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The Bitter End Birding Society
Hometown hero Ana Leigh Watkins ventures to Bitter End, Tennessee, to help her great-aunt get her house ready to sell. Bitter End seems an ironic place for Ana to refresh her weary spirit, but she's desperate for respite from her community's attention and unwarranted admiration. While on a hike in Roan Mountain, a ragtag group of amateur bird watchers take her under their wing--a little against her will. However, she quickly warms to these genuine souls seeking solace in the great outdoors.
But when Ana's adventures in Bitter End lead her to a severed branch of her family tree--one that involves the forbidden love between a moonshiner's daughter and a preacher's son--what began as a quest to study Appalachian birds becomes a transformative journey that binds together two women who, though they live on the same street, have been estranged for sixty years.
Immerse yourself in the lyrical prose and layered plotting of award-winning novelist Amanda Cox as she offers up an engaging story of finding belonging, reconciliation, and new beginnings in the most unexpected places.
But when Ana's adventures in Bitter End lead her to a severed branch of her family tree--one that involves the forbidden love between a moonshiner's daughter and a preacher's son--what began as a quest to study Appalachian birds becomes a transformative journey that binds together two women who, though they live on the same street, have been estranged for sixty years.
Immerse yourself in the lyrical prose and layered plotting of award-winning novelist Amanda Cox as she offers up an engaging story of finding belonging, reconciliation, and new beginnings in the most unexpected places.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2025
45 people are currently reading
6707 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Cox
14 books1,029 followersAmanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, both of which were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in the foothills of Tennesee with her husband and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
August 31, 2025
In this story, you will find:
✌🏻Dual POV
✨Past/present Timeline
❤️Hope & healing
✝️Faith elements
🤭Humor
🐕Dog companion
👨👩👧👧Family dynamics
💫Dash of mystery
The Bitter End Birding Society is a beautifully written dual-timeline story filled with deeper themes, faith-centered moments, humor, and a whole lot of heart. It’s endearing and uplifting, exploring the power of love, family, and God through well-drawn characters full of depth. Some characters you’ll love right away, some will make you laugh or frustrate you, but in the end, you grow to love them all.
I love books that incorporate relatable characters and themes, ones that aren’t afraid to include harder-hitting topics, and Amanda does just that. She has a true talent for blending pain and struggles with hope, healing, and forgiveness. She does an amazing job at handling delicate themes with care and grace, where the story never leaves you feeling heavy or sad, but rather full of hope, with the beautiful messages intertwined.
"𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝."
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted, feel-good story that will make you laugh, make you think, and leave you wanting to learn more about birds✨
Thank you, Amanda Cox, Revell, and Netgalley, for a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Content to consider: [None of these are descriptive/heavy]
A few kisses, Grief, Loss of a loved one. Illness, Murder accusation, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Mention of a shooting (not detailed), Mention of a miscarriage (not detailed), car accident
✌🏻Dual POV
✨Past/present Timeline
❤️Hope & healing
✝️Faith elements
🤭Humor
🐕Dog companion
👨👩👧👧Family dynamics
💫Dash of mystery
The Bitter End Birding Society is a beautifully written dual-timeline story filled with deeper themes, faith-centered moments, humor, and a whole lot of heart. It’s endearing and uplifting, exploring the power of love, family, and God through well-drawn characters full of depth. Some characters you’ll love right away, some will make you laugh or frustrate you, but in the end, you grow to love them all.
I love books that incorporate relatable characters and themes, ones that aren’t afraid to include harder-hitting topics, and Amanda does just that. She has a true talent for blending pain and struggles with hope, healing, and forgiveness. She does an amazing job at handling delicate themes with care and grace, where the story never leaves you feeling heavy or sad, but rather full of hope, with the beautiful messages intertwined.
"𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝."
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted, feel-good story that will make you laugh, make you think, and leave you wanting to learn more about birds✨
Thank you, Amanda Cox, Revell, and Netgalley, for a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Content to consider: [None of these are descriptive/heavy]
A few kisses, Grief, Loss of a loved one. Illness, Murder accusation, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Mention of a shooting (not detailed), Mention of a miscarriage (not detailed), car accident
August 17, 2025
This is a ‘forever shelf’ story!
The Bitter End Birding Society surprised me, pulled at my heartstrings, and left me with a ‘to-do’ list for present and future personal growth. I enjoyed this one so much because I saw bits of myself in ALL the characters.
Imagine going to a place called Bitter End for a fresh start!
Ana Watkins is a Kindergarten teacher who’s running away from her life after a traumatic experience in the classroom. She ends up in Bitter End for the summer - and it changes her life. Instead of the R & R she imagined, she gets caught up in a decades-old feud tied to forbidden love between a moonshiner’s daughter and a preacher’s son.
Unravelling the intertwined lineage made for a compelling read; the dual timeline was a great choice as we get to see the effects of a single choice echoed through the generations.
Three things:
1) Joy is an important survival skill; we can learn so much from birds!
2) We don’t need to be defined by our brokenness.
3) Look for opportunities for growth and grace instead of evidence of failure
The characters were AMAZING! Some stayed for the duration of the novel, some for half, and some just popped in once - all had a purpose and a lesson for readers. I loved that there were two teachers and appreciated their lessons and advice; Marylin’s, especially.
I can’t say enough about this quiet, unassuming book. It’s worthy of all the stars and I can’t wait to share it with others.
I was gifted this copy by Revell and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The Bitter End Birding Society surprised me, pulled at my heartstrings, and left me with a ‘to-do’ list for present and future personal growth. I enjoyed this one so much because I saw bits of myself in ALL the characters.
Imagine going to a place called Bitter End for a fresh start!
Ana Watkins is a Kindergarten teacher who’s running away from her life after a traumatic experience in the classroom. She ends up in Bitter End for the summer - and it changes her life. Instead of the R & R she imagined, she gets caught up in a decades-old feud tied to forbidden love between a moonshiner’s daughter and a preacher’s son.
Unravelling the intertwined lineage made for a compelling read; the dual timeline was a great choice as we get to see the effects of a single choice echoed through the generations.
