{"product_id":"bitter-9781474607582","title":"Bitter","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e''A novel to detonate the heart. Fans of Gail Honeyman and Joanna Cannon will love \u003ci\u003eBitter\u003c\/i\u003e'' A.J. Finn, author of  \u003ci\u003eThe Woman in the Window\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e ''As gripping as Zoe Heller''s \u003ci\u003eNotes on A Scandal'' \u003c\/i\u003ePeter Bradshaw, Guardian Film Critic\u003cbr\u003e''Brilliantly paced, moving, thoughtful and sharp. Loved it\u003c\/b\u003e'' \u003cb\u003eRenée Knight, author of \u003ci\u003eDisclaimer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e''An absolutely astonishing first novel'' Michael Frayn, author of Spies\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt''s 1969, and while the summer of love lingers in London, Gilda is consumed by the mistakes of her past. She walked out on her beloved son Reuben when he was just a boy and fears he will never forgive her. When Reuben marries Alice, he seems transformed by love - a love Gilda has craved his entire adult life. What does his new wife have that she doesn''t? And how far will she go to find out? It''s an obsession that will bring shocking truths about the past to light . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBitter \u003c\/i\u003eby Francesca Jakobi is stormingly good, deliciously addictive, as  gripping as Zo\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eë\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e Heller's \u003ci\u003eNotes on a Scandal\u003c\/i\u003e. It's got to be the beach  read of 2018!\u003c\/b\u003e -- Peter Bradshaw, Guardian Film Critic\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBITTER is just wonderful\u003c\/b\u003e. It's a very painful story but told with a kind of lightness and grace. It's so well-written, with such deceptive directness and simplicity, so well-organised and well-paced. Francesca Jakobi completely inhabits Gilda, in all her pain and obsession, all her self-deception and self-sabotage.\u003cb\u003e An absolutely astonishing first novel\u003c\/b\u003e -- Michael Frayn, author of SPIES\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eI bloody loved this book. It was emotionally\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e so intense, so addictive, I tore through it, unable to stop. Buy it. Read it\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e -- Susie Steiner, author of MISSING, PRESUMED and PERSONS UNKNOWN\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvocative and skilful\u003c\/b\u003e . . . The results are as hilarious as they are unsettling as Jakobi exploits the stereotype of the needy Jewish mother and we are drawn against our better judgment to side with out-of-control Gilda -- Barry Forshaw * GUARDIAN *\u003cbr\u003eJakobi's debut is \u003cb\u003eambitious in scope\u003c\/b\u003e, investigating her central character in forensic detail, with short, pacy chapters that alternate between past and present . . . \u003cb\u003eAt once tragic and engrossing, this gimlet-eyed character study elicits sympathy and damnation, both for Gilda herself and for the circumstances that have defined her' \u003c\/b\u003e * FINANCIAL TIMES *\u003cbr\u003e[A] \u003cb\u003eriveting\u003c\/b\u003e study of a woman who takes motherly concern to rather sinister extremes . . . it slowly, tantalisingly becomes clear that Gilda has never been in charge of her life . . .  and shocking secrets from her past will have the power to transform her present * Daily Mail *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrilliantly paced, moving, thoughtful and sharp. Loved it\u003c\/b\u003e -- Renée Knight, author of DISCLAIMER\u003cbr\u003eBitter, yes, but also sweet -- and moving, and searching, and quietly devastating: \u003cb\u003ea novel to detonate the heart.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eSteep yourself in this exquisite story.\u003c\/b\u003e You won't regret it, and you won't forget it. \u003cb\u003eFans of Gail Honeyman and Joanna Cannon will love \u003ci\u003eBitter\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e * A.J. Finn, author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGloriously sinister and yet, when you least expect it, quietly heartbreaking. Brilliant\u003c\/b\u003e -- Nicci Cloke, author of CLOSE YOUR EYES\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eI loved BITTER\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003ean incredibly moving novel about a mother's guilt and shame at her inability to bond with her son. \u003cb\u003eIt is a beautifully woven tale that tilts with issues of class and race and religion.