The Road to Bittersweet (2024)

You could call this a coming of age novel and I would agree, but it's not a typical coming of age story. You could say that the ending is a little too pat, maybe even a little too predictable and I could agree with that . For me though, the important thing about this story is that I found it to be an excellent work of historical fiction.

It's 1940 in North Carolina, and the dam of the Tuckasegee river has broken with the torrential rains. Fourteen year old Wallis Ann and her family, her mother and father, her three year old brother Seph and her older sister, Laci, a savant who doesn't speak but plays music from memory and accompanies the family when they perform as a singing group on occasion, make a harrowing escape from the flood. The descriptions of the devastation are fantastic and so realistic as evidenced by the photographs I found online (link is below). I could see Wallis Ann hanging on to a tree limb , desperate to survive, thinking about the rest of her family who were torn from the truck as they attempted to escape. Wallis Ann is smart and tough and manages to stay alive , find her way back to what was left of their home and desperately waits for her family's return. Such a burden on this young girl as she helps her father try to rebuild their home, try to find food to survive, and watch over Laci. Such a heavy burden on a fourteen year old girl, the hard labor, the guilt she carries over her little brother Seph.

Rebuilding becomes impossible with no tools, and little in the way of food, so they leave and end up as a singing group in a carnival and things get complicated for Wallis Ann and her family and they return home. I don't want to say more about the plot. This is a story of a close family and their hardship and hope as they try to survive the tragic circumstances of loss from the devastation of the flood . Of course I had to do searching to find out more about these floods in NC in 1940 and there was truly devastation and loss as this story reflects . 4 stars and recommended.

Some photos of the devastation caused by this flood:
http://www.thesylvaherald.com/gallery...

I received an advanced copy of this book from Kensington Books through Edelweiss and NetGalley.

4 southern fiction stars to The Road to Bittersweet

I enjoyed my time spent with Wallis Ann Stamper and her family. Set in the 1940s in both North and South Carolina, there was a flood in the Stampers’ small mountain community at the start of the book that left me riveted. Wallis Ann went on quite an adventure finding her way home.

Wallis Ann’s parents reminded me a bit of the Ingalls parents from Little House, through their patience and kindness towards their children. The family has lost everything from the flood, and their experiences, their hunger, their trials and tribulations, are all authentically depicted. This close-knit family truly tries it all to survive and to thrive.

I found Wallis Ann’s coming of age to be memorable and heartwarming. This book is highly recommended to fans of southern historical fiction.

Thank you to Donna Everhart, Kensington Books, and Netgalley, for the opportunity to read and review this special book. The Road to Bittersweet will be published on December 26, 2017.

Actual Image of the Destruction After the Flood of 1940 In Jackson County North Carolina

Donna Everharts new novel set in the mountains of Western North Carolina was pulled directly from the history pages. The Great Flood of 1940 roared through Jackson County and in The Road To Bitterweet we learn the fate of a proud and self-sufficient Appalachian family when their meager possessions are lost in the flood.

The Flood destroyed every bridge in the county crossing the Tuckasegee River

The novel's protagonist, Wallis Ann Stamper, comes of age during the aftermath of the flood. Writing in the voice of Appalchian people takes a skilled writer. Ron Rash and David Joy are authors I believe have mastered the voice.

While I enjoyed the story, I feel Everhart needs to continue working on her mastery of the the Appalchian narrative. It did not ring as true as other novels set in comparable locals and time periods.

!! NOW AVAILABLE !!

A picture of a casually sweet, demurely seated young girl in a crisp, white sundress adorns the cover, her legs crossed at her ankles, her feet bare and almost tucked into the grass beneath, delicately holding something between her hands which seems to be almost imperceptibly, the bare old wood porch lending an air of hardship to their humble home. Off to the side are the words: ”It takes courage to find your way…”

That certainly holds true in this story.

The Year is 1940; the Stamper family lives in Stampers Creek, their creek off the Tuckasegee River near Cashiers, North Carolina. Wallis Ann is fourteen, two years younger than her sister Laci, who does not speak, has never spoken, but has the ability to play music after hearing it only once or twice, on a variety of instruments: piano, fiddle, banjo, Mountain dulcimer.

”Only the music truly speaks to her.”

