The Corner of Bitter and Sweet

by Robin Palmer

Gilmore Girls meets Postcards from the Edge crossed with L.A. Candy!

Sixteen-year-old Annabelle Jacobs never asked to be famous, but as the daughter of Janie Jacobs, one of the biggest TV stars in the world, she is. Growing up is hard enough. Having to do it in public because your mother is a famous actress? Even harder. When your mom crashes and burns after her DUI mug shot is splashed across the internet? Definitely not fun. Then your mom falls for a guy so much younger than she that it would be more appropriate for you to be dating him? That’s just a train wreck waiting to happen.

From Robin Palmer, author of Geek Charming and Wicked Jealous, this is a novel about the most complicated relationship a girl ever has: that with her mother.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Teen, Fiction, Chick Lit, Young Adult Contemporary

400 pages, Paperback

First published June 27, 2013

About the author

Robin Palmer grew up in Massachusetts and New Jersey, and after graduating from Boston University, moved to Hollywood. Starting as an assistant in the television literary department of the William Morris Agency, she quickly moved up the ranks and spent the next decade as a literary agent, producer, and television network executive at Lifetime Television, where she developed over one hundred scripts and oversaw the production of many of the network's original movies.

In 2001, she remembered that she had originally intended to spend her life either as a writer or a toll booth collector (so she could indulge her penchant for spending her days alone reading), but as there are no toll roads in southern California, she decided to give the writing thing a try. Since then, she's written everything from "To Do" lists to screenplays to essays to love letters and, of course, novels.

She currently resides in New York City.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Annabelle's mom is Janie Jacobs, the star of a hit sitcom. Until she leaves the sitcom, to look for roles that never materialize and until she gets arrested for a DUI while driving the wrong way on the Pacific Coast Highway. This was a surprisingly thoughtful, feel-good read. Palmer expertly captures the complicated relationship between Annabelle and her mother, and each of its ups and downs, and presents a variety of complicated characters. My personal favorite was Billy, the younger action star Annabelle's mom falls for. Annabelle's passion for photography (and her ability to actually change) also distinguishes her from the ordinarily angsty contemporary heroine, despite attempts to make her charmingly quirky such as her sniffing Play Dough to calm down. It also offers a glimpse into the world of Hollywood celebrity, just enough to understand the pressures that Annabelle and her mother face and not too much to get tiresome. Most of all, The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is mostly sweet, with some incredibly emotionally satisfying payoffs and an ending that promises that, while everything isn't perfect, it's probably on its way to getting there. And here comes the major problem of the book: a love interest who's unrealistically perfect in almost every way. His one moment of less than perfection comes from problems with his family, not with him. Yes, it's nice to read about flawless boys when confronted with a world of annoying alpha males in other YA novels, but perfection gets boring. Luckily, the romance is more of a subplot and Palmer mainly directs her attention to the richest plot point: Annabelle and her mother. Recommended for contemporary fans looking for a bit of celebrity glamour with their real-life drama.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annabelle Jacobs is a teenage girl whose mom used to be a famous sitcom star but is now not doing so great. Her mom is struggling with addiction, and that puts Annabelle in this weird, unfair position where she's basically parenting her own parent. Annabelle's voice is one thing that works really well. She's funny in a self-aware, sharp way that makes you want to root for her, even when she's being sarcasic or frustrated, which is honestly too often. And who can blame her?

There's family drama, a little romance, some celebrity chaos and some deeper moments when you realize this book is about growing up when the grown-ups aren't exactly showing you how. The humor helps soften the harder edges, but it doesn't sugarcoat the reality of living with someone who is battling addiction. Annabelle also has some cute quirks that I liked.

If I had to condense this down to one sentence that tells it all, it would be this: Hollywood drama meets real-life heartbreak - with a sarcastic teen narrator who totally steals the show.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is an attempt at a darker and more adult turn by Robin Palmer, author of the "Lucy B. Parker" and "Castle Heights" (which includes Cindy Ella and Geek Charming) series of young adult novels. Although certainly darker, the book still maintains the charms and characterizations that have made Palmer a popular author and still makes for an appropriate and enjoyable young adult read.

Plot: Annabelle Jacobs is the daughter of Janie Jacobs, a formerly famous and hugely successful sitcom star who nonetheless has fallen on hard times and earned the distinction of being "washed up." Janie now spends most of her time earning infamy in the tabloids through outrageous stunts and heavy drinking, all to Annabelle's embarrassment. Annabelle must find her own strength to restore that of her mom as well as pursue her own burgeoning photography career.