\u003c\/b\u003e The reader's feelings towards the protagonist always balance somewhere between pity and indignation, never drifting towards any simplistic sense of certainty -- Brett Anderson, GUARDIAN, Best Books of 2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA moving, powerful story of love, obsession, guilt, lies and the lengths we'll go to for a second chance\u003c\/b\u003e -- Tammy Cohen\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'I loved this book so much.\u003c\/b\u003e Really moving and completely absorbing - I loved Gilda's voice' -- Laura Marshall, author of FRIEND REQUEST\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis is an original and heartbreaking novel - beautifully written with such a powerful voice. I couldn't put it down\u003c\/b\u003e -- Chloë Mayer, author of THE BOY MADE OF SNOW\u003cbr\u003eA beautiful, poignant and - at times - unsettling insight into motherhood: its triumphs and disappointments but, above all, its power to transform relationships. \u003cb\u003eI loved it\u003c\/b\u003e -- Elisa Lodato, author of AN UNREMARKABLE BODY\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCompelling and, in places, heartbreaking. A beautiful portrait of a mother's love\u003c\/b\u003e -- Joanna Barnard, author of PRECOCIOUS and HUSH LITTLE BABY\u003cbr\u003eI hated Gilda at first, her judgemental, mean spirited view of the world. She seemed to be the kind of person I would run from at parties. Then, as time went on, this woman felt no longer bitter, but like someone I had come to love. Such clever storytelling . . . \u003cb\u003eBy the end I was running towards the finish line, desperate to see her come through\u003c\/b\u003e -- Amanda Smyth, author of BLACK ROCK and A KIND OF EDEN\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWarning to readers: this book is highly addictive and could keep you awake at night.\u003c\/b\u003e It has a wonderfully compelling narrative, driven by a fascinating unreliable narrator . . . BITTER manages to be a psychological thriller while at the same time dealing with such complex subjects as female autonomy, post-natal depression and loneliness. \u003cb\u003eIt is a remarkable first novel . . . poignant, funny, tender and bittersweet  \u003c\/b\u003e -- Sipora Levy * JEWISH CHRONICLE *\u003cbr\u003eBeautifully written and paced. I was hooked - heart in mouth from the beginning. Exquisite storytelling * Sally Magnusson, author of THE SEALWOMAN’S GIFT *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBITTER is an incredible book about familial love gone wrong: deeply felt, subtly wrought and deliciously complicated \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e -- Rachel Heng, author of SUICIDE CLUB\u003cbr\u003eIt's not easy to make a reader fall in love with a character who is as flawed as Gilda. She is difficult, snooty, and unhinged - and \u003cb\u003eI absolutely adored her.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eShe deserves to take her place beside character greats such as Olive Kitteridge and Eleanor Oliphant\u003c\/b\u003e . . .  Although this is an incredibly moving book - I sobbed my way through the final 30 pages - there are some wonderfully funny moments too. \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBitter\u003c\/i\u003e has left me with one of the most severe book hangovers I've ever experienced. It's a masterpiece\u003c\/b\u003e -- Fiona Mitchell, author of The Maid’s Room\u003cbr\u003eA beautiful and original story. I absolutely loved it -- Clare Empson, author of HIM\u003cbr\u003eJakobi's imagery transports you from bombed London streets to the anything goes vibes at the end of the swinging '60s . . . a \u003cb\u003eterrifying and poignant\u003c\/b\u003e portrait of a lonely woman \u003cb\u003e****\u003c\/b\u003e -- Jennifer Platt * SOUTH AFRICAN SUNDAY TIMES *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBITTER hits every single one of my must-reads.\u003c\/b\u003e An incredibly well-drawn, flawed female lead character; a 1960s setting and an unsettling yet realistic family dynamic . . . \u003cb\u003eBITTER is deeply moving and so very wise. I absolutely adored it\u003c\/b\u003e -- Anne Cater * Random Things Through My Letterbox *\u003cbr\u003eGilda's personal trials will keep readers in thrall to the bittersweet ending * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review *\u003cbr\u003eCompelling and, in places, heartbreaking. A beautiful portrait of a mother's love -- Joanna Barnard, author of PRECOCIOUS and HUSH LITTLE BABY","brand":"Orion Publishing Co","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48739603611991,"sku":"9781474607582","price":8.54,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781474607582.jpg?v=1720052714","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/bitter-9781474607582","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}