Seph is the youngest at three. As a family, they sometimes perform locally; the girls wearing their feed sack dresses, and sometimes receive tokens of thanks in exchange for the gift they bring to others. A simple life, a life that suits them fairly well.

And then the rains came.

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and see where you hide
Hold back the river, hold back.
--- Songwriters: Iain Archer / James Bay

They grab what they can, trying to get away in their truck while they still are able. The water keeps rising, and the driving gets more treacherous. Eventually, the waters take control of the car, pushing it along, as Wallis Ann’s family struggle to get to the highest point of the truck, Wallis Ann is swept away, eventually grabbing onto a sturdy enough tree branch, and finds a place to hold onto something solid, unmoving. She holds on long enough to see the waters subside, climbing down to the mucky surface.

Tried to keep you close to me
But life got in between
Tried to square not being there
But think that I should have been.
--- Songwriters: Iain Archer / James Bay

Finding her way back home through sheer determination, a need to reunite with her family, and the kindness of strangers, she heads back to what remains of their home, their barn, and tries to work on, rebuild, what she can.

Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander
Let us hold each other
Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander
Let us hold each other
--- Songwriters: Iain Archer / James Bay

Rebuilding begins to seem like an insurmountable task, even after time passes and her mother and father and sister Laci return, there are no tools, not enough food, and winter is coming on. And so, once more, they are forced to leave their home, this time in the hopes of finding salvation somewhere.

There is an aspect of this that will be seen primarily as a coming of age story, but in truth Wallis Ann seems as though she was born an adult, and has certainly seems to have carried the weight of an adult in her household. There are some momentary glimpses of her more innocent, youthful side especially when it comes to more adult ways outside her ken, but there is the larger side of her that seems to take on responsibility for things beyond her control.

I read, and really enjoyed, Donna Everhart’s ”The Education of Dixie Dupree” so I was really looking forward to reading her soon-to-be released ”The Road to Bittersweet” and I was not disappointed. They are very different stories, but this has a strong, young heroine that will surely grab hold of your heart and have you rooting for her to not only find safety, but acceptance and love.

Pub Date: 26 December 2017

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Kensington Books

A riveting piece of southern historical fiction! I love stories of Appalachia and the south in general. This is a story of hardship and survival through the eyes of Wallis Stamper. This is somewhat of a coming of age story as well. I loved the author's writing style which puts you in the setting and nailed the language of Appalachia.

Wallis Stamper and her family were caught in the flood of the Tuckasegee river near Cashiers, North Carolina in 1940 when a dam broke after torrential rains. The flooding was devastating and the Stamper family lost everything. Fourteen-year-old Wallis and her parents, her sixteen-year-old sister Laci (a mute savant, who can play any musical instrument), and her three-year-old brother Seph survive the flood but have to start over with nothing - nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, no change of clothes, and no money - nothing at all.

Wallis is a very strong character who seems much older than her years. She has a lot of courage and determination and shoulders much responsibility.

Thanks to Donna Everhart and Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy of this novel.

First book started and completed in 2019

---

One of those books for me that started out real quiet like as I went along then slowly snuck into my heart bit by bit. I was cursing real life and work for having to leave this world and go be an adult.

I admired their resilience to keep going, even when times got real rough.

By the end, (especially with a couple twists that had me rethinking about a certain someone) I wanted to keep going on and see what happened with everyone down the line. The ending did feel a little neat in some regards, but I didn't really mind.

(my copy is 322 pages btw)

Crappy review, but not feeling well again.. would recommend this book :)

Another beautiful story by Donna Everhart. The novel takes the reader through a family hardship, their emotions to process life and learn to see the beauty in all they have.

Set in the 1940s fourteen-year-old Wallis Ann and her family live a simple life in the Appalachian Mountains. The entire family, even her mute sister Laci, is musically gifted. While Laci is constantly watched over and protected, Wallis Ann is practical and able to fend for herself. When a flood causes the nearby Tuckasegee River to burst its banks, they are forced to fee in the middle of the night. Wallis Ann ends up separated from her family, alone, not even knowing if they survived. This tragedy opens Wallis Ann’s eyes to a world beyond the land that her family has called home for generations.

