In Bittersweet, Steel allows for the unfolding of the action through the voice of a third-person, limited-omniscience narrator.

The narrative technique allows the reader to get into the head of India Taylor and learn all that she is thinking, saying, feeling, and doing. Other characters are developed through their relationship with and reaction to India. The thoughts of characters besides India are sometimes revealed, but typically, this occurs only when the feelings involve her in some way. For example, the unnamed narrator may jump into Paul's consciousness momentarily to divulge his thoughts, but usually this will occur only when Paul is thinking of India; the same goes for other characters. This type of narrative style allows much of the focus to remain on India as she is the main character of this novel and this is, essentially, her story.

The plot is arranged in chronological order. The only...