 Author: Amanda Cox Genre: Contemporary Fiction Pages: 336 Release Date: August 19, 2025 Publisher: Revell A forbidden romance, a fractured family, and one woman's journey to piece it all together Hometown hero Ana Leigh Watkins ventures to Bitter End, Tennessee, to help her great-aunt prepare for retirement. A town called Bitter End seems an ironic place for Ana to refresh her weary spirit, but she's desperate for respite from the attention and unwarranted admiration of her community. While on a hike in Roan Mountain, a ragtag group of amateur bird-watchers takes 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 getaway to help her great-aunt becomes a transformative journey that binds together two women who, though they live on the same street, have been estranged for sixty years.
 Reviewer: Kimberlee Sams I loved everything about The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox. The premise is that, after surviving a school shooting in which she interacted with the young shooter, teacher Ana is spending the summer with her aunt to provide a change of scenery and a chance to “reset” mentally before the start of the next school year. What follows is a lovely story, told in chapters that alternate between two storylines: Ana living and birding in Bitter End, and Aunt Cora’s backstory, which Ana gradually uncovers. I enjoyed this method of storytelling and liked the way past events shone light on present relationships. It was easy to see how the past shaped both Cora and her childhood friend Marilyn into the women they currently were and led to their current estrangement. Ana’s blossoming relationship with Sam is also an integral part of the story. I enjoyed their initial “meet-not-so-cute”, and the way their paths continued to cross, leading to friendship, emotional healing, and eventually a romance. In addition to providing a fun and entertaining story, this book offers plenty of food for thought about love, acceptance, forgiveness, grace, and moving on from a difficult past. Added bonuses that made this story even better: a stray dog-of-many names, information about birds and birding, and several humorous stories about how the town of Bitter End got its name. 5 stars! I received a review copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews, for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Elizabeth Eckmeyer Amanda Cox does it again with another fantastic novel. Her work is always a page-turner. The vibrant characters and the slight mystery of the dual-time drama make you hang on for the next chapter. In 1958, Viola is a woman growing up in the mountains of Bitter End, Tennessee. Her father is Wild Wayne, the moonshiner. When she meets a man, she instantly knows everything changes. Ana, a kindergarten school teacher who is healing internally and externally from an incident at her school, decides to visit her aunt living in Bitter End. As she arrives, she meets several characters with their own wounds. They gather together for a birdwatching group while healing and living their lives. This story is captivating from the moment the first page is read! It keeps you sucked in, wondering what is going to happen next. The characters are raw and real. The action is packed! This is a story not to be missed. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone. Reviewer: Raechel Helwig What a beautiful story full of redemptive healing. The Bitter End Birding Society is full of honesty, raw pain, and truths too. I loved getting to embark on the journey with these characters, who were so lifelike. I wish I could meet them in person and join in their birdwatching! And speaking of which, I loved how birdwatching drew this group together. Each member was unique with their own stories, and yet they complemented each other in unique ways too. And I loved how the past story intertwined with the present. The healing that came about in each of the characters really was beautiful, and it was such a pleasure to read. Author Amanda Cox has a heartfelt way of writing that immediately draws you in and makes you feel right at home, while also reminding and teaching you new truths that settle deep in your own heart. This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts expressed are entirely my own. Reviewer: Emily Stephens Another wonderful, heart-warming book from Amanda Cox! I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to read this one, and to share my thoughts about it. Ms. Cox is quickly becoming one of those authors from whom I’ll buy a book knowing nothing about it other than the fact that she wrote it. This is the story of Ana, a kindergarten teacher who was in the classroom during a school shooting. The summer following that trauma, she plans to visit an aunt that she discovered through genealogical research. She’s surprised to find Aunt Cora on her way out the door for a long trip immediately after her arrival. What follows is an amazing story of redemption, found family, found pets, and the importance of trusting God to get you through life’s toughest times. The story is told in two timelines: the present day, with Ana living in Bitter End and clearing out her aunt’s house, and the past, which is revealed as Ana learns more about her family history. The characters were all well-written, with detailed and unique personalities, backstories, and