After the flood subsides and the Stamper family finally reunites. They take the little they can salvage and begin another perilous journey from their ruined home to the hill country of South Carolina. Wallis Ann’s blossoming friendship with Clayton, a high diving performer for a traveling show, sparks a new opportunity, and the family joins the circus as a singing group. But Clayton’s attention to Laci drives a wedge between the two sisters. As jealousy and betrayal threaten to divide the family for good, Wallis Ann makes a decision that will transform them all in unforeseeable ways…

"It takes courage to find your way" This is true throughout this book. This story takes place in the 1940's in the Appalachian Mountains. The Stampers live on the river and lead a simple life, until a hurricane destroys their home as the flood waters rise. They are forced to leave. This is their story as told by Wallis Ann, the middle child, age 14. I found this to be a true coming of age novel, filled with feeling and teaming with emotion. Wallis Ann is strong and determined, yet is but a teen trying to find her place. The language is evocative of the "mountain people" and I came to love the way that they spoke. It seemed so true to this time period and where it takes place. This story will tug at your heartstrings and keep you praying for this family. I felt as if I was there. I could hear the creek flowing, I could hear the birds singing. I was a part of their struggles and the triumphs. I was inside of this book, heart and soul, throughout. This book definitely makes you feel. I could feel the fear, the happiness, the love and the pain. This book is so well written, that you can't help but fall within its pages. It flows effortlessly just like the river, from beginning to end. The story is vivid in its depictions. All of the characters are richly developed and believable. This family always had hope and faith. They had their fair share of struggles, but in the end, family is what matters most. " We're going to keep on having hope until there's no possibility of having it anymore. That's all we can do." Love is what carries throughout this book, with all its bumps and bruises. In the end, love and hope is what carries us all. I truly hope you will read this incredible book. You will not be able to put it down. I read until my eyes were blurry from fatigue. Thank you, Donna Everhart, for writing such an exquisite novel. I know I will not forget the Stamper family ,their struggles or their love for a very long time. I will remember Wallis Ann and her story forever. Pick up this book when it comes out on December 26, 2017. Please. It is worth every penny to read it.

After reading The Education of Dixie Dupree, I knew I'd be reading Donna Everhart's next novel, but I didn't expect to have the pleasure of reading her second book this year. (I'm an Outlander fan, so I'm accustomed to waiting four years-ish for a new novel from an author I love.) Needless to say, I was thrilled to see THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET listed on Edelweiss, and requested it immediately.

Set in 1940s Appalachia, THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET is the story of the Stamper family—told from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Wallis Ann—who live in Stamper's Creek, North Carolina. She—along with her parents, younger brother Seph, and older sister Lacia—is forced to flee the family home when a hurricane strikes, bringing torrential rains that results in the devastating flood of the Tuckasegee river. In the midst of their escape, their truck is swept away by the flood waters. They manage to retreat to the back of the truck, but three family members, including Wallis Ann, go over the side when the truck strikes something in the water.

The family is eventually reunited, gathering at the place where their home once stood, having lost everything but each other. They set about the business of surviving as best they can with few resources, making do with the little they have, when tragedy strikes a second time. Broken, they abandon their destroyed home and travel from place to place, singing to earn a little money. On the brink of starvation, Wallis Ann meets a young man named Clayton near one of the campsites they frequented as they roamed the area. They quickly became friends, and Wallis Ann has her first taste of young love.

Thanks to Clayton's suggestion, the family is employed as a singing act for a traveling circus. The Stampers are relieved to finally have a semblance of stability, but Wallis Ann can't help but notice the attention Clayton gives to Laci. Her jealousy sets in motion a chain of events that results in another bout of anguish for the family—one that they may not be able to overcome.

Everhart has created a beautiful story of struggle and survival against impossible odds. I fell in love with the Stamper family almost immediately. Each member of this family endeared themselves to me, and are very relatable characters. Novels that focus on people (or families) left struggling after a catastrophic event have always appealed to me, and THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET paints a realistic picture of not only that, but of the heavy emotional toll that comes with it. The title itself (which I think is perfect!) hints this will be an often sad story, and it is... but it is not without hope. Even in their darkest days, even if they want to, the Stampers never give up. They keep on, no matter what.

I loved this story. It put me through the emotional wringer over and over again, with some portions affecting me so greatly I had to set the book aside for a bit in order to process it, and prepare myself to read on. There were things about Laci that I kept wishing to know more about, but that a desire on my part, not something that critically affected the story by its lack. If anything, it's a tribute to how wonderfully written Laci and all the other characters were, that I was left wishing to know more!

