sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit I wasn't quite sure what a Calico Cat looked like even though we are told in the book, but as the title had me so intrigued I couldn't wait and had to go in search of some images myself. After numerous gorgeous cat and kitten images, I would certainly be able to spot one a mile off!
The actual cover ties in with the wonderful setting in the book. The author writes best about the surrounding areas where she herself is from and this really shines through in her writing. I felt like I could easily see everything as it was described to me and it makes for quite an atmospheric read.
Lottie is quite an odd ball. She seems quite rigid in her ways and yet a bit of a free spirit. She likes to speak her mind, which at times did make me cringe, though she only really says what a lot of us are thinking. Some parts I would be cheering her on for speaking exactly what I wouldn't have the nerve to say and at other times I was willing her to keep quiet as I was dreading how the other person would take it.
The story is told in the first person by Lottie herself. I enjoyed finding out about her past and seeing her develop as a character. There are numerous lovely characters that we get to meet along the way of which Caleb and Louisa had to be my favourites.
The Calico Cat for me is a journey of self discovery and going with your heart. It's about overcoming past issues and finding peace within yourself. A tender and engaging read of which I was reluctant for it to end.
My thanks to Bombshell Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The actual cover ties in with the wonderful setting in the book. The author writes best about the surrounding areas where she herself is from and this really shines through in her writing. I felt like I could easily see everything as it was described to me and it makes for quite an atmospheric read.
Lottie is quite an odd ball. She seems quite rigid in her ways and yet a bit of a free spirit. She likes to speak her mind, which at times did make me cringe, though she only really says what a lot of us are thinking. Some parts I would be cheering her on for speaking exactly what I wouldn't have the nerve to say and at other times I was willing her to keep quiet as I was dreading how the other person would take it.
The story is told in the first person by Lottie herself. I enjoyed finding out about her past and seeing her develop as a character. There are numerous lovely characters that we get to meet along the way of which Caleb and Louisa had to be my favourites.
The Calico Cat for me is a journey of self discovery and going with your heart. It's about overcoming past issues and finding peace within yourself. A tender and engaging read of which I was reluctant for it to end.
My thanks to Bombshell Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
tiffanyylizz's review against another edition
1.0
Honestly, I could not finish this novel, which is what took me so long to finally review. I appreciate the opportunity, of course, but simply could not immerse myself in it.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
A very well written and heart warming story about growing up and self discovery.
One those book that leads on a trip through memory and discovery, one of those book you're sad when it's over.
Strongly recommended!
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for this ARC
One those book that leads on a trip through memory and discovery, one of those book you're sad when it's over.
Strongly recommended!
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for this ARC
zooloo1983's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story of self-discovery and acceptance, along with the chance to find love for the first time. I can relate to Lottie, I had a crappy childhood at times in different ways. Yet, I did find Lottie a bit irritating at times, I completely get that everyone deals with trauma in different ways but I found sometimes her behaviour a bit “off” and I did struggle to understand where she was coming from. However, about halfway through the story, something clicked between me and Lottie, maybe it was because she started to see life in a different light. She began to see that maybe her behaviour was not entirely just. Don’t get me wrong, she opened my eyes up to a few things. She asked questions which I had not thought of before and she was quite right with some of them.
However, she meets Louisa and what a change! She is the family she never had. Lottie’s real mother is absolutely despicable and such an awful person, you can see why Lottie closes herself off from the world and people. It is the grand story of nature vs nurture and which is the strongest to win out and like I said everyone deals with it in their own way. Like Lottie, I knew the type of person I did not want to be, yet, sometimes it seeps back in when you least expect. Not only does she meet Louisa, I just had to single her out, but on her walking holiday, she meets different people who impact her life and decisions without her even realising it. The interaction with these people are the building blocks on her journey.
I just did not know where the book was going, but the journey is one to hold dear to your heart. The growth of Lottie is one to admire, from not knowing what she wanted, and what she did not want. However, when she goes on a walking holiday with Caleb, a guy she use to work with, she discovers so much more and unfortunately, more betrayal which rocks her hard.
I tell you what though, I want my own Louisa. What a gorgeous soul. A woman who has lost what she holds dear and still finds a way to open her heart to people. She nudges Lottie as if she is a mouse finding the way to a slice of cheese. Small nudges in the right direction, asking her questions that she doesn’t want to face and ends up getting that dreaded word “closure.”
This is another book which is nothing like anything else that Mandy as written. Like a Calico cat, you can not pigeonhole this book. It is unique, it is sassy, it is independent but it is a lovely book, it is loyal to its course and it accepts that it is what it is, beautiful and uplifting.
However, she meets Louisa and what a change! She is the family she never had. Lottie’s real mother is absolutely despicable and such an awful person, you can see why Lottie closes herself off from the world and people. It is the grand story of nature vs nurture and which is the strongest to win out and like I said everyone deals with it in their own way. Like Lottie, I knew the type of person I did not want to be, yet, sometimes it seeps back in when you least expect. Not only does she meet Louisa, I just had to single her out, but on her walking holiday, she meets different people who impact her life and decisions without her even realising it. The interaction with these people are the building blocks on her journey.
I just did not know where the book was going, but the journey is one to hold dear to your heart. The growth of Lottie is one to admire, from not knowing what she wanted, and what she did not want. However, when she goes on a walking holiday with Caleb, a guy she use to work with, she discovers so much more and unfortunately, more betrayal which rocks her hard.
I tell you what though, I want my own Louisa. What a gorgeous soul. A woman who has lost what she holds dear and still finds a way to open her heart to people. She nudges Lottie as if she is a mouse finding the way to a slice of cheese. Small nudges in the right direction, asking her questions that she doesn’t want to face and ends up getting that dreaded word “closure.”
This is another book which is nothing like anything else that Mandy as written. Like a Calico cat, you can not pigeonhole this book. It is unique, it is sassy, it is independent but it is a lovely book, it is loyal to its course and it accepts that it is what it is, beautiful and uplifting.
annarella's review
5.0
A very well written and heart warming story about growing up and self discovery.
One those book that leads on a trip through memory and discovery, one of those book you're sad when it's over.
Strongly recommended!
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for this ARC
One those book that leads on a trip through memory and discovery, one of those book you're sad when it's over.
Strongly recommended!
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for this ARC
masha_and_the_cat's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
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