There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

Cat Clarke is another must read author for me. Her books are so full of soul and complexity - I always know the moment I pick one up I am in for a ride and Girlhood was no different! Cannot wait to read more from Cat!

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley. 

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. 
Natalie.

Girlhood by Cat Clarke

4 STARS 

Girlhood by Cat Clarke is an unflinching, honest and, at times, creepy look at teenage girls and how their relationships can cross lines without even realising. 

I've read a few of Cat Clarke's books before which is why I was interested in this one. She doesn't disappoint.

Story's that are set in boarding schools are always a winner - there's something about the setting - teenagers all being locked up together and usually with enough privilege to make white people blush - that usually makes for an intriguing story. 

The characters are realistic and well developed. The friendship and subsequent relationship between the leads feels realistic and helps move the story along.

The story itself is well paced and delivers a few surprises along the way. 

Overall, a strong realistic story that is well told and well worth the read.

I have a mixed relationship with Cat Clarke books: I either love them or hate them. And yet, Girlhood fell on neither end of the spectrum in an odd way. There were moments where I was utterly addicted and others where I put it down for days. There were times when I super excited and gripped by the twists in the plot and, yet, mediocre endings that made my excitement fizzle out a little. Generally, it was a decent book but it was just missing something that I can't pinpoint.

I received a copy from Netgalley. This was one I got with my Hatchette Children’s auto approvals. I had heard of the author before, but never read any of her books so I decided to take a chance on this one. 

Trigger warning - anorexia. 

Then between changing Kindles and changing iPhones I managed to loose the original review copy file and ended up buying a finished paperback (along with several others by the same author).

I have a weakness for boarding school stories, particularly ones that promise a mystery. I was sort of expecting one girl vs the mean girl gang. But the main character Harper seems to actually be friends with some of the girls who form one of the popular cliques. It’s a fancy private school where very rich people goes. Harper’s family recently came into a boat load of money. Also suffering from a terrible family tragedy where Harper’s twin sister died recently as well, Harper needed a change of scene so found the boarding school.  She’s made friends and just about coping. 

Harper was a likeable enough main character, though she had a few flaws and could do some crappy things and wasn’t always the brightest bulb in the box, but a decently rounded character that was well fleshed out. She’s also dealing with terrible guilt believing her sister’s death was her fault. The sister was anorexic.  They both started a post Christmas diet at the same time and one took it more seriously with tragic consequences.  Anorexia isn’t something I’ve come across in YA fiction before, and it’s not something I can even begin to wrap my head around. Harper’s grief and guilt are gut punch. The writing packs a punch and can be emotional without being flowery about it. 

When new girl Katie comes in Harper finds herself connecting with Katie, despite the issues her other friends seem to have with the girl. Katie is quiet and keeps to herself, she only seems to connect with Harper. Misunderstandings and misinformation start passing around and with any girls boarding school, the girls can be very nasty when things don’t go their way. Harper finds herself torn when things start going wrong, stick to her own group of friends, stand with Katie...disagreements and arguments start and its hard to tell the truths from the lies. 

It’s a very compelling read and at times quite tough to get through emotionally. Not the most complex book I’ve ever read but definitely interesting. All the characters were interesting, even the ones I didn’t like much. I was rather surprised at how it all turned out in the end, certainly not what I expected, and I’m actually quite pleased on reflection, that it was different to what I thought.

Definitely recommended if you like YA boarding school books.

This book came out on my Birthday and I went out and brought it on my Birthday which was an 2 hour journey for me. So course I've only read it now, despite also receiving a NetGalley of it as well. I don't even read the NetGalleys of my favourite authors on time.

I've read most of Cat Clarke books (except one only published in America and the one that's not out yet). This was the most disappointing. It was the only one that didn't make me cry. It's not bad. It's not okay. It's is good. However, it was not Clarke ripping my heart out like she has with every other book. Even my least favourite book of her books made me cry. Though, I like this one better than A Kiss in the Dark.

It's similar to Cat Clarke books in I sat and read it in one sitting. Because you have to read Clarke in one sitting or you will spend all your time thinking about it, even if you're a sleep.

Okay, so what didn't work for me. The big conflict is a lot smaller than other Clarke books, it relays on subtly and relationships. The relationships and friendships are done well, but the issue is obvious from outsider point of view (even without another character saying exactly what's happening). Yes, I am not 17 like Harper is, but I think

Harper's relationship with her sister is a bit shallow for me. The idea of someone losing their identical twin sounds horrific, especially when they in their teens. This happens before the book and is one of Harper's defining issues. My problem is it all feels like plot to me. We have Harper talking about parts of their childhood and her death, not really flashbacks, more Harper talking to the reader about her sister like we were her friend/therapist. Anorexia is usually a slow death, so the time line feels a little muddled. Harper's guilt plays a role, but maybe a more hit and run death would have worked better. Clarke has done grief for a sister before and it worked then, so why didn't work now for me.