Three things:
1) Joy is an important survival skill; we can learn so much from birds!
2) We don’t need to be defined by our brokenness.
3) Look for opportunities for growth and grace instead of evidence of failure
The characters were AMAZING! Some stayed for the duration of the novel, some for half, and some just popped in once - all had a purpose and a lesson for readers. I loved that there were two teachers and appreciated their lessons and advice; Marylin’s, especially.
I can’t say enough about this quiet, unassuming book. It’s worthy of all the stars and I can’t wait to share it with others.
I was gifted this copy by Revell and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 12, 2025
Have you ever read a book at the right time and it made its message even more poignant? That’s this book for me.
My first time reading Amanda Cox, and it most certainly won’t be the last. I loved this story from beginning to end, how the past intertwined with the present, how redemption and healing coincided with the need to forgive oneself and others.
I think this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read this year. Not to mention, Amanda’s love for nature showed so clearly through her depictions of birds. And if you know me, I’m a fellow birder myself.
In short, I adored this book and it’s now a new favorite. Also, the romance was incredibly subtle and perfect in my opinion. If you go into this book expecting more, here’s your warning that it’s mostly friendship with a promise of more :)
I’m so grateful to Revel for gifting me a copy of this book so I could review it. All opinions expressed are my own.
My first time reading Amanda Cox, and it most certainly won’t be the last. I loved this story from beginning to end, how the past intertwined with the present, how redemption and healing coincided with the need to forgive oneself and others.
I think this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read this year. Not to mention, Amanda’s love for nature showed so clearly through her depictions of birds. And if you know me, I’m a fellow birder myself.
In short, I adored this book and it’s now a new favorite. Also, the romance was incredibly subtle and perfect in my opinion. If you go into this book expecting more, here’s your warning that it’s mostly friendship with a promise of more :)
I’m so grateful to Revel for gifting me a copy of this book so I could review it. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 19, 2025
4.5 stars ✨
-- "Sometimes things don't come to a tidy conclusion. Words are left unsaid. Things are left undone. But this life is not the end."
The daughter of a moonshiner and the son of a preacher - it was a forbidden romance from the very start. The choices they made would greatly impact both families far longer into the future than they could have expected.
THE BITTER END BIRDING SOCIETY is a story of healing and how to live without letting past experiences define one's life. I had no idea what to expect going into this book but am very happy I read it! Amanda Cox is not an author I've read much of yet, but after reading this book I will definitely be picking up more of her stories.
Amanda Cox tackles a lot of hard topics - generational hurt, estrangement, making poor or difficult choices, moving on from traumatic experiences, & PTSD, to name a few - and she gracefully handles them from a solid Biblical perspective. This character-driven novel is not a fluff read by any means, yet it also isn't a heavy or weighted read either. Each of the main characters have something holding them back from living life to it's full potential. This book is a reminder to the reader that what holds us back from living a life of joy is often not the outward circumstances or difficulties we face, but the perspective and attitudes we cling to regarding those circumstances.
-- "Before Bitter End, those conflicting descriptions had overwhelmed her heart with shame. But now the spaces between who she was and who she'd like to be looked like opportunities for growth and grace instead of evidence of failure."
I did find that the story took a bit to take off, even though I was fully invested from reading the prologue already. Although this book is filled in the last half with birds and experiences shared by the birding society, it took a while before the society even came up, making me wonder at first what the title had to do with the book. Like I said though, that prologue had me hooked and even though I was confused, I couldn't put it down.
*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed are purely my own.
-- "Sometimes things don't come to a tidy conclusion. Words are left unsaid. Things are left undone. But this life is not the end."
The daughter of a moonshiner and the son of a preacher - it was a forbidden romance from the very start. The choices they made would greatly impact both families far longer into the future than they could have expected.
THE BITTER END BIRDING SOCIETY is a story of healing and how to live without letting past experiences define one's life. I had no idea what to expect going into this book but am very happy I read it! Amanda Cox is not an author I've read much of yet, but after reading this book I will definitely be picking up more of her stories.
Amanda Cox tackles a lot of hard topics - generational hurt, estrangement, making poor or difficult choices, moving on from traumatic experiences, & PTSD, to name a few - and she gracefully handles them from a solid Biblical perspective. This character-driven novel is not a fluff read by any means, yet it also isn't a heavy or weighted read either. Each of the main characters have something holding them back from living life to it's full potential. This book is a reminder to the reader that what holds us back from living a life of joy is often not the outward circumstances or difficulties we face, but the perspective and attitudes we cling to regarding those circumstances.
-- "Before Bitter End, those conflicting descriptions had overwhelmed her heart with shame. But now the spaces between who she was and who she'd like to be looked like opportunities for growth and grace instead of evidence of failure."
I did find that the story took a bit to take off, even though I was fully invested from reading the prologue already. Although this book is filled in the last half with birds and experiences shared by the birding society, it took a while before the society even came up, making me wonder at first what the title had to do with the book. Like I said though, that prologue had me hooked and even though I was confused, I couldn't put it down.
*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed are purely my own.
August 15, 2025
"Birds sing to defend their territory. They sing to call for help, to warn, and to let others know they're safe. A male with a large repertoire uses his singing skills to prove himself a worthy mate. And if I had to wager, I think birds sing for the joy of it...Because joy is an important survival skill too."
The Bitter End Birding Society is a lovely split-time narrative. In the present, we follow Ana, a kindergarten teacher still recovering from the aftermath of a school shooting. In search of healing, she goes to spend the summer helping her great-aunt pack up her family home before moving to a retirement community. In the late 50s we follow Viola, Ana’s grandmother. It was in Viola’s part of the tale that we saw the most mystery and drama, Ana’s in which we witnessed the most healing and laughter. Through the eyes of both we see the mingled beauty and brokenness of the small town of Bitter End, tucked into the mountains of Tennessee. Both plot lines start on something of a traumatic note, but then lighten up somewhat from there.
"Sometimes things don't come to a tidy conclusion. Words are left unsaid. Things are left undone. But this life is not the end... Our present circumstances, our perceived failures, they are not final."