If you enjoy Southern fiction or coming-of-age stories, I highly recommend that this one be added to your list. It's a fabulous book... one I hope others will enjoy as much as I did.

I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Kensington via Edelweiss.

Donna Everhart takes readers to Stampers Creek, 1940 North Carolina along the Tuckasegee River with the Stampers family. THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET —a gritty Southern tale of despair, family, and hope. A perfect and fitting title for this coming-of-age journey through life's ups and downs from childhood to womanhood.

"It takes courage to find your way."

In the Appalachian mountains, near Cashiers, NC, we meet Wallis Ann. Fourteen-years-old and wise beyond her years. She takes most of the burden caring for her sister, Laci. Her sister is two years older, yet she will never be able to read or write or solve problems. They all wondered what she must be thinking. There was also the younger brother, Seph; only three-years-old.

Laci is "savant." Gifted. A person affected with a mental disability (such as autism or mental retardation) who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (such as mathematics or music).In this case, music. The family played music, known as The Stamper Family. From the piano, banjo, fiddle, among others.

There is a devastating flood after the waters broke over the dam. The worst this area had ever seen. Torrential rains. This event scared Wallis more than anything she had ever experienced. They are swept away by the strong currents.

After losing everything, the Papa takes them to his brother, Hardy in South Carolina. They are on the road trying to survive by singing for money to have enough to eat.

The momma depended on Wallis Ann for so much of Laci's care, and Laci experienced guilt from some of the events happening in the story. Wallis Ann feels somewhat invisible at times due to her sister's disability.

Along the way, there are more struggles, and challenges striving for survival amid life's storms. Burdens to carry. Hearts broken. Dreams unfulfilled. Guilt-ridden. Betrayal.

Heartstrings are pulled especially with Wallis Ann. She is brave, and resilient while suffering from hardships, hopelessness, and other situations and emotions she encounters. Deeply emotional a mix of Southern fiction/Gothic, coming-of-age, historical, and literary fiction.

“Windows give you a view. Otherwise you can't see nothing, no matter how hard you try. It ain't much different in how we look at our world from inside ourselves."

I enjoyed the theme of water which is apparent throughout the novel from the river, the flood, the waterfalls and symbolic in many ways to the peaceful trickle of water sliding over the rocks. On a side note: My favorite places in the NC mountains are the Highlands and Cashiers. Beautiful waterfalls and scenic mountains. I miss my log cabin in Big Canoe, GA.

The characters are well-drawn (as the secondary ones) and the times researched, drawing you into their world of survival and vivid settings.

"We're going to keep on having hope until there's no possibility of having it anymore. That's all we can do."

Descriptive storytelling, a well-written emotional Southern coming-of-age novel of family, heartbreak, love, loss, and acceptance.

For fans of Southern historical fiction and authors: Leah Weiss, Kim Michele Richardson, Wiley Cash, Emilie Richards, Diane Chamberlain, and David Joy.

A special thank you to Kensington for an advanced reading copy and the introduction to this talented North Carolina author. Look forward to reading more. Writing Inspiration by Donna Everhart

JDCMustReadBooks

The Road to Bittersweet by Donna Everhart is a poignant and richly detailed novel that transports readers to the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains during the 1940s. Everhart skillfully weaves a tale of resilience, family bonds, and the enduring human spirit through the eyes of Wallis Ann Stamper, a young girl whose life is upended by a catastrophic flood. The author’s evocative descriptions and deep characterizations bring to life the challenges and triumphs of the Stamper family as they navigate loss and hardship. The novel's strength lies in its authentic portrayal of a bygone era and its heartfelt exploration of love and survival against the odds. A compelling and moving read, "The Road to Bittersweet" resonates with both the struggles and the beauty of the human experience.

"...it was like all we'd been doing was traveling down a road towards this bittersweet ending. Nothing could change what we'd been through." These are thoughts from Wallis Ann Stamper, the 14 year old main character in The Road to Bittersweet. And what a road she and her family had been down. Living in a rural area in the Appalachian mountains in 1940 with her parents, sister Lacy and baby brother, they lived a hard scrabble life but always had food on the table and love within the family as well as their love of singing. Until the night that the Tuckasegee river overflowed its banks and forced them out of the house that had been in their family for generations. The family's flight during the flood was one of the scariest things that I've read in a long time. Wallis Ann survives the flood and starts looking for her family. Miles away from her home, she learns a lot about herself and the world that she had never been part of. The family gets reunited at the site of their home but they continue to struggle as they try to re-build. As the family tries to survive, they have to leave their mountain home and go out into the world where family loyalties are tested and decisions are made that cause horrible repercussions to them all.