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Robin Palmer's latest novel, is a clean departure from Palmer's fairy-tale inspired "Castle Heights" series and is much darker than her "Lucy B. Parker" books, but nonetheless continues the tradition of very strongly characterized first-person narratives. Annabelle comes off as necessarily intelligent and articulate beyond her years, and paints a vivid picture of her own life and personality and the tough times she lives through. The plot also gives a very realistic and relevant depiction of the types of lifestyles now becoming popular by necessity in today's world: learning to live with fewer means and finding the strength to care for not only yourself but your loved-ones as well. That said, it does so without sacrificing the hard and exposing yet still glamorous look at celeb L.A. Life that have also come to define her other works. What keeps The Corner of Bitter and Sweet from reaching greatness, however, is the fact that the plot starts to feel a little too familiar towards the last third of the book - plot ideas feel lifted from the final books in "Lucy B. Parker" for example. That said, The Corner of Bitter and Sweet remains an excellent example of Palmer's great character writing.

Primarily for teen girls; male readers may be put off by the pacing and genre. Older readers nostalgic for high school "slice-of-life" stories may also highly enjoy this.

Positives:
- extremely positive and uplifting messages and role models
- extremely well-written narrative and characterizations
- great moments full of humor
- reading level: Medium-hard (a few hours to a day)

Negatives:
- especially if you've read the entire Lucy B. Parker series, certain elements towards the end will feel all too familiar
- Some readers may find the darker tone to be lacking, especially towards the book's conclusion. Some readers may also find the resolution too "clean" or "happy."

Other similar works by author:
- "Castle Heights" (Cindy Ella, Geek Charming, Little Miss Red, Wicked Jealous)
- "Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker" (for younger readers)

Other similar works by different authors:
- "The Clique" by Lisi Harrison (fewer positive messages, flatter writing)
- "The A-List" by Zoey Dean (much fewer positive messages, much flatter writing)
- "Private" by Karen Brian (excellent writing and characterization, fewer positive messages, potentially controversial content)

[Ivy Tran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book because of the cover, it looked mysterious and had a camera so I had to know what it's about. As I read the summary on the back, it turns out to be a book about a Hollywood actress and her daughter which scored more points with me because I just love reading about Hollywood royalty or such.

The book was kind of slow in the beginning, it explains the main character, Annabelle, situation. Her mom is out of it after her show got cancelled and has been drinking and taking drugs all the time, but she still cares for her mom worrying if anything wrong would happen. Her mom gets a DUI very early in the morning and gets sent to rehab. After rehab her mom wanted another job and quit acting and that other job was to help people in rehab. Annabelle didn't really like the idea of the mom helping out in rehab so she calls this actor that she and her mom ran into one day that gave them his number for help on getting her mom a role in a movie he's staring in that needs a women lead. Once I hit the point in the book when her mom gets one of the main parts in a new movie with the next "it guy" and when she meets her love interest, Matt, I couldn't put the book down because Annabelle's life has basically turned around, her mom is acting again and Annabelle finds a guy which she hasn't been at to do since before she couldn't because she was alway looking after her mom.

This book made me realize how dysfunctional family's are but hey they're our family's and we always have to have each other's backs. Annabelle is a character we can all relate to, she has her quirks( she likes making list, smelling Barbie heads and play doh to calm her down) and we are all finding ourselves and we are still developing to the person we are and it's going to take a journey to get to that point in our lives

[Rmsooon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ive read " the corner of bitter and sweet " ,, i ddnt enjoy it it was so boring for me ,, i gave it 2 out of 5 stars

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Story of Addiction, Recovery, and Relationships

When I saw Robin Palmer’s The Corner of Bitter and Sweet offered for review on NetGalley, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to request it. I was familiar with some of Palmer’s other books but hadn’t read them because they seemed too “cute” for my tastes. However, I’m glad I went ahead and requested the novel, because it was a really good read.

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet explores the relationship between sixteen-year-old Annabelle and her mother Janie, a famous actress who suffers from depression and a severe addiction to drugs and alcohol. In a lot of young adult books, the parents seem to be marginal to the story, either because they are bad parents or are simply clueless about their kids’ lives. So it was nice to read a novel that emphasized the very important relationship between a teen and a parent. Not that Janie would win any Mother of the Year awards; even without her addictions and depression, she has issues with establishing boundaries with Annabelle. But it’s clear that she loves her daughter and wants to have a good relationship with her, even if her problems get in the way of showing it.

The topic of addiction is the other central focus of the novel. I think that this book would be an excellent read for someone who has a family member who is an addict or in the recovery process. While Annabelle, as the child of a Hollywood actress, is not your typical teen, her experiences living with an addict would probably resonate with anyone who been in the same situation. Palmer does a good job describing the unhealthy coping tactics used by the children of addicts, and her description of the Alateen meetings make clear how they can help kids feel less alone and learn better ways to cope.

I liked Annabelle a lot as a narrator; she's funny and quirky but also clearly messed up and vulnerable. I found myself rooting for both her and her mother to get better. As Janie goes through rehab and her own 12-step program, Annabelle begins to develop a more healthy relationship with her. Annabelle also learns to be more open and trusting of other people, forming new friendships and even finding a really great boyfriend. The end of the novel might strike some people as unrealistic—things are almost too good for Annabelle and her mother—but it didn’t bother me. After all, the novel is set in Hollywood—it deserves a movie-worthy happy ending!

