Careless cover art

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
Makes you think we must do better for children
Enjoyed the story -made me sad frustrated and left me with hope for Bess for a happier future

Insight into the care experience

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An extraordinary book, beautifully written. Gut-punching raw, utterly perfect. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

Can’t remember a book made me weep

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Describing the failings of the UK care system through the story of a teenage girl in foster care. She dreams of being a film maker so the descriptions are wonderfully visual, can imagine this being turned into a movie itself in the vein of Kidulthood.

Great book

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Absolutely love the real and grittiness of this story. I love this book so much it has become one of my go-to’s when I don’t know what new to read.

Listened to 3 times

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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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