The themes in this story were beautifully handled. Cox portrays broken relationships with kindness and empathy, and we see how devastating those breaks can be. Specifically in regards to broken friendships, and how that kind of loss can continue to impact a person decades down the road. Balancing that brokenness is an emphasis on forgiveness—of those we love the most and those who hurt us the deepest, who are often one and the same. And of those who disappoint us the greatest, especially when that person is ourself.
"Because when a wound remained unhealed and untended, it had a way of warping time, keeping painful memories close to the surface."
The humor blended into the harder topics being explored was a lovely, needed addition. I love all of the backstories and theories as to how Bitter End got its name. I also like the Southern slang threaded throughout the book--like calling Walmart Wally World, or phrases like "butter my butt and call me a biscuit." Because we use both of these where I live, and more examples found between the pages of this story. And I adored the eponymous Bitter End Birding Society. It's beautiful how a diverse group of people with little in common can bond and heal and grow though a shared passion, one that none of them had initially or innately.
"Though it wasn't a chapel, the place had felt holy. The thump of her ailing heart had kept time with the jubilant, hopeful song of God's creation, reminding her even in a broken world, there was still wonder and delight to be found."
The Bitter End Birding Society is a lovely story, well-crafted with a compelling cast and a light but vital thread of faith coursing through the narrative. And any book that underscores my already deep and abiding appreciation for God’s workmanship through nature carries a little piece of my heart with it after I read its final pages. This was the first novel I read from Cox, but I definitely won’t be my last.
"Nature had a way of breaking down walls built by human hands. Gently, gradually. Not with wrecking balls but by infusing life.
Maybe that was why this group was drawn to nature. It was a living example of what they all craved. Little by little, tenaciously reclaiming life.”
July 19, 2025
Wow. More than 5 stars for this book. Amanda Cox is an extraordinary author! The way she crafted this story with its dual timelines that brought the hurt and brokenness of the past to healing and restoration touched my heart.
The characters are written brilliantly! They are relatable and I soon found myself wrapped up in their lives. Viola is a complex character. She loves her family and life in Bitter End but she also wants to travel and find love. She does find love in church of all places! Cora touched my heart the most. It seems like she has to endure one sad circumstance after another. I'm so glad that she found healing for her heart.
Bitter End certainly lives up to its name. But, it also becomes a place that offers respite and peace.
I enjoyed learning about birding. It's been an interest of mine for a while!
I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Revell via Netgalley through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The characters are written brilliantly! They are relatable and I soon found myself wrapped up in their lives. Viola is a complex character. She loves her family and life in Bitter End but she also wants to travel and find love. She does find love in church of all places! Cora touched my heart the most. It seems like she has to endure one sad circumstance after another. I'm so glad that she found healing for her heart.
Bitter End certainly lives up to its name. But, it also becomes a place that offers respite and peace.
I enjoyed learning about birding. It's been an interest of mine for a while!
I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Revell via Netgalley through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 12, 2025
If you have never read an Amanda Cox’s books, stop reading this and go find one. You can thank me later.
Once again Cox’s pens a folksy story that draws you into their world and you want to just stay there forever. Ana and her kindergarten class suffered a trauma that no one should ever be part of. Many have declared her a hero, but she knows she was no hero. She is taking a summer to get to know her aunt better and help her clear out her house so Cora can move to a retirement home.
So start the Bitter end Birding Society. A delightful book that is not only filled with some hurting people, but also very real and quirky. Cox makes her characters not only believable but ones you want to hang out. She makes her stories a place where you can heal also. They are beautifully written and are a place to go and rest.
Once again Cox’s pens a folksy story that draws you into their world and you want to just stay there forever. Ana and her kindergarten class suffered a trauma that no one should ever be part of. Many have declared her a hero, but she knows she was no hero. She is taking a summer to get to know her aunt better and help her clear out her house so Cora can move to a retirement home.
So start the Bitter end Birding Society. A delightful book that is not only filled with some hurting people, but also very real and quirky. Cox makes her characters not only believable but ones you want to hang out. She makes her stories a place where you can heal also. They are beautifully written and are a place to go and rest.
September 26, 2025
ARC REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Amanda Cox’s The Bitter End Birding Society depicts a small community as they come together to aid in forgiveness, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Kindergarten teacher, Ana Leigh Watkins, has decided to forge her traditional summer vacation for manual labor in a small town. Heading to Bitter End, Tennessee she hopes the secluded environment will offer a soft landing after a difficult school year. But when she learns her great-aunt will be leaving her all alone, the past she is trying to flee quickly catches up to her. Will she survive the lonely existence via the charity of strangers, or will she flee home in search of solace?
Told through dual timelines and multiple POVs, this novel eloquently demonstrates natures ability to nurture the human spirit. It is no coincidence that birds play a large role in the story. Cox herself often compares the animal to people. While birds’ trials and tribulations are not equal to that of humans, they do face many of the same obstacles. Therefore, we can gleam insight simply by observing their practices.
While the book deals with difficult subject matter (a school shooting, generational trauma, illnesses, death, etc.), the overarching takeaway is that of HOPE. Every single member of the Bitter End Bird Society ended the book better off than when they started. However, this would not have been possible without undergoing drastic character development. As a result, they chose to focus on the prevailing beauty in what is often a dark world.
Special thanks to Netgalley, Revell, and Amanda Cox for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Amanda Cox’s The Bitter End Birding Society depicts a small community as they come together to aid in forgiveness, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Kindergarten teacher, Ana Leigh Watkins, has decided to forge her traditional summer vacation for manual labor in a small town. Heading to Bitter End, Tennessee she hopes the secluded environment will offer a soft landing after a difficult school year. But when she learns her great-aunt will be leaving her all alone, the past she is trying to flee quickly catches up to her. Will she survive the lonely existence via the charity of strangers, or will she flee home in search of solace?
Told through dual timelines and multiple POVs, this novel eloquently demonstrates natures ability to nurture the human spirit. It is no coincidence that birds play a large role in the story. Cox herself often compares the animal to people. While birds’ trials and tribulations are not equal to that of humans, they do face many of the same obstacles. Therefore, we can gleam insight simply by observing their practices.
