How well do we really know our parents? Join author and gal-dem founder Liv Little for supper and conversation about her latest novel.

For our next HYFYV Book & Supper Club, we’re delighted to welcome Liv Little to discuss her new novel, Bitter Melon.

ABOUT BITTER MELON

The hotly anticipated second novel from Liv Little, founder of gal-dem and author of Rosewater

Jalissa and her dad aren’t close, but when he invites her to Jamaica, his homeland, for the first time, she says yes. She’s running from heartbreak and a loss of her own; he’s running out of time.

As they travel through sun-drenched towns and navigate tangled family roots, old wounds open and long-held silences begin to break. They’re both trying to outrun something, but along the way they cross paths with people whose stories shift their own, helping them face the past, reckon with the present and reimagine what comes next.

Bitter Melon is a tender, funny, heart-bruised road trip into memory, mortality and the fierce, fragile love between a daughter and the father she's still learning to understand.

‘So moving and unguarded and beautiful. I didn't want to miss a word’ Lucy Boynton

‘Liv Little pulls you into a world where the characters feel like everyone you've ever known, loved and learned. Bitter Melon is deftly written, full of heart and human nature's complexities.’ Candice Carty-Williams

ABOUT LIV LITTLE

Liv Little is an author, creative director, filmmaker, and broadcaster working across film, television, editorial, and brand storytelling. She has been named a Future Leader, LGBTQI+ Broadcaster of the Year, a Rising Star by the WOW Foundation, and featured in the BBC’s inaugural 100 Women list and Forbes 30 Under 30 in Media and Marketing. A sought-after speaker, Liv has addressed audiences of up to 10,000 and is recognised as one of the top speakers in the UK by The Dots.

AND NOW FOR THE FOOD…

Food is definitely a protagonist at the HYFYV Book & Supper Club. Alongside the conversation, we’ll enjoy a seasonal three-course supper inspired by the book and and its setting. Our wonderful chef is dreaming up a Jamaican menu and we'll be able to share the full menu soon.

ABOUT OUR CHEF, SHONA GRAHAM

We are thrilled to be working with Shona Graham on the HYFYV Book & Supper Club. Shona is a Bristol based hospitality professional, producer and community organiser working across food, culture and events. She is the owner of Emmeline Cafe and the founder of FODA Food Festival and The Anti Banquet, projects known for bringing people together through thoughtful and socially conscious food experiences.

Alongside this, she is Operations Manager at Team Canteen CIC, supporting grassroots food and community organisations through catering and partnerships rooted in social responsibility. Across all of her work, Shona is committed to food justice, sustainability and strengthening local food networks.

WHAT’S THE CONCEPT?

There’s nothing better than sitting around a table discussing a brilliant book. Unless perhaps there’s a delicious dinner involved.

And because the author is there too, you can ask them everything you've ever wanted to know: about the characters, the themes, the writing process and the choices that shaped the story.

That’s the idea behind the HYFYV Book & Supper Club. Every couple of months we'll gather around a shared table with an author and a menu inspired by the book or its themes.

There’s no membership and no commitment. Come whenever a book takes your fancy. You don't technically have to read it beforehand... but it does make the conversation even more enjoyable

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE HYFYV BOOK & SUPPER CLUB

We will gather over dinner at Spike Island for a relaxed but curated evening. You can expect:

Author in conversation with How You Find Your Voice’s Jessie Huth

Audience questions and open discussion

Shared tables with prompts (to use or to ignore.)

A seasonal menu inspired by the book’s setting or the author.

The chance to meet other book-loving guests

Limited space to keep the evening intimate

No pressure to perform: you are very welcome to simply come, listen and enjoy the atmosphere.

WHO IT IS FOR

This evening is for readers who love thoughtful conversation, aspiring writers curious about process, and anyone who likes great books, food and conversation.

BUYING THE BOOK

Bitter Melon is published on 22nd October so you can buy it at all good bookshops.

You can pre-order through Bookhaus if you want to read the book before the event.

Books will also be available to buy on the night and there'll be time for Liv to sign them too.

About How You Find Your Voice

How You Find Your Voice (HYFYV) is a Bristol-based cultural project that brings people together to think, speak and create more freely.

Through live events, a podcast, literary salons and gatherings, HYFYV explores creativity, identity and the messy process of finding your voice. The work centres women's voices, but anyone curious about the conversation is welcome.

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Description supplied by the event organiser.