Letting Go by Cat Clarke - Review

Did you see that Barrington Stoke put all their ebooks on sale at 99p on Amazon? I went through and bought ten of them - for less than a tenner I don't think I could complain at all! I love the Barrington Stoke books as they're all such cute novellas. They're easy to read for an adult like me especially in the current climate when I was struggling to get into what was my next book club book. I gave up on it, which almost never happens. It was late on Sunday night and I dipped into the first of the books I'd bought, Letting Go.

I've read a couple of Cat's books before, but not for a long time. I like her characters and when I read that this book was about queer teenage girls I knew I wanted to read it.

It's about Agnes, and at the beginning she's on her way up a mountain with her ex-girlfriend Ellie and Elli's boyfriend Steve. They are going to go and scatter the ashes of Ellie's mum, Janice, as it's her birthday. This is a promise that Agnes made to both Ellie and Janice before Janice died, and she doesn't feel like she can break it now, even though she really dislikes Steve. The feeling is entirely mutual, and all the way up the mountain Ellie is trying to keep the peace between them.

I really liked this, it's a cute little story. Four out of five!

The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke - Review

Where did I get it? I bought it at YA Shot last year and got it signed by Cat Clarke. I was looking for a book on my shelves and came across this and thought I'd add it to August's reading pile. 

What's it about? Faith was four years old when her six year old sister Laurel was kidnapped and never returned. In the thirteen years since, Faith's parents have split up and her dad is living with a man, Michel. Faith is seventeen and has just had sex for the first time with her boyfriend Thomas, when Laurel turns up. She says she was kidnapped by a man named Smith and kept in a basement. She has with her her teddy, Barnaby. She says that Smith dropped her off at her old house but got away. 

Faith meets her sister and the two get close, although there are problems along the way. Faith never seems to be the right kind of daughter that her Mum wants, she isn't sure about her relationship with Thomas, and she feels that Michel is being pushed out of the family because Mum wants everything to be exactly as it was when Laurel went missing. 

This is a quick read and a real page turner. I was dying to know what was going to happen. 

What age range is it for? 14+, it isn't too horrifying

Are any main characters LGBTQ+? Yes, Faith's dad and Michel. Dad is definitely bisexual (yay!) and Faith has always known that. I'm not sure Michel's sexuality is actually stated. 

Are any main characters people of colour? It's not mentioned. 

Are any main characters disabled either mentally or physically? No although clearly Laurel has post-traumatic stress things going on 

Is there any sex stuff? Not really, it isn't at all explicit. There is one sex scene though. 

Are drugs mentioned or used? No

Is there any talk of death? Yes, and it is quite graphic. 

Are there swear words? A few 

Would I recommend the book? Yes, Faith is an excellent central character and I liked her and her family set up a lot. 

How many stars? Eight out of ten.

Where is the book going now? I'll keep it because it's signed to me!