Wallis Ann is a fantastic main character. She is strong and can work like a man but she still has the feelings of a young girl. We see the land and the family problems through her watchful eyes and we see her change from innocence to wisdom about life and her family. This is a wonderful novel and I think it will be one of the most read books this winter. The is the second fantastic book by this author and if you haven't read her first book The Education of Dixie Dupree, you need to read it too.

Warning: Be sure to clear your calendar before you start reading The Road to Bittersweet because once you start, you won't want to put it down until you finish. Trust me, there were no meals cooked or cleaning done at my house once I opened this book.

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

A coming of age tender story of life in the Carolina's in the 1940's told through the eyes of Wallis Stamper. This southern historical fiction is an accurate description of Appalachian life and the way they spoke too. The hardships detailed here made me feel as though I was there experiencing the tragedies right along with this family. There is the mother,father,main character Wallis,her older mute sister,Laci and younger brother. Wallis is responsible for her sister, Laci the majority of time as mother watches and cares for the younger brother. It is a responsibility Wallis starts to resents as she has to take Laci with her everywhere. Lucky to escape with their lives after a flood washes away their home they are left with nothing. Wallis becomes separated from her family for days and has nothing but the saturated ground she walks upon. Lack of food and mud covered clothing,skin and hair are the norm for this girl. Before she is reunited with her family she wonders if they have all survived the devastating flood. When the family is reunited they have no home and have to survive through their wits on the hardscrabble ground. The creek is soiled and there is no water to drink unless they boil it. There is a real struggle to survive here. When they are ready to give up something happens that makes life easier for them as they go away from their home site . Will things stay looking better for this family or will tragedy come to greet them again?
I suggest everyone who enjoys a great Appalachian survival story to read this. I very much enjoyed it!
Pub Date 26 Dec 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a review copy I was not required to write a positive review.

And what a road it was. From a fierce hurricane to a tacky carnival, the trip was filled with desperation, jealousy and finally love. No one brings the South alive like Donna Everhart.

The characters are so real you can feel their hunger, fear and sorrow. Loved them all.
I hated for the story to end. It’s the kind of book you read just for the sheer pleasure of reading such beautiful prose.

Another book by Donna Everhart I just enjoy reading. I love her style of writing and she always does an exceptional job of finding the voice of the main character-whether it be a young girl or a boy-she always does a spectacular job. With every book I've read from her, I always feel like the story lacks an arc-a main event, but when looking back I realize that the entire story is the 'arc'. It's from the main character's perception and point of view-it's so real it's like diving into a moment in this person's life. This story took place during the 1940s. A terrible flood destroys everything-, including Wallis Ann's home. We see the evolution of the family through horrible hardships, tragedy, hope and redemption. It's a beautiful story.

IMG_1660My Review of “The Road to Bittersweet” by Donna Everhart

WOW! Kudos to Donna Earhart, Author of “The Road to Bittersweet” for such an incredible, heartwarming and emotional journey. It was really difficult for me to put “The Road to Bittersweet” down, because I just had to see what happened. I love the author’s description and sounds and scenery of nature, the land, the water, and both the beauty and devastation that can occur. It is just amazing the way Donna Earhart weaves her story and descriptions together. The timeline of the story is 1940, and the story starts in Stampers Creek, North Carolina.

In this story the water seems to be symbolic. The creek rises, and storms and a hurricane destroy what little home is left for 14-year-old Wallis Ann Stamper and her family. The horrific storm causes deaths, and loss of livestock, homes, and almost separates the Stamper family, who luckily find each other. Having only themselves, and very little possessions, they seek to survive by leaving their destroyed homestead and travel on.

The author describes her characters facing and enduring crisis after crisis and emotional and physical hardship. Wallis Ann is my favorite character. Although she is young she is strong-willed, and physically determined to do what has to be done. Wallis Ann is left in charge of her younger baby brother, and her older sister Laci. Laci has never spoken any words, but is intellectually musically gifted. Laci can listen to any sound of music, and reproduce it.