While the book deals with difficult subject matter (a school shooting, generational trauma, illnesses, death, etc.), the overarching takeaway is that of HOPE. Every single member of the Bitter End Bird Society ended the book better off than when they started. However, this would not have been possible without undergoing drastic character development. As a result, they chose to focus on the prevailing beauty in what is often a dark world.
Special thanks to Netgalley, Revell, and Amanda Cox for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 31, 2025
OVERALL STAR RATING: 3/5
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
This story brings a lot of mystery and intrigue. Right from the start we meet our FMC, Ana, and find she’s going through a lot of trauma involving a very serious event that happened in her place of work. She doesn’t hesitate to run off to Bitter End, TN to help her aunt. She’s desperate for something to keep her from a mental spiral. What she finds in Bitter End, TN, however, is a lot more than she bargained for.
The dual timeline format will keep you guessing. This family clearly has skeletons in the closet. Forbidden love and family drama abound, but strong healing themes of unlikely friendship will move this story in a direction that will cause you to pause and realize nobody is TOO broken. It’s never too late to mend fractures in life.
While I enjoy deep and slow-paced reads, this one did feel a little slower than I had anticipated, causing me to have a hard time connecting with some of the characters. Due to the disconnect I felt as though I was struggling to become fully immersed in the story. That being said - if you love nature and are craving a story that will bring lessons of growth and restoration, this book might just be for you. I loved the message of hope this author was providing within the pages.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
This story brings a lot of mystery and intrigue. Right from the start we meet our FMC, Ana, and find she’s going through a lot of trauma involving a very serious event that happened in her place of work. She doesn’t hesitate to run off to Bitter End, TN to help her aunt. She’s desperate for something to keep her from a mental spiral. What she finds in Bitter End, TN, however, is a lot more than she bargained for.
The dual timeline format will keep you guessing. This family clearly has skeletons in the closet. Forbidden love and family drama abound, but strong healing themes of unlikely friendship will move this story in a direction that will cause you to pause and realize nobody is TOO broken. It’s never too late to mend fractures in life.
While I enjoy deep and slow-paced reads, this one did feel a little slower than I had anticipated, causing me to have a hard time connecting with some of the characters. Due to the disconnect I felt as though I was struggling to become fully immersed in the story. That being said - if you love nature and are craving a story that will bring lessons of growth and restoration, this book might just be for you. I loved the message of hope this author was providing within the pages.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
September 27, 2025
The Bitter End Birding Society is a beautiful story of hope and forgiveness, with a wonderful blend of mystery and humor. I appreciated the spiritual elements, and loved the theme of the power of nature to heal wounded hearts and souls.
The characters were well developed. With their flawed personalities, I found them to be very endearing and relatable.
I enjoy books that give me all the feels, and this one did just that. There were some lovely insightful moments that made me reflect on my own emotional and spiritual growth.
I know very little about bird watching, but found it very interesting, and I appreciated the way it helped the characters to come together in friendship and support of each other.
I thought the mystery was well done, and I enjoyed the dual timeline between the present day and the 1950s. The author did a great job in weaving them together.
This is a great choice for those who enjoy inspirational stories of healing, friendship, and a slow burn mystery. I loved it!
I received a gifted copy but a positive review was not required.
The characters were well developed. With their flawed personalities, I found them to be very endearing and relatable.
I enjoy books that give me all the feels, and this one did just that. There were some lovely insightful moments that made me reflect on my own emotional and spiritual growth.
I know very little about bird watching, but found it very interesting, and I appreciated the way it helped the characters to come together in friendship and support of each other.
I thought the mystery was well done, and I enjoyed the dual timeline between the present day and the 1950s. The author did a great job in weaving them together.
This is a great choice for those who enjoy inspirational stories of healing, friendship, and a slow burn mystery. I loved it!
I received a gifted copy but a positive review was not required.
August 20, 2025
Heartfelt and Genuine…A Must Read-
If you like mountain tales and southern fiction, this one is special. Amanda Cox intricately weaves past with present in this redeeming tale of healing and forgiveness. At its core, two families with opposing beliefs and opposing purpose…leading to unspeakable pain, broken friendships and lost family connections.
Cox delivers a poignant story with expert pacing, a beautiful spiritual arc and parallel themes, tying it up with a community of misfits…each unknowingly needing to heal from their own experiences. Each finding resolve to move on in a way they would have never chosen themselves. Dear Marilyn. You are a wise one.
This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.
If you like mountain tales and southern fiction, this one is special. Amanda Cox intricately weaves past with present in this redeeming tale of healing and forgiveness. At its core, two families with opposing beliefs and opposing purpose…leading to unspeakable pain, broken friendships and lost family connections.
Cox delivers a poignant story with expert pacing, a beautiful spiritual arc and parallel themes, tying it up with a community of misfits…each unknowingly needing to heal from their own experiences. Each finding resolve to move on in a way they would have never chosen themselves. Dear Marilyn. You are a wise one.
This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.
August 11, 2025
This is the 5th book by this incredible author. Amanda Cox is also a homeschooling mom to boot! She weaves interesting plots as well as lovable characters together seamlessly. I loved both of the story lines she had going & I can’t pick just one favorite character as there were so many memorable ones! Even the birding society was unique & lovely!! This just might be my all time favorite of all her books. It’s a must read for sure!!
July 13, 2025
Thank you to the author, Amanda Cox, and Revell for an ARC copy of The Bitter End Birding Society. The Bitter End Birding Society is a delightful story that completely captured my heart. The characters are well written and full of depth. The main character, Ana Leigh Watkins, runs away from a personal tragedy for the summer. In a small town in Bitter End, Tennessee, she not only finds a piece of her long-lost family history, but she also finds an interesting group of amateur bird lovers. It's through her family ties, her new friends, and her relationship with God that she finds strength. The story is full of charm and the wonderful balance of humor and emotion kept me turning pages and eager to see what happens next. This book felt both comforting and meaningful in the best ways. I enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-crafted, feel-good story with real heart.