[Rivkasilver · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was absolutely pathetic.
All the characters were shallow. (I mean that in both ways it can be taken: They are shallow people, and, as characters go, Palmer didn't flesh them out very well. I read their story like a story of paper-cut-out dolls.)

This book equals...

Cotton candy!
Because it's got too much sugar sweetness (don't you know that People's Sexiest Man Alive also has a heart of gold and wants to help people out, I mean it! And long-distance relationships... they last! For reals!) but at the same time, it's gross. (Oh yeah, a relationship with a 26 year old guy and 42 year old woman- no biggie! Helloooo, don't you know what TRUE LOVE is? Love breaks all barriers, it's a beautiful thing.)

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robin Palmer always writes such sweet, relatable, and funny novels, and her latest, about a girl trying to take care of her famous, alcoholic mother, is no exception! I loved reading about Annabelle, I loved her intelligence and maturity, despite the difficulties she faced, and I loved her charming, but flawed mother. Teens, no matter their situation, will find some aspect of the book to relate to - adults will too!

[Jennifer Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, this is a great read! Here's my official take:

Keenly observed, brutally funny, and bubbling over with heart, THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET is Robin Palmer at her best...I loved taking this ride with her through the intricacies of mothers and daughters, addiction and recovery, celebrity and reality, and love in all its many fabulous forms.

[Kim Baccellia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally loved the voice!

Think Gilmore Girls meets Postcards on the Edge with a sprinkling of Gossip Girl laced with humor and a fab voice. At the end, I had a huge smile and wanted to hug not only the book but all the characters. A true sign of a winning book!

YABC review coming soon!

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when the draining and unnatural role you’ve had for years is pulled from under you. Meet sixteen year old Annabelle Jackson. She had to assume the role of parent when her actress mother grabbed numerous psychoactive prescription drugs and crawled inside the bottle. Since then, Annabelle has had to run interference, check to see whether bills are paid and cringe every time her mother appears in public under the influence. This doesn’t leave any leeway for boyfriends or hobbies, leaving her life pretty bleak. When Mom’s arrested for DWI while driving the wrong way on a major California highway, it’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Mom ends up in rehab, Annabelle in utter humiliation. Her fancy friends dump her, she alternates between anger and depression and, just when she thinks things couldn’t get worse. She learns that their financial manager killed himself after blowing all their assets. Goodbye fancy home and the questionable freedom of her parent role, hello cheap apartment and Mom suddenly trying to run her life.
Things look pretty bleak until Annabelle convinces her mother to audition for the role of an alcoholic college professor. Mom’s angry, but when she gets the role, it’s perfect and the chemistry between her and the leading man, even though he’s sixteen years younger, is off the charts. When she’s dragged from L.A. to upstate New York for the shooting, Annabelle is resentful until meeting Matt. He’s an art student who is struggling with creative block. Their mutual attraction is sweet and intriguing, but he has his own secret issue. Meanwhile, Mom’s co-star and Matt push her to do something with her secret passion, photography.
What follows meeting Matt and the budding romance between Mom and her leading man makes for a magical read. I particularly like how the author wove recovery, especially Alateen, into the story. They’re done in a very realistic way. Teens who love secrets, romance and family dysfunction with a happy ending will really like the story.

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet, really was bitter and sweet. It had its moments of cuteness and then it had ehhh moments.

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is about a daughter who took care of her famous, alcoholic mom. And then tried to help put her back on her feet with her starring in a movie. Annabelle was always locked up with her feelings about her mother drinking but throughout this book she lets her mom know what she felt. I think it is a nice, sweet story, just needed a little more juice.

The only other problem is I am a dialogue needed person and this book did not have a lot. It was just a lot of what Annabelle was thinking. And I feel like all of the character had ADHD because they would be talking and then get sidetracked about another story and then be back to what they were talking about.

But really other than that, The Corner of Bitter and Sweet was a cute, life story, that some people can relate too while others just read and understand.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought some of the characters didn't have enough development. I liked how there were two side-by-side plots going on, but the one plot seemed to have an abrupt ending. The theme was very raw and emotional. I did notice there were a ton of spelling and grammatical errors, which ruined the flow for me sometimes. I didn't like how the author sometimes made one sentence an entire paragraph. The romance was nice.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I wouldn’t finish this book after the first 5 chapters, but seeing as how I liked the authors previous books I told myself to keep reading. Glad I did because I ended up almost giving it 4.5 stars.

[Breanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2013 culture was wild y'all

this book wasn't what i expected and to be honest, i found it a little boring but i'm glad i finally got to read it after all these years

[Denise]

Recommended by M. Swisher 10/09/23.

