love she thought would last a lifetime, Tabitha Cooper finds herself away from home and struggling to survive in Charleston in the early twentieth century. She is determined to turn corn into cornbread and to take care of her children the best way she knows how--by serving food that's good for the soul--and along the way forges a path that leaves a legacy of success for generations to come.

Through letters that reveal Tabitha's complicated past, the sisters discover truths that just might be the right recipe to mend their hearts--if they can find a way to savor the blessing of today and leave the bitter aftertaste of old memories behind them.

Bitter and Sweet is a standalone novel that includes discussion questions, making it a great pick for book clubs looking to explore and discuss the themes of faith, family, and self-discovery.

Audio read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Angel Pean, and Lynnette R. Freeman.

Critic reviews

'A complex but joyful tale of family, food, love, and restaurants, BITTER AND SWEET by Rhonda McKnight tells a poignant story of sisterhood, motherhood, and new love found in old places. McKnight's writing is as delectable as the Gullah cuisine at the heart of the novel, but the beautifully written characters, prose, and dialogue make this story memorable . . . women's fiction at its best and a must-read journey you won't forget.'

'An unputdownable dual timeline story spanning generations, infused with Gullah culture, rich with themes of resilience and redemption, reconnecting family, leaving you with renewed hope. Masterful storytelling at its best!'

'BITTER AND SWEET is a delicious layered cake of a story that's compulsively readable. The history woven through the story enhanced the flavors of the low country cooking sprinkled through the pages, and I could smell the she-crab soup and taste the desserts. McKnight is a master storyteller, and I can't get enough of her books! Don't miss this one!'

'BITTER AND SWEET was intensely raw in so many scenes that my emotions were all over the place. McKnight deftly wove the dual time between the past and present of three generations of women. I was immersed in the history and the food, and impatient as I waited for the secrets to be revealed. The characters wouldn't let me go until I finished the last page and even then I felt compelled to pray for people needing healing from trauma. The moments of celebration were a reason to praise God.'

'Rhonda McKnight's BITTER AND SWEET is a meditation on what it means to be family. To love beyond dislike. To mend seemingly broken bridges and forge a bond beyond blood. In her deft hands, Rhonda's characters navigate broken hearts and betrayals, the delicacy of depression and find grace for grief to push them into purpose. The woven stories of Tabitha, Sabrina, and Mariah are reflections of the past in the present and how by sheer determination they can propel themselves into a life they love that satisfies the soul and entices the sweet tooth.'

'Set in the atmospheric lowcountry, rich with Gullah culture comes a tale that spans two generations, exploring the bonds of family tragedy, redemption, and two estranged sisters at a crossroad looking to find the answers in lessons from the past. Memorable and unputdownable, you'll gobble up BITTER AND SWEET.'

Phenomenal from start to finish

Don’t know where to begin…the narrators, the characters, the storylines… all that things. Prepare to go on the journey with this family

Another gem from Rhonda McKnight

This is another fantastic story from Rhonda McKnight. I love how she discusses the Black South Carolinian experience and our history in the state.

Read it!!!

10s across the board! This story is so rich and so full of love, heartache and healing! I know Mariah is a widely hated character but I personally loved her character development and perspective shift by the end of the story. I have always love a multi-generational story and this story proved that love over again. Black women endure so much and still find space to hold each other up and fill each other with love and community.

Such a good read. The narrators were spot on as well!

commitment and complexity.

narration and plot twist. I really wanted more information about Tabitha! her story was compelling and tragic.

The sisterhood relationship between Sabrina and Moriah was memorable.

Their relationship made me miss my sisters who are both deceased. I love the fact they were able to reconcile their differences. Great story telling.