Bitter and Sweet: A Novel by Rhonda McKnight

In the poignant dual timeline narrative crafted by the author of "The Thing About Home," sisters Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland are summoned to Georgetown, South Carolina, expecting news of their ailing grandfather. However, they're met with an unexpected plea from their grandmother—to save the family restaurant.

In the present, Mariah, grappling with bitterness after a failed marriage and the loss of her previous diner venture, hesitates to invest herself again. Meanwhile, Sabrina, seeking stability for herself and her daughter, sees the restaurant as a chance for a fresh start in her baking career. However, old tensions resurface as they navigate their differing visions for the restaurant's future.

In the past, Tabitha Cooper, faced with adversity in early twentieth-century Charleston, strives to provide for her children by turning corn into cornbread and creating a legacy of success through her culinary endeavors. Through Tabitha's letters, the sisters uncover truths about their family's history, offering insights that could mend their fractured relationship if they can learn to embrace the blessings of the present and let go of past grievances.

This tale of family, grief, and sisterhood explores the enduring bonds that tie generations together. As Mariah and Sabrina navigate their individual struggles and the complexities of their shared history, they must confront the bitter memories of the past to savor the sweetness of the present and forge a path toward reconciliation and redemption.