Sweet Bitter Fruit: A Novel

From the author of Reese’s Book Club pick Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, A salesman lands on the ground floor of the video gaming world, where he believes he’ll acquire the power and affluence to unlock the door to the American dream—but at what cost?

Zachary Cole knows how to sell. His ability to make money for top companies has gained him admission into spaces few Black men are allowed to enter. He’s bought into the idea that in post–Civil Rights Movement America, if he works hard enough, he’ll acquire a piece of the dream his country promised. To make it happen, he jumps at the chance to become the first Black sales manager at Prism, a computer game company vying for a place in the tech boom. Headquartered in California, the small but cash-infused startup vows to create a corporate culture in which anyone is able to move ahead. Perhaps even more intoxicating than Prism’s pledge of colorblindness are the decadent parties, travel, and swag that signal the only way is up.

From the company’s sales hub in Charlotte, North Carolina—the Silicon Valley of the South—Zachary revels in his newfound affluence and what it offers his wife, Micah, and their two children. He sacrifices time at home to give them everything they could ever want, but in his absence, Micah pines for the career she put on the back burner, while the kids try to figure out who they are. For the first time, Zachary’s confidence and magic touch may not be enough as he struggles with the way being the first and only leaves him feeling very much alone. Once a series of events within Prism proves that racism is alive and well, Zachary learns that there are many who will do anything to make sure his career comes crashing down.

Through unforgettable characters, their secrets, and her signature immersion in the unshakable legacies of history and family, Crystal Smith Paul unearths the bitter truths that lie beneath the sweet facade of wealth. Sweet Bitter Fruit marks the return of a riveting storyteller.