The author describes this as an emotional journey as well as a physical one. It is a journey to finding oneself. I appreciate that the author stresses the importance of family, friends, emotional support, hard work, love, faith and hope. I would highly recommend this bittersweet , captivating, and intriguing story. Happy Reading !

The Stamper family live in the mountains of North Carolina. They don't have much, but they get by through hard work and their musical talents. Wallis Ann is tough, resilient and practical, caring for her older sister, Laci and her younger brother, Seph. Laci is mute, but is a musically gifted savant, expressing herself through her fiddle. She is constantly at Wallis Ann's side, giving her a rare moment for solitude. When the Tuckasegge River floods, they abandon their home, fleeing for safer grounds. The journey is a perilous and harrowing experience for them all. When they reunite at their mountain home, nothing is left and they eventually must leave, travelling south seeking opportunities for work. Being the 1940s, there was little help for families in need. Eventually hooking up with a travelling carnival, it is Wallis Ann who holds the family together. But being the one everyone depends upon leaves Wallis Ann often feeling overlooked and invisible, desperate for someone to "see her", which at times led her to actions she later came to regret.
A beautifully written coming-of-age novel, in which I fell in love with Wallis Ann for her big heart and fortitude.

Daughter Wallis Ann Stamper tells the story of the Tuckasegee River flooding her family out of their,
all belongings lost. The year was 1940. the Stampers were a singing family. Mother and Dad harmonizing with Wallis Ann and sister Laci playing the violin. Laci could not speak but could play every song she ever heard on the violin.
The family moved South and joined a carnival group where they could earn a little money and have
something to eat.
Wallis Ann the girl who always gave 110% was not getting the attention that Laci got, became jealous.
All that envy upset the family.
They left the group except Laci and her boyfriend came back latter.
A good story of human nature.

Not a favorite...even though the story was somewhat interesting, I could not abide the discrepancies in the backwoods grammar. Some verbs were correct and others were typically the wrong tense with no consistency. The narrator, Wallis Ann, would occasionally spout some fancy word that didn’t agree with the “country” language.

4.5

I loved this novel because it broke my latest Restless Reader Syndrome (picking books up, putting them down after a few chapters, getting piles of stuff from the library and returning them all the next day, uninterested . . . you probably know the jive.) But I was captivated by "The Road to Bittersweet" right from the start and was engaged to the very end.

The Stampers are mountain people who lose everything in a catastrophic flood. It's 1940, the area is remote, and there's no one to ask for help, as if proud Mr. Stamper would ever do such a thing. The family travels in truck, picking up small jobs here and there,and they are starving.

The narrator is 14-year-old Wallis Ann, a practical girl with guts and heart. Her older sister, Laci, is mute and appears to be autistic. She does not look anyone in the face but can play any music on any instrument after hearing it only once. She is Wallis Ann's responsibility, and Wallis loves her deeply.

Wallis Ann's curiosity about the world leads her to spy a young man high diving off a cliff near one of their campsites. They meet and chat. He's with a traveling family carnival, and once he hears Laci play and the rest of the Stampers sing, he introduces them to his boss at the show. It seems as though the Stampers are finally going to get a break.

These are such appealing characters and Donna Everhart writes an unsentimental story of hard life in the rugged, isolated mountains of North Carolina before WWII. I found myself wondering what would happen to the Stampers when the war starts, and how that would impact their way of life.

Four 1/2 stars because the end is a bit of a let down, but don't let that stop you from enjoying this novel.

Candace Siegle
Greedy Reader

The Road to Bittersweet captivated me from the very first line, a beautiful story written with beautiful, authentic prose evocative of the Appalachian Mountains where the story takes place; filled with images so clear that I could hear the rush of the water, I could feel the gnawing hunger in my own stomach, and mostly I could empathize with all of the emotions churning inside the characters....especially Wallis Ann. Wallis Ann and her family eked out a hardscrabble life, not knowing how rich they truly were until everything they owned was swept away by floodwaters. The characters, richly written, were vivid in my mind; Laci, a musically gifted young lady who has never uttered a word; William and Ann, devoted, hard-working parents pushed to the brink of desperation and sorrow. But it was Wallis Ann who took up most of the space in my heart; a 14-year-old girl who shoulders so many responsibilities; scrappy, resilient, stubborn, confused, brave, smart...a young girl on the brink of womanhood...Wallis Ann is transformed by the hardships, tragedy, and love that surround her. The author has a gift for writing characters who not only undergo changes of their own...they also provide insight and wisdom to readers, showing us a way to look at life differently, gaining a new perspective of our own. This is a book that is hard to put down; a book that I read with my pulse racing, my heart in my throat. My favorite passage from the book, which really resonated with me: “Windows give you a view, otherwise you can't see nothing, no matter how hard you try. It ain't much different in how we look at our world from inside ourselves."