[Vic Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I’ve found at the dollar store. It’s a captivating story that brings out all the feels, blending humor and emotion seamlessly. Definitely worth every penny.

5/5

[Amber (Books of Amber) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of Amber


The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is one of the books that I picked up at the airport in Washington after leaving Dee and her family. It was a completely random buy, I only bought it because I liked the cover and I wanted to spend some money on books. What I didn’t know was that The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a story about a teenager called Annabelle, who lives with her alcoholic mother in Hollywood. It’s the story of their journey together as Janie beats her addiction and starts up her acting career again, and as Annabelle finds love. Except the love stuff isn’t all that important to me because, ew, insta-love.


The book starts out before Janie goes to rehab, and we are introduced to both her and Annabelle, who has been looking after her mother for a long time while she dealt with alcoholism and depression. I didn’t feel any connection towards Annabelle, because I have never had to experience anything like this, but I did really like her from the beginning. One thing that Annabelle and I have in common is that we both suffer from anxiety, although Annabelle’s is a lot more severe than mine. It was great to see her eventually come to terms with things and slowly become less dependent on certain things, and to come out of her comfort zone.

Annabelle also loves making lists, since they help her with her anxiety and they help to deal with what’s going on at home with her mother. This is another thing the two of us have in common, because making lists is, for me, akin to going for a run or squeezing a stress ball. A lot of the lists are included in the book, which I loved because lists.

This book isn’t necessarily a Rich People Drama (I seriously need to trademark that term) read, since it deals with deeper issues, but I felt it was kind of similar due to the fact that Janie was a successful actress on a sitcom, and both her and Annabelle are talked about on gossip blogs. This was a nice addition to the story, since I love to read stories set in Hollywood, or about fictional famous people.

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet isn’t a fluffy read by any means, although it felt as though Robin Palmer tried to add at least some fluff when it came to the romance. Annabelle meets a guy about 300 pages into the novel, and from then on she’s in love with him. Well, it’s not a “I saw him and I knew we were going to marry” insta-love, it’s more of a “We went on three dates and he told me he loved me” insta-love, which is just as bad, in my opinion. I wasn’t a fan of the romance at all, and I wish it had been left out, or perhaps only hinted at instead of slowly building up to become an “important” part of the story.

Annabelle’s relationship with her mother is what takes centre stage, though, and I am so happy about that. Seeing them go from rock bottom to slowly start to rebuild their relationship evoked the best feeling in me. There’s a monologue from Annabelle near the end that made me tear up, because I was really rooting for the two of them.

Aside from the love interest (eh) and her mother (!), Annabelle also has a bunch of other important relationships in The Corner of Bitter and Sweet. We see her bond with a fellow child of an alcoholic, a famous actor who is basically a younger Leo DiCaprio, and then, of course, is the man who she always saw as her father. All of these relationships are equally important, and I didn’t feel as though any of them took away from the story or Annabelle’s character. They were like her little support group, even if they weren’t with her the entire time. I loved it.

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a good read. While it’s not a favourite of mine, I did appreciate how Robin Palmer dealt with tough subjects such as alcoholism, anxiety, and drug abuse, and I would recommend that you give this book a go. In typical Speak fashion, it’s a book that really hits you with how it deals with those matters, and it’s one that will stay on my bookshelf.

[thebookishfellow · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF
I couldn't get past chapter 3. The mc overshares a lot of stuff just for the sake of it instead of getting straight to the point. Like, no, I don't want to know what kind of alcohol your mom is drinking unless it's got an important role in the story. I don't need to know the specific brand of pen you're using when you can just say it's a fine tip. A lot of brand naming was done in just 3 chapters which I found unnecessary because aside from people living in the West, I doubt everyone else would get half the stuff she's talking about or would even care. She's also got a thing for the smell of Play-Doh and Barbie heads. It's written to pass off as something quirky she does to ground herself, but really, it's just weird. She sneaks into bathrooms just to sniff them, and even jokes about how it's like she's snorting drugs. The constant Play-Doh sniffing was the last straw for me, and I had to put the book down.

[Hazel (Stay Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted here

Why did I pick up this book?
The cover! It caught my eye while I was browsing through the shelves at the bookstore. The typography and font used is appealing and attractive to look at. The shade and vibe it gives off is a little mysterious, given the dark background. What really brought me in was the girl with the camera on the cover! Being a photo enthusiast, I'm instantly interested by anything photography related.

What is it about?
The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is about Annabelle, who has only ever wanted a regular life. But with Janie Jackson, one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood (until she quit her TV show), as her mother, it's pretty much impossible to be normal. Not only does Annabelle have to deal with gossip blogs, she also has to deal with her mom’s unhealthy drinking habits. Annabelle has been responsible for herself and Janie for so long now. So when her mom decides to clean up her act after a DUI incident, it’s kind of hard for Annabelle to believe the sudden change-of-heart. Depicting a dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship with a frenzy of the Hollywood life, The Corner of Bitter and Sweet focuses on self-discovery and letting go.