August 20, 2025
If you want a book that explores the depths of human emotion, the tension between who you thought you were and who you want to be, and how fragile and beautiful life is in all it's facets, this is your book!! Amanda Cox never fails to draw me into her stories, and The Bitter End Birding Society was one that left me full of hope and with a greater appreciation for the hidden wonders of life. The quirky characters one expects in Amanda's novels were on point, and had me laughing along with their antics. This book was so relatable, not only because I also work in education, but because it plumbs the depths of the universal human language of suffering and the beauty of forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and hope. Readers will find themselves pondering these questions and healing right alongside Ana, Cora, Sam, and Marilyn-- and changed for the better because of it.
October 6, 2025
This book reminded me why I fell for this Amanda Cox writing. She brought all the feelings that I felt when I read her first book The Edge of Belonging back with her newest book The Bitter End Birding Society. She captivated me and had me turning the pages so fast I was so sad when the story was over.
The story is written in dual timelines and its filled with all the emotions. The past takes you to the late 50's to the Appalachian mountains and we encounter Viola who happens to be Ana's grandmother. She is the daughter of a moonshiner who falls in love with the preacher's son. It is in this timeline where I feel we feel the most heartache, mystery and drama. In the present timeline we meet Ana who is a Kindergarten teacher recovering from the aftermath of a school shooting. She heads to Tennessee to spend the summer with her great aunt and helping her get the house settled before her aunts move to a retirement community. In her timeline is where we experience the God's healing, grace, forgiveness and laughter!
Gosh so many emotions are felt throughout this book. And I don't want to ruin it for you because this is definitely a must read but Amanda truly captures the feelings of a broken family but she does it in a way that is full of empathy. She shows us the impacts it has spanning through years and how people live with that hurt. The humor that was interwoven throughout gave us a relief from the heaviness of the topic and I absolutely love the addition of the bird watching. This society of random people was beautiful to see especially how they encouraged each other and all because of their love for birds.
I absolutely enjoyed this story. It was very well written and definitely a book I am recommending to all!
I received a copy of this book for review. All views expressed are my own.
The story is written in dual timelines and its filled with all the emotions. The past takes you to the late 50's to the Appalachian mountains and we encounter Viola who happens to be Ana's grandmother. She is the daughter of a moonshiner who falls in love with the preacher's son. It is in this timeline where I feel we feel the most heartache, mystery and drama. In the present timeline we meet Ana who is a Kindergarten teacher recovering from the aftermath of a school shooting. She heads to Tennessee to spend the summer with her great aunt and helping her get the house settled before her aunts move to a retirement community. In her timeline is where we experience the God's healing, grace, forgiveness and laughter!
Gosh so many emotions are felt throughout this book. And I don't want to ruin it for you because this is definitely a must read but Amanda truly captures the feelings of a broken family but she does it in a way that is full of empathy. She shows us the impacts it has spanning through years and how people live with that hurt. The humor that was interwoven throughout gave us a relief from the heaviness of the topic and I absolutely love the addition of the bird watching. This society of random people was beautiful to see especially how they encouraged each other and all because of their love for birds.
I absolutely enjoyed this story. It was very well written and definitely a book I am recommending to all!
I received a copy of this book for review. All views expressed are my own.
July 13, 2025
I'm not sure I've ever been hooked so quickly just reading a prologue as I was with this story, and the rest of the book did not disappoint.
True to this author's style, in The Bitter End Birding Society, she married tragedy and difficult life circumstances with redemption and forgiveness, all while taking the reader on an emotional journey to a satisfying, hope-filled ending.
This dual timeline story is not just a book about birdwatching. In fact, we don't really see much about the birding society until the latter half of the book. What we do find is a story filled with deep themes and the author's heart, soul, and faith pouring out through lyrical, quotable moments that make you stop and ponder the deeper meaning of life and the beauty that can blossom despite, and maybe even because of, the hardships we face in this world.
Some of those quotes include:
"What had once been fierce and full of fight inside her chest was light and wispy, as if it was liable to float away like down feathers on the wind."
"Just this once she'd let all she'd been stuffing down spill out. Maybe then she could finally sort through the mess and decide which parts of herself she was meant to keep and let the creek water wash the rest way."
"Just because something is lost doesn't change its worth."
"Real sacrifice don't happen cause you wanna be appreciated. It's done cause it's what's best for somebody else."
"Chilled and tired and aching as they all were, peace found them beneath that crowded overhang, wrapping them in the knowledge that storms end and mornings come."
Do you see what I mean? And that's just a sampling of the richness in this story.
If you're a fan of meaningful fiction with characters who are real and authentic and make you think deeply about life, you don't want to miss Amanda Cox's newest offering!
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All thoughts expressed are my own.
True to this author's style, in The Bitter End Birding Society, she married tragedy and difficult life circumstances with redemption and forgiveness, all while taking the reader on an emotional journey to a satisfying, hope-filled ending.
This dual timeline story is not just a book about birdwatching. In fact, we don't really see much about the birding society until the latter half of the book. What we do find is a story filled with deep themes and the author's heart, soul, and faith pouring out through lyrical, quotable moments that make you stop and ponder the deeper meaning of life and the beauty that can blossom despite, and maybe even because of, the hardships we face in this world.
Some of those quotes include:
"What had once been fierce and full of fight inside her chest was light and wispy, as if it was liable to float away like down feathers on the wind."
"Just this once she'd let all she'd been stuffing down spill out. Maybe then she could finally sort through the mess and decide which parts of herself she was meant to keep and let the creek water wash the rest way."
"Just because something is lost doesn't change its worth."
"Real sacrifice don't happen cause you wanna be appreciated. It's done cause it's what's best for somebody else."
"Chilled and tired and aching as they all were, peace found them beneath that crowded overhang, wrapping them in the knowledge that storms end and mornings come."
Do you see what I mean? And that's just a sampling of the richness in this story.
If you're a fan of meaningful fiction with characters who are real and authentic and make you think deeply about life, you don't want to miss Amanda Cox's newest offering!