This also some girl on girl sexual tension which I always appreciate. We have a canon lesbian, Bi and someone at least willing to go there. It has almost nothing to do with the plot which is fun. There's some romance stuff, but it also like nothing. It's definitely a friendship book. I really should have loved this book.

Clarke as always, likes to tackle a harder subjects. We have grief, body image issues, depression and other stuff that's too much a spoiler to talk about in a review.

I thought the plot was going one way, it didn't which is probably for the best. The plot works for the most part. 

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for Stone Bars. The real problem is Cat Clarke is amazing and this didn't stab me in the heart, so I'm disappointed. Maybe I'm just getting more heartless as I get older. My actual guess, is that Clarke was juggling a lot more important characters than she normally does and my expectation was too high. I'm still going to shove Cat Clarke books at people, even they talk about books.

As always with a Cat Clarke novel, Girlhood is full of angst and tension, friendship and family. Harper and her friends have a lot to deal with and they all have their struggles. But as a group, it should be easier. But we all know what groups of girls can be like. When Kirsty comes onto the scene, things change. But is it for the better or is she hiding something. A gripping story that I raced through in one sitting.

Thoughts on the First Chapter

Oh man. Boarding School Books. They're like catnip to me, I love to bask in them. This one is off to a cracking start. I love the camaraderie between the girls, how there are slight tensions already starting to surface, and how there's a thread of mystery. And I *need* to know Jenna's story.

5 Words: Friendship, secrets, lies, boarding-school, privilege.

From the very first chapter I was hooked, desperate for more. Boarding School books are like catnip for me, I can't get enough of them. I love the tension, how everything is more intense at such close quarters.

And this book was pretty much perfect.

I loved the focus on friendship and family, how it was explored against a backdrop of privilege. I loved how it lead to resentment, the stark contrast between the Have and Have-Not slowly becoming more and more apparent, the devastation it all caused.

Girlhood doesn't hold back on the nitty-gritty, the crush of grief and blame. The chilling Scottish setting sent shivers up my spine and made the whole story a little more hard hitting, especially against the flash-backs to Harper's life before.

I flat-out loved this book!  I savour book about friendship, and I adored how this book focused on the sisterhood theme, with no major romances thrown into steal the limelight.  Friendship deserves the spotlight and I’m so glad that it was centre stage in Girlhood by Cat Clarke.

[book-info]

First Line of Girlhood by Cat Clarke

“We always have a midnight feast on the first night back.”

5 things I Loved about Girlhood by Cat Clarke

Boarding School setting
I grew up on a staple reading diet of boarding school books.  From Malory Towers to St Clare’s; I gorged on every one that I could get my hands on.  It was so much fun to revisit this setting, but in a realistic contemporary world.  Plus, the boarding school element added so much intensity to the friendships as they were together 24/7.

Very Little Romance
OK, you can’t have a young adult book with zero romances, because that is just so unrealistic.  However I loved that the romances were just one element of their lives, and not the be all and end all of their focus and attention.

Single White Female element
There is a dark edge with a single white female angle.  Kirsty is the new girl at school, and comes across as needy and full of issues.  However I loved that we really got to understand her, and she wasn’t just a token villain to add suspense.

Mental Health issues:
There is a very authentic representation of a myriad of mental health issues.  I appreciated that they were tackled sensitively, and thoughtfully.  I loved that it captured what was important to these characters with zero condensation.  Unfortunately dealing with grief, hormones, self-esteem, longing for friendship, fear of the future and so much more is part of life.  This book captures all that perfectly.

Diversity:
I respected that diversity was represented naturally in the book.  Harper is bisexual, Ronan is a lesbian, but neither of these are major storylines.  It’s just who they are, it’s part of the friendship dynamic, and fully accepted by all.

The Bottom Line

I adored Girlhood, and it had the honour of being my first 5 star rating of 2017. So what if I had to wait half the year to get that, it was all the sweeter when it finally came.

[rating-report]

Who should read Girlhood by Cat Clarke

This is a must-read book if you love contemporary young adult novels, and especially if you love boarding school settings, or character driven reads.  Fans of authors such as Holly Bourne, or Karen Gregory should also enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.

This is the first Cat Clarke I have read, but as soon as I finish typing this review I'm going in search of more! This is a great story that manages to deal with the hugely important issue of grief in a way that is never preachy or patronising and equally never distracts from what is a really gripping, almost thriller-like plot. The writing here is great, capturing its teen protagonist in a way that feels authentic and never overdone. Above all, this is just a great story - I found myself thinking about it when I had to put it down and couldn't wait to find out what happened. I consumed it in a day - what more could you ask for in a book?!