What did I think of it?
It’s the first time I’ve read Robin Palmer and she’s left quite an impression on me. I didn’t know what to expect with her so I guess I was surprised when I found that I really liked this book. The story moved slow, focusing on character development, but time was spent wisely because I really did enjoy seeing the evolution of the characters, especially with Annabelle.

Annabelle was easy to like. Her voice was realistic and sincere. She isn’t perfect, what with her trust issues, but I think she has a great personality. She also has some oddities like how sniffing Play-doh and the inside of Barbie’s head makes her feel safe. She’s pretty weird but it’s quirky in a way. Annabelle also writes lists often and I must say they’re something I looked forward to in the book. I love characters who make lists (e.g. Mallory from Going Vintage). And then there’s her love for photography! I loved reading about how she takes pictures and her insights on the hobby. I related to her so much more when she talked about photography.

“When I’m shooting, it’s like I’m part of the world rather than separate from it.”

Aside from Annabelle, the secondary characters were great too. Annabelle’s mom, despite being a little crazy, needy, and vain, loved her daughter beyond the shadow of a doubt. I liked Ben, who was like a father to Annabelle. He clearly cared for Annabelle and Janie, giving and helping them constantly, never expecting anything in return. There’s Billy Barrett, dubbed as the “King of Hollywood”, who was someone I wasn’t sure about at first. He turned out to be really cool, even though he kept calling everyone ‘dude.’ There’s also Walter, a kid Annabelle meets at therapy and becomes friends with. His character was real funny!

Annabelle: I never said anyone in my family drank.
Walter: *snorts* Denial’s not just a river in Egypt, you know.

Although Annabelle’s relationship with her mom was the main focus of the book, her ties with the other characters progressed nicely. Romance was included, in the form of dorky, cute Matt, but it began in the later part of the book which I think was a good thing.

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet was a great read. It dealt with deep issues but didn’t get depressing, remaining mostly light. The characters, especially Annabelle, are vivid, well-developed and relatable. This coming-of-age story is a perfect starter if you have yet to read Robin Palmer. This lovely book will no doubt inspire young adults.

[Laura P · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is utter perfection. There were no events, words, or sentences that didn’t have a purpose. At first I was slightly put off by the more serious tone and the slower pace, but I quickly realized that that was because of my own idea of what I should expect from Palmer’s novels – an interesting realization given that so much of this novel is about abandoning your perceptions of how things or people should be, and accepting them for what they are. It took me a few chapters to really get into the story, but I think I needed the time to allow myself to become attached to the characters. Once I was attached, there was no putting the book down.

Annabelle Jacobs has more pressure and responsibility on her shoulders than any 16 year old should. Her mother, once an A-List actress, left a successful TV-show for bigger and better film roles that never came. Now her mother is not only a self-obsessed actress, but also utterly dependant on pills and alcohol to make it through the day. After being called in the middle of the night to bail her mom out of jail for a DUI, no one would have blamed Annabel for completely giving up hope that her mom could ever be the mom she once knew. But, The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is not about losing hope; it is about finding hope.

Every character in this novel is highly flawed with unique coping mechanism to make it through the day. Their process of riding themselves of these mechanisms, learning to depend and need other people, and really learning to trust again, is extraordinarily compelling. There are so many little things and little lines throughout, especially near the end when the characters have grown significantly, that are literally sheer perfection. I won’t quote any of the lines because they are so worth getting to and reading within context, but I had chills, and I cried, because I became so invested in the characters, their relationships and their growth, that I felt supremely proud and moved by how far they came.

There were many other great elements to the novel including genuine romance, but some of my favorite elements were Annabelle’s photography and the secondary characters. Annabelle’s photography really helped her come into her own and gain confidence in herself. It was nice that there was at least one constant positive in her life. While all the secondary characters really added to the novel, my favorite was by far Walter, Annabelle friends from Alateen (a group for kids with parents in AA). He offered an honest portrayal of what it is like to have a parent with an addiction, that I don’t think was possible for Annabelle’s mom to represent if the reader was expected to invest fully in their relationship. I appreciated Walter so much because he gave Annabelle a space where she could finally be honest with her experiences and feelings.

Books like this are why I love to read. The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is beautifully crafted with honest representations of the relationship struggles we all have at some point, especially the internal relationship we have with ourselves.

** I received a copy of this novel from the publisher to read and honestly review. I was in no way compensated.

This review and more like it are available at http://confessionsofanadultteenreader...

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review spoiler alert: I loved this book. A lot. I am not someone who’s at all obsessed with celebrity culture. I don’t want E! or any of those other shows, I don’t read tabloids or Perez Hilton, if I like a celebrity it’s because I like their work. So I guess I can’t necessarily vouch for how realistic this book is, but judging from what I hear without trying, it seems pretty true to life.