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All thoughts expressed are my own.
September 7, 2025
I couldn’t pass this one up. Not only do we share a family name, but we share a family obsession with birds. I’ve been on my share of birding adventures, and really enjoyed that aspect of the book. However, it’s the dual timelines, tragedies, and threads of healing and hope that really solidified this story into my soul.
One might think that nothing good can come of Bitter End, but that is definitely not the case. When Ana returns, she finds herself deep into an age-old mystery, with branches of her family tree to discover, and current emotions to sort through. I thought the author did a beautiful job of tying the past and the present together with all kinds of tangly strands, allowing for the mending of many things as situations are sprinkled with friendship, love, resolution, acceptance, and restorative notions.
Not only are these characters wonderful, but the plot and storyline is superb. I loved the experiences from the bird outings and the meaningful relationships that resulted. This story is a beautiful encounter from start to finish–loved it!
Content: themes of religion; mild romance; off-page trauma/tragedy
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
One might think that nothing good can come of Bitter End, but that is definitely not the case. When Ana returns, she finds herself deep into an age-old mystery, with branches of her family tree to discover, and current emotions to sort through. I thought the author did a beautiful job of tying the past and the present together with all kinds of tangly strands, allowing for the mending of many things as situations are sprinkled with friendship, love, resolution, acceptance, and restorative notions.
Not only are these characters wonderful, but the plot and storyline is superb. I loved the experiences from the bird outings and the meaningful relationships that resulted. This story is a beautiful encounter from start to finish–loved it!
Content: themes of religion; mild romance; off-page trauma/tragedy
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
October 1, 2025
The Bitter End Birding Society grabbed my attention right away. The novel unfolds from two time periods at once. Stories like this, weaving family threads across years, deeply pull me in. You feel the weight of their ups and downs, and the raw hurt on their path. Amanda Cox writes with such grace. She paints the small town of Bitter End alive in the 1950s and now. My favorite quote from the novel shows how well-crafted this book is...
"Nature had a way of breaking down walls built by human hands. Gently, gradually. Not with wrecking balls but by infusing life."
I loved the characters from both time periods. My heart ached when theirs did, and I rejoiced when they found happiness. I adored the cute dog, Pippi/Piper, and the comfort she provided for Ana after the horrific thing that happened in her Kindergarten classroom. I admired Sam and his courage to face life again after his trials in life. This novel conveys the overall message that hope is possible in all our lives and that healing is attainable. This healing, though, may come in surprising ways.
The Bitter End Birding Society moved me with its heartfelt messages. There are dark themes woven throughout, but forgiveness ultimately brings real light. This is a must-read novel for 2025.
"Nature had a way of breaking down walls built by human hands. Gently, gradually. Not with wrecking balls but by infusing life."
I loved the characters from both time periods. My heart ached when theirs did, and I rejoiced when they found happiness. I adored the cute dog, Pippi/Piper, and the comfort she provided for Ana after the horrific thing that happened in her Kindergarten classroom. I admired Sam and his courage to face life again after his trials in life. This novel conveys the overall message that hope is possible in all our lives and that healing is attainable. This healing, though, may come in surprising ways.
The Bitter End Birding Society moved me with its heartfelt messages. There are dark themes woven throughout, but forgiveness ultimately brings real light. This is a must-read novel for 2025.
June 25, 2025
What a lovely little escape of a book. Amanda Cox has a profound ability to merge pain and trauma with beauty and redemption and I enjoyed the journey through it all. I didn’t find the book sad, though it dealt with a lot of painful topics throughout the storyline, it was all endearing and a testament to the power of love and family. I loved envisioning the picturesque mountain town of Bitter End and the cast of lovable but flawed characters.
I will say, while I love the idea of the birding society, I had a more difficult time with the bird descriptions and situations, since I couldn’t really envision them. If you’re a birder, I’m sure it’ll ring more clearly. It did leave me wanting to pay just a bit more attention to the wonder that probably lies out there within the myriad of birds - their chirps are a bit louder now.
I had the opportunity to read this book prior to publishing, and I’m ever thankful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. Nevetheless, all opinions are my own.
I will say, while I love the idea of the birding society, I had a more difficult time with the bird descriptions and situations, since I couldn’t really envision them. If you’re a birder, I’m sure it’ll ring more clearly. It did leave me wanting to pay just a bit more attention to the wonder that probably lies out there within the myriad of birds - their chirps are a bit louder now.
I had the opportunity to read this book prior to publishing, and I’m ever thankful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. Nevetheless, all opinions are my own.
July 18, 2025
Ana ventures to Bitter End, Tennessee to help her great-aunt get her house ready to sell. Ana desperately needs to get away from her community's attention and admiration as she is considered a hometown hero. She goes to seek respite and time alone, but little does she know what awaits for her in Bitter End - reconciliation, family history, found family.
This book was so dear and full of faith, hope, depth, and so much more. I loved all of the characters and felt an immediate connection with them. It was deep and the character's situations caused you to ask yourself some hard questions, but there was humor all throughout that made it such a sweet and delightful book to read.
Thank you Revell and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was so dear and full of faith, hope, depth, and so much more. I loved all of the characters and felt an immediate connection with them. It was deep and the character's situations caused you to ask yourself some hard questions, but there was humor all throughout that made it such a sweet and delightful book to read.
Thank you Revell and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 22, 2025
A heartfelt story of family and forgiveness. Beautifully written with powerful emotions and wonderful characters. Split time between backwoods moonshiners in 1958 and today. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy thought provoking fiction.
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September 26, 2025Amanda's books are always a joy to read. I love that she takes readers deep into the characters' hearts. A lovely story of resilience, hope, and reconciliation. For fans of books like The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold and The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner.
July 23, 2025
A terrific dual timeline story set in the hills of East Tennessee.
From Viola's story in the late 1950's to Ana's later experiences in Bitter End, this engaging read held my interest throughout as their family history was revealed. Full of insight into relationships, particularly in the aftermath of personal traumas, showing the deep need for forgiveness, for oneself and others. Accepting grace and extending it to others was a solid theme in both time periods. A bit of romance is sprinkled in, but it wasn't the real focus.
