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.

Goodreads Summary

Annabelle Jackson is the daughter of a star...well, former star.  Her mother, Janie Jackson, is a flightly, flirty nincompoop.  After being arrested for drunk driving, Janie vows to turn her life around and enters rehab.  Although the drinking does appear to have stopped, Janie picked up a new habit: self-help books.  Meanwhile, Annabelle is left to pick up the pieces of her mother's latest failure.  She makes lists and smells play-doh to calm herself.  When it is clear that her mother's career might not be "the hottest thing" anymore, two of her best friends take off.  Annabelle must do something to rectify these negative changes in her life, but what?  When an opportunity to star in a movie with the famous Billy comes along, Annabelle convinces him to ask to let her mother try out for a lead part.  Can her mother handle the pressure and avoid hitting on her much younger co-star?  Can Annabelle learn to grow into herself and lose her nervous habits?


Annabelle's character was the main draw in this novel.  The author infuses her with personality in the sense that the reader can smell play-doh along with her (and certain colors are better than others, you know), feel the nervous energy surrounding her character, and root for her when the going gets rough.  Annabelle is one of those characters that has unforgettable quirks; she has true "character" (pun intended).  Annabelle's mother, on the other hand, is an annoyance.  She acts like someone half her age...even like a two year-old, at times.  Her alcoholic ways and vanity are not attractive in the least; though she has a redeeming trait in that she does truly appear to love Annabelle.  Billy, Janie's co-star, is a bit of an enigma.  The reader will wonder if he truly likes Janie or if he's putting on a show.  The other characters are fun to read about and mostly likable.

Overall, if a reader is looking for a fun book to pick up in preparation for summer, The Corner of Bitter and Sweet is perfect. With Hollywood themes and a coming-of-age plot, teens and young adults are sure to enjoy this novel.

4 Stars

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