Annabelle’s mom was a successful actress on a TV sitcom, but she decides to leave the sitcom while she’s on top and try her hand at other things. That doesn’t work out so well and soon her mom is out of work and sitting around at home all day drinking and taking a variety of pills. My heart broke for Annabelle, who tries to hard to stop her mom from drinking and pretty much becomes the parent in their relationship.

There were many things I loved about Annabelle. I loved how she carried around Playdoh with her because the smell helped calm her down when she was stressed or on the verge of a panic attack. I also loved how she smelled the inside of Barbie’s heads for comfort (when my old job used to get really stressful I used to smell a root beer Smencil, it really did help calm me down, but people would walk into my office and look at me like I was nuts). I also really liked that Annabelle never felt sorry for herself, I mean her mom gets arrested and she has to go get her in the middle of the night while paparazzi take her photo, that’s really crappy. But Annabelle takes it in stride and really has a great outlook. Finally, I loved the references to Facebook and Pinterest. I know that dates books in the long run, but for the here and now I feel like it makes the story more real and relateable.

Ok, lets get into what I didn’t like. For maybe the first 30% of the book I thought the story was way too much in Annabelle’s head. And I liked Annabelle. But at about 30 or 40% of the way through I honestly thought I might not be able to finish. I wanted Annabelle to talk to someone or do something. And that happened and then I was really happy. Other dislike: the end. It all just tied together way too conveniently for me. Yes, I was happy for all the characters and they had been dragged through the dirt quite a bit, but it was a little too perfect for me.

But, those were all minor things compared to how much I enjoyed the rest of the book. This book is also hilarious. Even though I didn’t love all the of the stuff in Annabelle’s head, she was completely hilarious and snarky. Some of the things she though were exactly things I would have thought. And her descriptions were spot on, a favorite was when she described the young actor her mom flirts with as a cross between the Ryans (Gosling and Reynolds) and Brads (Cooper and Pitt). How great is that description?

Bottom Line: This is a great story about a daughter and her crazy mother. I think it appeals to those who are celebrity-obsessed and those like me who aren’t. Annabelle is a great character and her voice is very current and original, in addition to being totally hilarious. This is strong story that I really enjoyed.

I received an electronic copy of this title for review from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!). All opinions are my own.

[WJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a book about addiction and the impact that this has not just on the addict but the people around them. Because the book's set around Hollywood and acting sets, there's a bit of exploration about how a kid growing up around that kind of culture would be affected too. Our protagonist is sixteen year old Annabelle, daughter of famous sitcom actress Janie Jackson who ditched the show in order to become a famous movie actress. Only the movie gig didn't work out as Janie intended. Annabelle's mother has been abusing alcohol for many years and Annabelle has had to take care of her throughout, from checking for her mother's breath using a mirror to cancelling appointments with friends to stay at home. One night changes everything, the night when her mother's caught going down the wrong way in a highway and is sent to rehab. When things start to change Annabelle needs to ask herself if she is ready to let go of being the responsible adult in their relationship and start to take care of herself instead.

Robin Palmer has created a totally likable protagonist in Annabelle. Her circumstances were definitely less than ideal but the way she took care of her mother, her trying to be the best daughter possible was very easy to relate to. In fact it's actually really surprising how grounded Annabelle was compared to her superficial, fake friends from her high school. Annabelle is the exact opposite of Janie, who buys into New Age self-help books, has totally embarrassing car decals and has engaged in many failed relationships with men who run when they see how fallible she is. Basically what I'm trying to say is that Annabelle feels like a sixteen year old trying to do the best she can under the circumstances.

The plot development was great too and there's a lot of personal growth involved in the book. From the girl who was scared of letting the world see how messed up her family was, Annabelle gradually starts to let people in and even attends Alateen sessions, where she finally feels a sense of comradeship with other people her age understanding the things that she's gone through. Her friendship with Walter was really, really funny. Walter was so quirky and funny (though I think he really has to watch out when it comes to his diet). I really liked how her relationship with Matt went too, how she started letting him in and the mutual respect involved in their romance.

Mother-daughter relationships are one of the main focus in The Corner of Bitter and Sweet, with the relationship between Janie and Annabelle being explored in detail. Though Janie reads very much like the irresponsible, selfish teenager at the start of the book, by its end Janie's grown up some as well and instead of looking toward Annabelle for reassurance and love, Janie's willing to let her go to explore her talent. This book really was very bittersweet.

On a side note, I really have to admire Palmer's supporting cast especially Billy. Though the age difference between Janie and Billy was so large, I couldn't help but to root for them to work because of how wise and calm he seemed as compared to Janie's dramatics and craziness. Billy was definitely one of the high points of the book!

[Thia Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 Stars...

I don't really have much to say about this one. It was just alright, nothing memorable.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book at Dollar Tree, so I wasn't expecting much. I'm glad I picked it up.