realistic issues. Ana, Sam, Cora, and Marilyn (in the present-day timeline) and Viola, Trilby, and Walt (in the flashback timeline) all seemed very much like real people, flaws and all. The author has a special gift for writing about relationships. Each pairing (Viola/Trilby, Walt/his family, Ana/Cora, Ana/Marilyn, Ana/Sam) was beautifully written and completely believable. I especially appreciated the time the author took to allow the romantic relationship between Ana and Sam to evolve slowly and naturally. There’s also plenty of actual bird-watching content, as Ana is drawn into the Society and begins to learn how to seek out and identify birds. The conclusion (10 months after the events of the book) was perfect. I liked seeing what happened to Ana (and the others) after the ending of the main story, and was pleased with how everything turned out. Honestly, this entire novel was such a pleasure to read. I highly recommend The Bitter End Birding Society to all who appreciate heart-warming, well-written fiction. And birds. I received a review copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Jeanette Durkin 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 & Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Reviewer: Mindy Houng “We miss out on so much when we don’t listen first.” It’s another spectacular book by Amanda Cox. The author has a gift for transporting the reader to the past and tying it to the present in such a redemption-filled, emotion-laden story of the heart. This tale is a journey of the soul - the human spirit - and how we can choose to be resilient in the face of so much tragedy because of the One who gave us the spirit. And there was so much tragedy, both in 1959 and in present-day Bitter End, Tennessee. Viola’s sweet and loving voice was perfect to take us through 1959. I learned so much about living in the mountains of Tennessee and moon shining. Viola’s father and Trilby’s father were secondary characters but played such vital roles in the story that they made me stop and ponder about our life choices, the heart and reasons behind them, and the consequences. Ana’s peace-seeking and peacemaking heart, Sam’s tortured pastor’s heart, and Marilyn’s content, tranquil heart all made the present-day timeline rich and deeply layered. Though there were multiple third-person voices, the story flowed smoothly and transitioned between the two timelines flawlessly. And the birds! I’ve never been bird watching, but reading this book made me want to invest in a set of binoculars and a field guide to do just that. This is a dual-timeline women’s fiction that will pull at your soul and leave you filled. One of my favorites of 2025, for sure. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell via Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own. Reviewer: Rebecca Maney “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.” Her days feel like an ending, at the very least an epilogue of life as she has known it and the beginning of a life she no longer recognizes. After surviving a harrowing experience with her students, Ana Leigh Watkins closes up her kindergarten classroom for the summer, and drives to Bitter End, Tennessee to spend a few months with her great aunt Cora, never envisioning for one second that she is entering a world where the past; her own family’s past, has never been resolved. Besides, how could traipsing along trails with a group of amateur bird watchers, an adopted dog, and a way too interesting sheep farmer transform her nightmares back into dreams? Exceptional characters, elegant word flow, and one of the most beautiful settings imaginable intersect with wisdom, wit and delicate timing to deliver a story that doesn’t wrap up perfectly, but finishes perfectly for those who read it. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. Reviewer: Lori Parrish
This is the best Amanda Cox book I’ve ever read! Wow! I loved all the connections in this book and they are what kept me turning the pages. I just simply couldn’t put this book down until Ana and the residents of Bitter End told me their story. It’s quite an interesting one to be sure! I liked the family history that was portrayed. Their emotions and choices were so very real that some of it broke my heart. Viola is just such a character. I loved her boldness to follow her heart. She’s a very brave woman. There’s this thing called life. And it’s a hard journey, especially in the mountains. Life’s about the choices we make and when. This is just a fabulous book, and it is worth the reread. All her books are! I was sad to see this end, for I’m still thinking about these characters and their hearts breaking in certain places of the story. I loved Piper very much. She stole the show in my opinion! I did think that Bitter End was a weird name for a community. I really enjoyed learning about all the different birds. Makes me want to go birding. They are fascinating in their own way. Here’s a thought from the story: There’s beauty in nature if you only take the time to slow down and listen through birds. We can simply learn by watching and listening to them. I think I’ve got the right of it, anyway. 5 stars for a job well done! I highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine. Leave a Reply. |
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