Bitter

Bitter

Francesca Jakobi

It’s 1969, and while the summer of love lingers in London, Gilda is consumed by the mistakes of her past. She walked out on her beloved son Reuben when he was just a boy and fears he’ll never forgive her.

When Reuben marries a petite blonde gentile, Gilda takes it as the ultimate rejection. Her cold, distant son seems transformed by love – a love she’s craved his entire adult life. What does his new wife have that she doesn’t? And how far will she go to find out? It’s an obsession that will bring shocking truths about the past to light . . .

Bitter is a beautiful and devastating novel about the decisions that define our lives, the fragility of love and the bond between mother and son.

Click for opening chapter

Bitter - In the press

Delighted to see Bitter ranked highly by Ha’aretz Literary Supplement reviewers.

The opening chapter of Bitter is available on YNET

Bitter - Reviews

“Highly recommended because it is tragic, captivating without falling into the trap of cliche sayings. An unforgettable book that will stay with you long after reading it.”

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Meira Barnea Goldberg

“A must read for mothers to sons. Allow me to rephrase that, a must read for mothers. Full stop.”

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Laisha

“A touching and believable novel… moving, delicate and even suspensful.”

Arik Glessner, Yedioth Aharonot

“From the moment I took Bitter into my hands, I could not put it down and finished it in a day and a half… A well written and heartbreaking book. Highly recommended.”

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Sima Ophir

“It is hard to believe that Bitter is the author’s debut novel, it is so beautifully written and heartbreaking…. A superb and highly recommended read.”

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Aya Ibraheem

“Bitter is a masterpiece. Francesca Jakobi’s writing is guaranteed to move you. A must read.”

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Shira Miller, Pinookim

“A beautiful human story populated by well developed characters and with scenes that border between the tragic and the comic.”

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Suzan Tsadok, The Book Parliament

“I loved the end which could easily have turned into kitsch, but no, the author chose a very realistic one.”

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Rachel Faran

“What a heartbreaking book! Highly readable, I couldn’t put down and towards the end even shed an unwanted tear. I loved it and highly recommend this touching book.”

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Carolyn Zeroni

“[A] riveting study of a woman who takes motherly concern to rather sinister extremes . . . it slowly, tantalisingly becomes clear that Gilda has never been in charge of her life . . . and sh...

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