Plot:

The plot overall was great. It had a very interesting setup and was something that I could on some level connect to. It was also refreshing to see a book that had the main focus of a non-romantic relationship--one about a mother and a daughter. In a way it sort of reminded me of a book I read earlier this year, White Oleander, though the relationship and plot were both very different.

The only downfall of this book really is that there were times in which the plot seemed to drag and I lost interest for a bit. The book got much better toward the second half.


Setting:

The first half of this book is set in colorful L.A. and the second mostly in the country of upstate New York. I enjoyed both settings, though it was easier to relate to the second (even though I haven't been to either). Both were described so well that they felt real.

Characters:

Annabelle came across as being very real. She had weird habits, like I'm sure we all have, and a quirky personality that I loved. I could relate well to her regarding having to deal with an alcoholic parent and that she tried to keep herself from opening to others. She also had great character development.

I also liked Annabelle's mother, Janice. Although Janice often comes across as narcissistic, annoying, and selfish, there's more to her character and as a whole she became very endearing. Her character development was pretty amazing.

Ben, Walter, Billy, and Matt were also good characters. I liked the addition of Matt's secret about his mother, though I would have loved to see more development of it. I really liked Billy once he became more of a major character.


Relationships:


The main relationship in this book is about Annabelle and Janice. It was complex, deep, and kept changing, just like it does in real life. It felt raw at times. Sometimes it felt so real that I would be confused once I came out of the book and back into real life. This is probably one of my most favorite mother and daughter relationships I've came across yet.

As for romantic relationships, I enjoyed the one between Janice and Billy. It came across as genuine and fun, and definitely a good move for both parties. It was interesting seeing Annabelle's opinion of the two change as well.

I liked Annabelle and Matt, though it's not a huge part of the book. They had a good start to a relationship, though I would have liked to see more about Matt and his mother and the secret about her.



Writing/Voice:

The writing was a little hard to get into at times, though it sounded like it was definitely coming from a teenager. Sometimes parts didn't flow well and I had to go back and re-read them. I loved the dialogue, though.


Ending:

I liked it but felt the epilogue was unnecessary though I guess it was nice to see how things had worked out for everyone.


Overall I'd give this book 4.5 stars. Great plot, fun characters, and realistic situations. If you want something serious yet with an edge of humor, this might be a great one to pick up. Check your local Dollar Tree first! ;)

[Alice in Readerland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on aliceinreaderland.com: "Things to keep in mind when waiting to bail out your mother from jail. Number one: small talk in police precincts is not necessary.”
The Corner of Bitter and Sweet has the open, hilarious narration like Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries and covers some deeper family issues and the topic of coming into your own, like Sarah Dessen’s books. There are so many fantastic, funny quotes from this book. But what else did I love about it?

The Main Character, Annabelle:
Annabelle had this humorous, wonderful narration that really gave a sense of who she was right off the bat. But I also loved that her character felt so fleshed out; she had quirks like making lists, she was really interested in photography, she was used to having to be responsible, she talked about having her first panic attack, she had conflicting emotions, and in short, she was real to me. She is definitely on my list of favorite YA leads.

Annabelle’s Relationship with Her Mother:
I also really enjoyed exploring Annabelle’s relationship with her mother, Janie. In so many YA books I’ve read lately, the parents have either been absent, or if they are in the story, they’ve been portrayed as unloving. But The Corner of Bitter and Sweet brings out a much different aspect. Janie messes a lot up and would definitely not win the Mother of the Year award in the beginning of the book, but what I liked was how she started to turn her life around and how much she loved her daughter. She made mistakes, but she tried to fix them, and I enjoyed watching how Annabelle and Janie both had such character development throughout the course of the book, both as individuals, and as to where their relationship stood.

Here, have some gifs of some mother-daughter duos:










Cynical Cindy Says:
My one complaint about the book is that, near the beginning, we’re introduced to Annabelle’s friends and learn all of their names and quirks, but (minor spoiler) we don’t really see them again as they ditch Annabelle, so I felt that learning about them could’ve been cut out of the book.

Both hilarious and heartwarming, The Corner of Bitter and Sweet will definitely be making an appearance on my end of the year Best Books of 2013 list!

What are some of your favorite fictional mother/daughter relationships?

**This review originally appeared on ALICE IN READERLAND (aliceinreaderland.com)**

[Kinzey · Rating 5 out of 5]

That this book is very good and a lot of detail.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

One look at the cover of this book and I knew I had to read it. So when a copy arrived in the mail for me, I did a little happy dance, then immediately dove into the story. And wow, the story I got was definitely not what I was expecting at all.

Annabelle has been taking care of her mom for so long, she can barely remember a time where her mom was the one taking care of her. As the daughter of a famous actress, Annabelle has grown up in the spotlight, trying to live life while hiding the fact that her mom's an alcoholic. So when her mom gets a DUI for driving on the wrong side of the highway, Annabelle needs to find a way to get her mom's life back together before their lives fall apart for good.

