Sweetbitter
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''Sweetbitter'' is a 2016 novel by American writer Stephanie Danler, published by
Alfred A. Knopf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. () is an American publishing house that was founded by Blanche Knopf and Alfred A. Knopf Sr. in 1915. Blanche and Alfred traveled abroad regularly and were known for publishing European, Asian, and Latin American writers ...
. It is Danler's first published book. It was written over a seven-year period, and, despite glowing press before its release, received mixed reviews. The book is based in part on Danler's experience as a waitress in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
.


History and background

The novel was written while Danler was a waitress at Union Square Cafe and an MFA student at nearby university
The New School The New School is a Private university, private research university in New York City. It was founded in 1919 as The New School for Social Research with an original mission dedicated to academic freedom and intellectual inquiry and a home for p ...
. Later, while a waitress at Buvette, another restaurant in New York City, she met
Peter Gethers Peter Gethers (born 1955) is an American publisher, screenwriter and author of television shows, films, newspaper and magazine articles, and novels; he is the author of several books, including the bestseller '' The Cat Who Went to Paris'', publi ...
, a publisher, and informed him that she had recently finished a book. After Gethers recommended the manuscript to a friend, Danler received a six-figure contract for two novels at
Alfred A. Knopf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. () is an American publishing house that was founded by Blanche Knopf and Alfred A. Knopf Sr. in 1915. Blanche and Alfred traveled abroad regularly and were known for publishing European, Asian, and Latin American writers ...
. Danler is one of a cohort of authors to receive large contracts in exchange for multi-book deals. Others include
Emma Cline Emma Cline is an American writer and novelist from California. She published her first novel, ''The Girls (2016 novel), The Girls'', in 2016, to positive reviews. The book was shortlisted for the John Leonard Prize from the National Book Critics ...
and
Imbolo Mbue Imbolo Mbue (born 1981) is a Cameroonian American novelist and short story writer based in New York City. She is known for her debut novel '' Behold the Dreamers'' (2016), which garnered her the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and the Blue Me ...
. Danler has stated that, although she has much in common with Tess, the novel's protagonist, Tess "quickly became a character, and is in many ways much better and much worse at life than I was at that age" and is not entirely based on her. She has also stated that the novel's other two central characters, Jake and Simone, are entirely fictional. Danler has compared writing her first novel to her experiences in the restaurant world.


Plot summary

Tess is twenty-two when she packs up her things in her car and moves from Ohio to New York City. Knowing nothing and no one she stumbles her way into a job at a semi-prestigious restaurant as a back waitress. The servers and staff are exceptionally tight-knit and take their jobs extremely seriously and Tess does as well. Tess is also drawn to Jake, one of the bartenders, and Simone, a senior server who takes Tess under her wing and begins to train her palate and teach her about wines so that she might one day be able to become a server. Although they initially dislike her, the staff members soon warm up to Tess and she joins them in their hedonistic lifestyle. Nevertheless she longs to be included in Simone and Jake's more exclusive circle and comes to learn that they are both from
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, they knew each other before the restaurant, and Simone treats him like family. Tess aggressively pursues Jake but he refrains from sleeping with her which Tess comes to realize is because of Simone. When Simone walks in on Tess licking Jake after he cut himself, Simone says she will speak to Jake and he finally begins sleeping with Tess. Tess is initially happy to be involved with Jake and with Simone. Gradually her closeness to the two turns to bitterness after she discovers that they have matching tattoos neither one will talk about and that Simone raised Jake from the time he was eight. She also loses respect for Simone after realizing that at 37 she is chained to the restaurant. Hers is a specialty whose skills will transfer nowhere, and her beauty is quickly fading. When the restaurant is closed by the health inspectors, Tess goes upstairs to the general manager's office and accidentally discovers that Simone and Jake have planned a one-month vacation to France for his birthday without telling her. She gets blackout drunk and tries to confront Simone and Jake, but they fail to respond to her. The next time she sees them she confronts Simone, mocking her for being irrelevant. She also tries to convince Jake that his relationship with Simone is unhealthy and asks him to quit for her but though he admits he is tempted he ultimately rejects her. Feeling defeated Tess goes to speak to the general manager, Howard, to convince him to give her one of the prestigious server jobs even though she knows that Simone will try to block her promotion. Howard has sex with her in return for the promotion; however, it turns out to be a transfer to one of their sister restaurants which Tess refuses. She tells Simone that she instead will try to work at a wine shop and Simone encourages the move.


Reception

Several reviews noted the expectations that preceded the book's publication. The novel was mostly well received, with some critics noting that the central characters (particularly Jake) were not fully fleshed out and the novel lacks overall substance. However, others, such as Gabrielle Hamilton, writing for the ''New York Times'' praised the novel, saying the "faults of the book are few". '' Vanity Fair'' referred to the novel as a "love letter" to Union Square Cafe. It was No. 32 on ''USA Todays bestseller's list. ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
''s Karen Heller described the novel as "true to its title: a smart, delicious, coming-of-age tale about a young woman already drunk on the idea of New York before her true education begins."


TV series

In October 2017,
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and
Plan B Entertainment Plan B Entertainment, Inc., more commonly known as Plan B, is an American production company founded in November 2001 by Brad Pitt, Brad Grey, Kristin Hahn and Jennifer Aniston. The company first signed with Warner Bros. as a replacement for ...
announced the development of a TV adaptation of the novel, with Ella Purnell as Tess. The series premiered on Starz on May 6, 2018 to mixed reviews. In July 2018, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered in July 2019. It was cancelled in December 2019, after the second season ended.


References

{{reflist, colwidth=30em 2016 American novels Alfred A. Knopf books Novels set in New York City Novels set in the 21st century 2016 debut novels