Bitter Sweets is a lightweight epic—that is to say, it’s a charming novel with a bit of an identity crisis. Is it fluff, or epic fiction? A multi-generational saga, or soapy fun? This, I think, is part of its charm, as is the author’s delightfully dry tone in detailing the most outrageous deceptions and coincidences. On the whole, though, the novel is about as substantial as cotton candy. This would make a good beach-bag book—a fun, but not memorable, read.