febo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book. Emotional incest is something I don't think a lot of people know about and I think through cathys story of Beth this will bring a lot more awareness to it. Cathy also tells us in this book of her and her husbands break up which all I can say is well done to her for being so calm as I very much doubt many women would have been so reserved. Great read.
readwithciara's review against another edition
5.0
This book is an eye-opener. At first, fostering is not something I appreciate or think of much because I am concerned about how hard it must be to form attachments with someone, and then let them go after some time. But reading this book made me realize it was in fact possible, and even life-altering if done right.
Also, it was highlighted how very challenging it is to build a family and raise children. Many families could not get it right, thus affecting the children in the long run.
So it always make me proud how people or children manage to get through difficult times in their lives. It was astonishing to witness how they try to cope, and be the awesome person that they are regardless of their past. I admire Beth's resilience and character. And I am very happy that they were helped out of that unhealthy situation. Abuse and manipulation are two things I hate the most, what more if children were involved?
And let's talk about John. How do men - alright, PEOPLE - have the audacity to cheat and then blame it on their partners? Why make them think it was just not working out when clearly you were the one who chose not to make it work because you're seeing another person? How can they cheat in the first place when it was apparent how their children dote on them, when their presence is very much anticipated, when they seem so perfect together as a family? How can they stomach being with someone else while their kids and spouse were at home expecting them? How can they fucking LIE for years? And to think this is a very common scenario is really saddening. The only comfort I have is there is divorce so they do not have to force themselves on each other when it clearly won't work which in most cases becomes really toxic for the children.
Also, it was highlighted how very challenging it is to build a family and raise children. Many families could not get it right, thus affecting the children in the long run.
So it always make me proud how people or children manage to get through difficult times in their lives. It was astonishing to witness how they try to cope, and be the awesome person that they are regardless of their past. I admire Beth's resilience and character. And I am very happy that they were helped out of that unhealthy situation. Abuse and manipulation are two things I hate the most, what more if children were involved?
And let's talk about John. How do men - alright, PEOPLE - have the audacity to cheat and then blame it on their partners? Why make them think it was just not working out when clearly you were the one who chose not to make it work because you're seeing another person? How can they cheat in the first place when it was apparent how their children dote on them, when their presence is very much anticipated, when they seem so perfect together as a family? How can they stomach being with someone else while their kids and spouse were at home expecting them? How can they fucking LIE for years? And to think this is a very common scenario is really saddening. The only comfort I have is there is divorce so they do not have to force themselves on each other when it clearly won't work which in most cases becomes really toxic for the children.
ashleysbooknook's review against another edition
5.0
This was a good story. I learned about an interesting situation that I hadn't known much about. I'm glad for the happy ending and it brought up good conversation with my own kids about our own fostering, which will begin later this year!
acikulatbuku's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first Cathy Glass book. Children should be protected at all cost. I felt dread and apprehension for Beth. I’m glad some, if not all, had a happy ending.
heyfarahey's review against another edition
3.0
Daddy’s Little Princess is a story of a little girl named Beth who came under the foster care system and lived with the author which after some time the author finds herself seriously concerned that there is just something off about the relationship between Beth and her father.
It was an insightful reading as it addressed the issue of a lesser acknowledged form of domestic abuse, a kind of abuse that is in betweens: emotional incest and how foster care system works in the UK. The incest part was emotionally disturbing and very heart wrenching but I’m glad that I learned so many things from the book!
The reasons why the book lost two stars were mainly about the mediocre writing and its inconsistency. Other than that (re: incest & foster care system), it was a good read!
It was an insightful reading as it addressed the issue of a lesser acknowledged form of domestic abuse, a kind of abuse that is in betweens: emotional incest and how foster care system works in the UK. The incest part was emotionally disturbing and very heart wrenching but I’m glad that I learned so many things from the book!
The reasons why the book lost two stars were mainly about the mediocre writing and its inconsistency. Other than that (re: incest & foster care system), it was a good read!
sophcart_'s review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
This book really made me feel uncomfortable. Poor Beth.
It also features a lot of Cathy’s personal life.
It also features a lot of Cathy’s personal life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Vomit
serukis's review against another edition
4.0
Cathy Glass is a foster carer, and in her books we get the stories of the children she has fostered over the years (supposedly - I like to think it's true, because then there'd really be some good in the world). In this book, we get the story of Beth. Beth appears to have been well-looked after, but Cathy soon starts to suspect that something is not quite right in the relationship between father and daughter.
Now, firstly, I hadn't heard of emotional incest until I read this book. Judgeing from other reviews, neither had a lot of other people. If nothing else, this book has been successful in spreading the word about this little known condition.
Cathy's personal life was particularly prominent in this one, understandably, as her fostering of Beth coincided with her divorce with her husband John. To be honest, it was painfully obvious that John was having an affair from the very beginning (and she's stated as much in other books), so it was frustrating to see her go along with his lies for so long. I guess love has a way of blinding people. And I guess, writing in hindsight, these little signs seem much more prominent. I don't know. I just wanted to reach into the book and shake her.
Like other reviewers, I found Paula to be a little... old for her age. I feel as though Cathy's memory may be embellishing conversations that didn't happen. But then, maybe I'm wrong and Paula really was that insightful at that age.
That aside, however, this is Cathy Glass doing what Cathy Glass does best. It may not be her best book, but it tells the story of a child that needs help, and how Cathy helped her. If you like Cathy Glass, don't miss this one.
Now, firstly, I hadn't heard of emotional incest until I read this book. Judgeing from other reviews, neither had a lot of other people. If nothing else, this book has been successful in spreading the word about this little known condition.
Cathy's personal life was particularly prominent in this one, understandably, as her fostering of Beth coincided with her divorce with her husband John. To be honest, it was painfully obvious that John was having an affair from the very beginning (and she's stated as much in other books), so it was frustrating to see her go along with his lies for so long. I guess love has a way of blinding people. And I guess, writing in hindsight, these little signs seem much more prominent. I don't know. I just wanted to reach into the book and shake her.
Like other reviewers, I found Paula to be a little... old for her age. I feel as though Cathy's memory may be embellishing conversations that didn't happen. But then, maybe I'm wrong and Paula really was that insightful at that age.
That aside, however, this is Cathy Glass doing what Cathy Glass does best. It may not be her best book, but it tells the story of a child that needs help, and how Cathy helped her. If you like Cathy Glass, don't miss this one.