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Careless

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Careless

By: Kirsty Capes
Narrated by: Amber Gadd
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About this listen

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022!

A Cosmopolitan, BBC, Stylist, Daily Mail, Good Housekeeping and Guardian Best Book Pick for 2021!

Sometimes it's easy to fall between the cracks....

At 3.04 p.m. on a hot, sticky day in June, Bess finds out she's pregnant.

She could tell her social worker Henry, but he's useless.

She should tell her foster mother, Lisa, but she won't understand.

She really ought to tell Boy, but she hasn't spoken to him in weeks.

Bess knows more than anyone that love doesn't come without conditions.

But this isn't a love story....

©2021 Kirsty Capes (P)2021 Orion Publishing Group Coming of Age Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Romance

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Critic reviews

"The literary equivalent of gold dust." (Benjamin Zephaniah)

'Astounding. Heart-breaking but hopeful, and a fresh new voice." (Pandora Sykes)

"Moving and beautifully written." (Libby Page)

"Made me laugh and cry in equal measure." (Good Housekeeping)
All stars
Most relevant  
Very well narrated and so well written; I felt for Bess every step of the way.

Very powerful

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A coming of age story via the care system articulately written by Kirsty Capes and superbly read and performed by Amber Gadd. Amber’s reading really brought this story to life for me. Any one involved in young adults’ lives will thoroughly enjoy this book.

A satisfying read

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Careless is a powerful look at the lived realities of young people in foster care, but most importantly it is driven by its wonderful characters. Capes writes her characters so vividly, I instantly fell in love with Bess and Eshal. The narrator is a true talent, she animates Bess' wit, her wry humour and her boldness as a character, but also Bess' insecurity, and the pain that she tries her best to conceal. She really was Bess. Amber Gadd's voice breathes so much life into the characters - the stakes feel palpable and she effortlessly captures the playfulness of Capes' writing and characters. Capes' words and Gadd's voice gel together so perfectly that I feel like Bess is a friend of mine, and I was rooting for her throughout. The characters are so well-realised and so well-performed that I caught myself smiling at something they had said, or worried about what might happen to them, while getting on with my day. Can't recommend highly enough!

Wonderful story read beautifully

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It was hard to stop listening to this but I liked the characterisation and the analysis of what it’s actually like to be in the care system - where is the care?

Heartbreaking Important Stories to Tell

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Not the sort of book I would usually enjoy but I really loved it !
A honest and real life story of how a teenager thinks it reminded me a little of my own teenage years .

Refreshing, real and honest

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The story is brilliant and Amber reads it perfectly. I would listen to it again.

Wonderfully written and read

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The narration was excellent and I was so invested in the story, I really loved it.

Wonderfully written

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What a fantastic book. So well written and narrated. Highly recommend. Really enjoy it. Important themes written about in a really assessable way.

Loved it.

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A very powerful and gripping story with a strong and resilient protagonist but told with heartfelt sensitivity. 10/10 recommend, has definitely struck me. Will be searching for more Kirsty Capes books.

Couldn’t stop listening

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Isabelle, or Beth, as she likes to be known, has spent her life in the care system. She’s in long time care with a couple but will leave at 18. Her best friend is Ayisha, daughter of a Bangladeshi family immigrants. Her parents had an arranged marriage and are very happy.
The setting is London in the 1990s. The summer holidays stretch out before them. They are 15. Then Beth falls in love with Boy.
Beautifully narrated on audible! I was mesmerised once I got into it. Highly recommend as it is beautifully written

Brilliant story

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