I loved Marilyn and her eclectic birding group. Her sensitivity to people, encouragement and friendship was a lovely example of Christlike love. It was a good reminder to be still and listen, be thankful, show kindness and hold onto hope. This would be a good read for someone who has been struggling with self-doubt or a crisis of faith. It is a very well-written, character driven story that would be fine for teens and up. Recommend!
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
From Viola's story in the late 1950's to Ana's later experiences in Bitter End, this engaging read held my interest throughout as their family history was revealed. Full of insight into relationships, particularly in the aftermath of personal traumas, showing the deep need for forgiveness, for oneself and others. Accepting grace and extending it to others was a solid theme in both time periods. A bit of romance is sprinkled in, but it wasn't the real focus.
I loved Marilyn and her eclectic birding group. Her sensitivity to people, encouragement and friendship was a lovely example of Christlike love. It was a good reminder to be still and listen, be thankful, show kindness and hold onto hope. This would be a good read for someone who has been struggling with self-doubt or a crisis of faith. It is a very well-written, character driven story that would be fine for teens and up. Recommend!
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
July 21, 2025
In spite of that fact that I am not a birder, I loved this book!
Amanda Cox has such a way with words!!
Ana had an extremely traumatic event happening to her during the past year as a kindergarten teacher. When she was given the opportunity to go away for awhile, and help her aunt Cora clean out her cottage, she took it. She finds herself in the community of Bitter End.
So many surprises and unexpected things make this an enjoyable yet deeply touching book to read.
Ana makes many new friends, and finds herself with a dog she didn't want, and a part of a birding society, of which she also didn't know or want anything to do with.
As she gets to know some of the quirky and unusual people of Bitter End, she finds herself on a healing path.
This is just a beautiful story. It's not primarily a romance, although there is a hint of romance woven in.
It is about relationships. Love. Forgiveness. Second chances. And much more.
This is a story that will linger with me for awhile.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Amanda Cox has such a way with words!!
Ana had an extremely traumatic event happening to her during the past year as a kindergarten teacher. When she was given the opportunity to go away for awhile, and help her aunt Cora clean out her cottage, she took it. She finds herself in the community of Bitter End.
So many surprises and unexpected things make this an enjoyable yet deeply touching book to read.
Ana makes many new friends, and finds herself with a dog she didn't want, and a part of a birding society, of which she also didn't know or want anything to do with.
As she gets to know some of the quirky and unusual people of Bitter End, she finds herself on a healing path.
This is just a beautiful story. It's not primarily a romance, although there is a hint of romance woven in.
It is about relationships. Love. Forgiveness. Second chances. And much more.
This is a story that will linger with me for awhile.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
November 11, 2025
A couple of months ago, I read The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox, and I’m still thinking about it. It’s one of those quiet, soul-deep stories that sneaks up on you, which made it hard to put down and is why it’s still resonating with me now.
The story follows Ana Leigh Watkins, a woman carrying the weight of a very public tragedy who retreats to the Tennessee mountains, hoping to disappear for a while. There, she reconnects with her great-aunt, joins a small-town birding group, and slowly uncovers both her family’s hidden past (which you learn more of in a dual-timeline - one of my favorite types of books) and her own path toward grace. The modern and decades-ago timelines weave together into a beautiful story of faith, healing, and forgiveness.
The mountain setting felt alive and the characters felt like real people that you’d love to actually spend time with (especially the birding society - I think I need to join a group 😆).
When I finished reading, I couldn’t help but thank God for the way He writes redemption into our messiest chapters. If you love stories that hold truth and tenderness in the same hand, this one’s for you. 💛
The story follows Ana Leigh Watkins, a woman carrying the weight of a very public tragedy who retreats to the Tennessee mountains, hoping to disappear for a while. There, she reconnects with her great-aunt, joins a small-town birding group, and slowly uncovers both her family’s hidden past (which you learn more of in a dual-timeline - one of my favorite types of books) and her own path toward grace. The modern and decades-ago timelines weave together into a beautiful story of faith, healing, and forgiveness.
The mountain setting felt alive and the characters felt like real people that you’d love to actually spend time with (especially the birding society - I think I need to join a group 😆).
When I finished reading, I couldn’t help but thank God for the way He writes redemption into our messiest chapters. If you love stories that hold truth and tenderness in the same hand, this one’s for you. 💛
September 1, 2025
My mom is a bird watcher. My grandmother was one, and I have friends who are. So being around all these bird-watching people has made me somewhat interested in learning more about birds. By the end of the story, I could see the beauty of being still and listening to the birds.
Unfortunately though, this book wasn't for me.
The writing is impeccable, the characters believable and flawed, and being a lover of history, there was an historical bent to the story that I should have found intriguing. But my emotions were untouched. I felt connected to neither the story nor the characters.
But if you love Amanda Cox and her stories, I know you'll love this one. I saw someone say that this is one of the most moving books she's read all year. So give it a shot and see what you think.
~I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Revell through Interviews & Reviews. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~
Unfortunately though, this book wasn't for me.
The writing is impeccable, the characters believable and flawed, and being a lover of history, there was an historical bent to the story that I should have found intriguing. But my emotions were untouched. I felt connected to neither the story nor the characters.
But if you love Amanda Cox and her stories, I know you'll love this one. I saw someone say that this is one of the most moving books she's read all year. So give it a shot and see what you think.
~I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Revell through Interviews & Reviews. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~
September 10, 2025
A book with layers upon layers? That's how The Bitter End of Birding Society felt like to me. Amanda Cox wrote well-developed characters in this one. I would write down which characters were my favorite, but then I'd be listing all of them. I love how thoughtful Ana is, the struggle Sam goes through with his God-given people skills, the spunkiness of Cora, the gentleness of Marilyn, the love of Viola, and the transformation of Wayne, and the attention of Piper.
