Bittersweet is the 25th novel penned by Colleen McCullough. This historical romance tells the tale of two sets of twins, Edda and Grace, Tufts and Kitty. They have the same father and different mothers, but it doesnt stop them from having a tight sisterly bond.

The story is set in the 1920s and the author did a great job researching the era. There was a lot of effort put in by Colleen McCullough to give accurate descriptions of the 1920s, and I found this to be a pretty engaging saga. I loved how the novel shows the authors humour as can be reflected in the lines delivered by the characters.

However, what I loved most about this story is the authors ability to show the sisters love for each other and their ability to cope with the times. You see, the Latimer twins were accustomed to living the good life; they were famous in all of New South Wales; they thought things will remain unchanged. However, this was not to be the case. Readers will see how strong, passionate, and ambitious the sisters are as the Depression sets in. In their own way, the sisters manage to become an even better version of themselves.

This book is a great read, whether you have a sister or not. I find that it is an inspiring story and will remind each of us the importance of family while still living the life you wish to have for yourself.

Colleen McCullough is one of Australias most successful authors. Hence, I had such high hopes for Bittersweet. Unfortunately, it looks like I hoped for too much.

Bittersweet is your typical history romance book. Only this time, it talks about the story of two sets of female twins. The first set lost their mother during birth. Not long after, their father remarried and they ended up with a domineering stepmother and twin sisters. I like that the sisters grew up together and felt strongly about each other, despite having different mums. However, I sometimes feel like the author could have done a better job at character development. Sure, the setting, it seems, is accurately describedfrom the environment down to the shoes that the characters wore. However, I didnt quite get the connection I usually get with McCulloughs characters in her previous books. Also, I would have loved knowing more about Kittys unnerving childhood.

I may not have liked this title as much as the other works produced by Colleen McCullough, but I would still recommend Bittersweet. I guess youd enjoy this book if this is the first McCullough book youll be reading. Otherwise, it might be a little disappointing if you compare it to the previous titles.

Im going to preface this review to say that I loved Thorn Birds. Unlike most people my age being forced to read Thorn Birds for English wasnt a huge drawback the sweeping Australian saga novel is right up my alley and I was very excited to learn that Colleen was back with another one. Bittersweet is the story of four sisters and their lives in 1920s Australia, fighting to fit the conformity that is forced on them they forge careers in nursing, determined to beat their own path. The characters are lovely, although I came away feeling that I would have liked to get to know them a bit more, and the weaving of the local political climate with lives in small town Australia is really well done. As a woman living and forging a career in the 2000s you can't help but come away with a new-found appreciation of everything we now have. Bittersweet is a great read and a perfect present for the women in your life.