The Bitter End Birding Society

By Amanda Cox

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.

An immersive faith-based novel of finding belonging, reconciliation, and new beginnings for fans of southern fiction. This narrative of friendship and community makes for a perfect book club selection.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800746619
• ISBN13: 9780800746612
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Stellar Must Read

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.

Incredible women’s fiction

“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-filed, 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 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 moonshining. Viola’s father and Trilby’s father were secondary characters but played such vital roles in the story and they made me stop and ponder about our life choices, the heart and reasons behind them, and the consequences. Ana’s peace-seeking and peace-making 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 and Reviews and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Well-written novel of family and forgiveness

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for a digital advanced reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own unless otherwise noted. I’ve read all of Amanda Cox’s five novels beginning with her first, published in 2020. Like the others, this one is a poignant story of hope, healing, and home. Amanda skillfully explores grief, identity, and redemption in a very readable story of family and forgiveness. Incorporating bird watching, nature, and its related symbolism, this layered novel tells the story of a ragtag collection of amateur birders who become friends and provide support through their bird watching group. This is primarily Ana Leigh Watkins’ story beginning when “she escapes to Bitter End, Tennessee for a summer break from her kindergarten classroom. But instead of the R&R she hoped for, she becomes entangled in a decades-old feud tied to forbidden love between a moonshiner’s daughter and a preacher’s son.” Using a dual timeline, we learn along with Ana about a hidden branch of her family tree and discover a “story of finding belonging, reconciliation, and new beginnings in the most unexpected places.” This was a well-written, heartwarming novel with a touch of mystery and romance.