Cox surprised me with some of the twists she wrote into the novel. There were moments I cried and others when I laughed out loud. Not everything is solved, but so goes life. Just a beautiful story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for this complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Cox surprised me with some of the twists she wrote into the novel. There were moments I cried and others when I laughed out loud. Not everything is solved, but so goes life. Just a beautiful story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for this complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 20, 2025
I'm feeling rather bitter that this story had to end!
The dual timeline story was a fantastic way to tell this story. It gave a chance for the reader to understand the complexity of the story and the choices that were made.
My favorite characters were Marilyn and Piper. I loved how Marilyn overcame so much in her life and still maintained her joy!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
The dual timeline story was a fantastic way to tell this story. It gave a chance for the reader to understand the complexity of the story and the choices that were made.
My favorite characters were Marilyn and Piper. I loved how Marilyn overcame so much in her life and still maintained her joy!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
August 20, 2025
“…joy is an important survival skill too.“
When I think of places that sound great for a fresh start or a period of soul-restoration, a town called Bitter End wouldn’t ordinarily top my list. But that’s before I read Amanda Cox’s latest novel and found some grace for my own spirit there too. This author – a master of insightful character arcs – brings a handful of broken people to that tiny Tennessee mountain community and tenderly orchestrates the start of healing. Not the kind that happens overnight. Not the kind that ties everything up with an easy solution. Not the kind that makes everything all right. But the kind that makes you all right, eventually, if you stick it out and do the work and let God do His thing. And in between the broken moments, Cox weaves in perfectly-placed humor, joy, faith, birdsong, belonging, and even a dash of romance … along with a multidimensional ‘tale of two families’ that ripples across six decades.
I couldn’t stop myself from falling in love with each of those wounded characters she brought together in Bitter End – either in the 1958/59 timeline or the present day one – but I have to say my favorite has to be Piper. My guess is that you’ll understand why once you officially meet her, but on the off chance you do not, I’ll say this: her story, to me, acted as a beautiful picture of Ana’s own search for belonging in this novel. God tends to teach me heart-lessons through characters like Piper in real life too, so I naturally gravitated to her presence in Ana’s life. The ‘ragtag group of amateur bird-watchers’ that enfold Ana into their midst made me smile every time they were on the page too, even in the deeper moments, because I could so easily picture – and hear – them in my mind as I read.
Bottom Line: Amanda Cox consistently writes books that remind me why I love reading fiction, and The Bitter End Birding Society sings with the same heartfelt storytelling I’ve come to expect from her. The gripping scene that begins our story, its profound affect on the present day, and the perceptive placement of each new element to the ‘full story’ kept me absolutely transfixed, even more than my hopes that Sam and Ana would fall in love (and we ALL know how difficult it is to distract me from any romance subplot lol). Cox’s lyrical writing brought every scene, every voice, to life, and I loved immersing myself in the setting. The friends I made on these pages, their grace-filled personal & spiritual transformations, and the poignant nuggets of wisdom they discover in the process are lasting treasures I’ll be taking away from this novel. This is the kind of story that leaves you a little more whole by the last word than you were when you started – don’t miss it!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
When I think of places that sound great for a fresh start or a period of soul-restoration, a town called Bitter End wouldn’t ordinarily top my list. But that’s before I read Amanda Cox’s latest novel and found some grace for my own spirit there too. This author – a master of insightful character arcs – brings a handful of broken people to that tiny Tennessee mountain community and tenderly orchestrates the start of healing. Not the kind that happens overnight. Not the kind that ties everything up with an easy solution. Not the kind that makes everything all right. But the kind that makes you all right, eventually, if you stick it out and do the work and let God do His thing. And in between the broken moments, Cox weaves in perfectly-placed humor, joy, faith, birdsong, belonging, and even a dash of romance … along with a multidimensional ‘tale of two families’ that ripples across six decades.
I couldn’t stop myself from falling in love with each of those wounded characters she brought together in Bitter End – either in the 1958/59 timeline or the present day one – but I have to say my favorite has to be Piper. My guess is that you’ll understand why once you officially meet her, but on the off chance you do not, I’ll say this: her story, to me, acted as a beautiful picture of Ana’s own search for belonging in this novel. God tends to teach me heart-lessons through characters like Piper in real life too, so I naturally gravitated to her presence in Ana’s life. The ‘ragtag group of amateur bird-watchers’ that enfold Ana into their midst made me smile every time they were on the page too, even in the deeper moments, because I could so easily picture – and hear – them in my mind as I read.
Bottom Line: Amanda Cox consistently writes books that remind me why I love reading fiction, and The Bitter End Birding Society sings with the same heartfelt storytelling I’ve come to expect from her. The gripping scene that begins our story, its profound affect on the present day, and the perceptive placement of each new element to the ‘full story’ kept me absolutely transfixed, even more than my hopes that Sam and Ana would fall in love (and we ALL know how difficult it is to distract me from any romance subplot lol). Cox’s lyrical writing brought every scene, every voice, to life, and I loved immersing myself in the setting. The friends I made on these pages, their grace-filled personal & spiritual transformations, and the poignant nuggets of wisdom they discover in the process are lasting treasures I’ll be taking away from this novel. This is the kind of story that leaves you a little more whole by the last word than you were when you started – don’t miss it!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
August 19, 2025
Can I just say this book needs a stellar award and way more stars. My favorite book this year as it makes you experience all kinds of feelings. At one point I was absolutely sobbing. I loved how flawlessly it switched between 1959 and present day to tell this beautiful multifaceted diamond of a story. I’m a big fan of bird watching and therefore I was delighted to read about this bird watching society but was unexpectedly surprised to see the healing power that this group experienced. The Bitter End can be more than the name of a place but a choice we can make in life to be bitter or better from our experiences. So many layers to this one that as you peel back the layers one at a time you reveal more depth and truth to each person’s perspective and story. I loved the characters and the beautiful ebb and flow of the story like reading a beautifully written poem. It is inspirational and thought provoking with truths we can apply to our lives. I definitely recommend making this your next read. This is going on my favorite book shelf along with everything else by this author as I will have to revisit it time and again.
I received a complimentary copy from the Revell Publishing/author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I received a complimentary copy from the Revell Publishing/author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
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