I had no idea this book would be so centered around the relationship between Annabelle and her mother. I ended up really enjoying reading about Annabelle's character though. While her obsession with smelling play-doh and Barbie heads was really weird, her personality was really fun and so easy to connect with. All Annabelle wants is a normal life, yet her mom kind of makes that impossible. It's great seeing how she copes with her mom being pretty much crazy.

The first half of the book took awhile to get through because it was mostly Annabelle complaining about her mom and how she's self centered and can't take care of herself. But once we get over all that and her mom gets a DUI, things get really interesting and actually start going somewhere. Annabelle's life changes and I really liked seeing her embrace a new life where she becomes friends with the people she least expected to bond with. Oh, and the photography aspect of her life was really cool too. It was great how she dealt with all of her stress and emotions through photography.

By the end of the book, I really enjoyed reading about Annabelle and her family's journey towards getting their lives together. While the book had a slow start, things finally pick up and there's even a little romance thrown in, which is always a plus for me. And I definitely felt that Gilmore Girls vibe with the whole mother-daughter relationship. Not to mention the added Hollywood aspect made things fun and much more interesting. So overall, this one was a great read that deals with both the heavy, emotional side of family and the fun, crazy side of life in Hollywood.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Speak for giving me an ARC of this book

2.5

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is such a frustrating novel. It's a story about a yuppie girl and her famous mom and their trials and tribulations. Well, part of that is true, but it's more about Annabelle's relationship with her dysfunctional mother... to a degree.

I think my issue with this book is that it doesn't push the issue of addiction hard enough. It's easy to have sympathy for someone as neglected as Annabelle, she's earned it in a lot of ways. I found for me personally, the writing was surprisingly dull and Annabelle's voice never fully captured me the way I wanted to. The characters were very lifeless, and they even came across bored to me.

Part of telling an emotional story is actually making it something to feel emotionally invested in. Frankly, I wanted to punch Josie I don't know how many times, not just on her poor parenting skills, but the fact that it takes her so long to get over her nonsense, and even in a way, I don't feel like she truly believes she's over it either. You have so much sympathy for Annabelle, but the one wrapped in the addiction behaviour, Josie (her mother), is impossible in some ways to feel sorry for -- she deserves in a lot of ways what happens to her, and that frankly didn't make me connect with her at all.

Addiction is a difficult subject to focus on because it's something you watch spiral and Annabelle is portrayed in the right way in a sense: she starts off feeling helpless, then she makes her demands and it's done fairly well. What I didn't like that Palmer did was throw in a romance for the sake of having one: it didn't really develop the story, nor develop Annabelle as a character. Matt was so flat and came across too "Me too!" in a lot of ways. I didn't buy it no matter how much the story wanted me to.

Then there's the ending, which is just flat with a pink bow tied around it. I guess in a way I was expecting more of a strong resolve at the end, and I didn't feel like the novel delivered entirely. As someone who has dealt with addictions in her family, I guess I was expecting to have a stronger connection to the novel then I actual did, which is a shame because the premise sounded better than the execution.

Also the Gilmore Girls comparison? Yeah, it doesn't exist in this story. At all.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fantastic "The Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Robin Palmer is so clued in to the behind the scenes life of a former top TV star, Janie Jackson and her teen age daughter, Annabelle, it reads like a memoir. Janie walked away from a hit TV show to pursue her art and a movie career which tanked with 3rd rate comedies. She drinks, a LOT, and takes pills and lives by a whole library's worth of self-help and New Age feel good books which she can quote whenever the need arises.
Annabelle narrates her traumatic life story and her attempts at normalcy and her hope that some day maybe her mother will start being a breakfast serving, cookie baking type of Mom instead of having her mug shot for DUI plastered all over the gossip mags and show biz sites, which is where our story begins. In the Santa Monica Police Station with Annabelle and her mother's lawyer and family best friend, Ben, waiting to bail her out. What happens to Annabelle as she tries to make sense of all the drama makes for one of the most insightful, funny and poignant books of the year.

The author, Ms. Palmer, worked in Hollywood and the TV industry for 10 years and that knowledge pays off through Annabelle's insiders look at the world she lives in. The world of Hollywood stars and has-beens, of the exclusive school where her vapid friends fill their days with gossip, eating disorders and shopping and where she tries to fit in, but once her cache of having a superstar mom seems to have vanished... she finds those friends avoiding her.

Will Annabelle survive the craziness of living life in her mother's spotlight? She does have one thing of her own that helps to keep her sane, (and not the hilarious Play Doh huffing and Barbie head sniffing she retreats to when things get overwhelming). She's a photographer. One with her own personal POV. Will that be enough to save her? Grab a copy and find out, because this is a book you'll want to own, and re-read and quote from, it's that good!!

From the Militant Recommender Book Review blog
http://militantrecommender.blogspot.com/