I first fell in love with Donna Everhart's writing when I read The Education of Dixie Dupree. She develops such beautifully written characters that you become so invested in their lives and journeys.

The Road to Bittersweet is a story of survival and resilience like none other, all told through the eyes of 14 year old Wallis Ann Stamper. Wallis Ann's family is awakened in the middle of the night to the rushing flood waters of the Tuckasegee River and must flee the only home they have known, only to know a greater peril as they attempt to traverse the raging rivers. Wallis Ann embarks on a long and arduous journey with many curves along the way. The author does a remarkable job putting you right in the heart of the story. You can nearly feel the bone chilling cold and devastating hunger that Wallis Ann experiences. I definitely wanted to continue reading until the very end of the book to see what path Wallis Ann's life would take. There were several unexpected turns in the plot that enriched the story even more.

I received this book courtesy of Kensington through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge fan of Donna Everhart's debut, THE EDUCATION OF DIXIE DUPREE, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET. I'm a sucker for coming-of-age stories set in the south. Needless to say, I adored this one as well. The immersion into time and place, the hardship, the resilience, the loss/grief/acceptance, all of it. Her characters are so well-drawn that you feel as though you're watching them from a broke-down porch step somewhere deep in a Carolina holler as the story unfolds. Like Dixie, I love the scrappy indefatigability of her protagonist, Wallis Ann, who is so believable and earnest. She has you rooting for her from the moment that first drop of rain falls, through the flood, and all the way to a conclusion that kept me turning pages well past my bedtime. Donna Everhart you owe me some cream for these eyebags.

Well done, once again. Can't wait for the next one.

Wallis Ann just wants to be a normal fourteen-year-old. But she can't,she is the main caregiver for her mute very musically gifted older sister Laci. When Laci is around no one seems to even notice Wallis Ann. When a flood destroys their family home,they travel from place to place. Joining a Carnival where the family performs as a singing group. Horrific events plaque this family and especially Wallis Ann who you will fall in love with.Her story will break your heart. But it's not all harrowing.This is true Southern Grit Lit at it's best. An Appalachian Mountain family doing all they can in the wake of disaster. Amazing read. Hauntingly beautiful.

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The Road to Bittersweet was beautifully written just like the other books I have read of Everhart's, but boy were there A LOT of hardships that this family had to endure. 14 year old Wallis Ann who had to be resposbile for so much at her age was the best part of the story and I kept rooting for her. It was hard to read at times because it is so sad, and because it is such a long story. Yes, there was a "happy ending" but I wish it came sooner.

The Road to Bittersweet is about Wallis Ann Stamper and her family living in the mountains of North Carolina. A flood rolls through the town and they escape their home with the clothes on their backs. It is a beautifully written book about family, love, and hope. The descriptions in the book make you feel like you are part of the story. You can picture everything the author writes. I read this book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. I loved Wallis and her family. Wallis is 14 and the strong one of the family. Laci who is 16 is mute but can play any instrument and any song she hears one time. LIttle Seph and all his energy! Their Mom and Dad even after losing their home still have hope. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books. All opinions are my own.

This was given to me as a gift, so I’m trying to read it. However, I am struggling with the endless editing errors and endless passive voice. And don’t get me started on the fake-folksy internal voice of the protagonist. The poor grammar feels super fake and not at all researched with contemporary oral histories. The result is that the main character sounds like Kenneth Parcel from 30 Rock and not at all authentic.

Beautiful novel

Beautiful novel about the tenacity of the human spirit and the strength of love and family despite hardship. A wonderful, extremely well written book! This one will give me a long book hangover.

Really didn’t like the story after about 2/3. Seemed like the author ran out of a way to finish the book.