A review for this was shared on social media, as part of my 'books read in 2017' thread. I thoroughly enjoyed Girlhood and, as always, Cat breathed life into her characters and created a gripping story that kept me engaged from the first page to the last.

An amazing, dark boarding school tale which was tense, suspenseful and a pleasure to read.

“People say that losing a twin is like losing half of your self. They are wrong. You lose yourself.”

A previous reader of Cat Clarke’s ‘Lost and Found’, the premise of this novel treads through familiar waters. Creepy, candid and quintessentially funny at times, the novel portrays the essence of female friendships and how loss can seep into the cracks of a brand new start. Having read Clarke’s previous publication, I had been excited by the possibility of more from this author. Whilst this novel remains a YA fiction title, highlighting several important themes and diverse, three dimensional characters, it also heads towards thriller territory. Readers of Gone Girl and The Girl on The Train are certain to be intrigued.

Introducing the novel's protagonist Harper, readers are thrown into the world of Dungraggan Castle. In amongst the rambling towers of this all-female boarding school, Harper provides us with an insight into the friendships she has built during her time there. Anyone who desired to be a part of the Sleepover Club years ago will feel a warmth and familiarity between the way in which the girls interact. However whilst there are comedic moments which detail Harper’s attempt at a fresh start, she is constantly haunted by the loss of her twin sister Jenna. 

Touching heavily upon the current and the little discussed theme of eating disorders, Clarke explores the effect they can have on families left behind. The significance of Harper’s parents winning the lottery highlights that money cannot fill the hole created by those you have lost. It is also clear that Harper’s narrative is anchored by her misguided guilt towards her role in Jenna’s death. 

The pace of the novel is advanced by the introduction of Kirsty Conner. Upon the arrival of the new girl, Harper’s relationships begin to change. A quiet, timid yet enigmatic character, Kirsty diverges from the other girls within the group. Seemingly resilient despite her quiet demeanor Kirsty also protrudes a eerie quality. This continues to be a factor throughout her friendship with Harper, as lies unfold. Whilst Kirsty is a complex character with a difficult past, the manipulation which she threads creates quite the page turner.

A stand out feature of the novel also appears to be the friendship between Rowan and Harper. With both girls noted as queer, it was wonderful how Clarke portrayed their friendship as just that, a friendship. Not only is there a diverse portrayal of sexualities, but the central character is bisexual which is quite uncommon in YA fiction currently. While both characters could have crossed over into a romantic storyline (possible and would have been lovely to read) it stood out that their friendship was more prominent despite some arguably selfish actions on Harper’s part. Rowan remains a solid cornerstone in Harper’s life, despite the drama which unfolds throughout the novel. 

Ultimately, this title along with ‘Lost and Found’ cements my adoration for Clarke’s writing. Due to this I will certainly be on the lookout for future releases.

An amazing and thought provoking book. It dealt with remarkably tough subjects in a sensitive way, but maintained enough grit to be realistic.

A thrilling, emotional suspense story that will have readers on the edge of their seats. With sisters, secrets, loss, loneliness and girls with a connection that goes deep. Maybe a bit TOO deep. Cat's writing brilliantly captures the spiral of worries, lies and strained loyalties that can tear teenage friendships apart, especially with the presence of a meddling new party. The boarding school setting adds to the claustrophic feel that has danger on the horizon, and amplifies miscommunications until they are world shattering. Add in the peril of romantic feelings that aren't necessarily appreciated, and obsessive connections that tiptoe on the line of reciprocated, and it adds to a climax that will have you holding your breath. I absolutely loved this book, Cat's best novel yet!

Harper goes to the Duncraggan Academy, a boarding school in Scotland where she has made several close friends during her time there. But she has never told them the guilt she feels over the death of her twin sister, Jenna, from an eating disorder.
Then a new girl, Kirsty, starts at the school. Harper and Kirsty have a lot in common - Kirsty has also lost a sister - and they start to grow close.
Kirsty starts behaving strangely and some things she's told Harper don't add up.
What is Kirsty hiding?
Can Harper forgive herself for what happened to Jenna?

My favourite thing about Girlhood was that it's a diverse read - Harper is bisexual and there were other LGBT characters, and there were also characters that were different ethnicities.
Reading the blurb I thought that Girlhood would be a thrilling, creepy read but for me it was neither. I also expected there to be more about Jenna, Harper's twin sister, and I would have liked to find out more about her.
Harper was an okay protagonist and I can't imagine what it would be like to lose a twin. However, I didn't really like her that much - she could be quite tough on her friends when she should have been supporting them and she was quite selfish at times.
Rowan was probably my favourite character and I didn't like Kirsty at all - I saw straight through her.
The plot was alright but it didn't grip me and not much seemed to happen.
I liked the writing style and found it easy to follow.

Overall this was a mixed read for me.