Cuts Both Ways

The YA romance from the Sunday Times Bestseller

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About this listen

Love is never just black and white...

A sharp and authentic love story about 16-year-old Cynthia, who finds herself caught between two brothers: one who is Black and the other who is white. Tackling the complexities of growing up Black and British, Cuts Both Ways is the first fiction title from the Sunday Times best-selling Candice Brathwaite, author of I Am Not Your Baby Mother.

London is everything to Cynthia, so when her parents move her to a place where there is only one bus an hour and the faint smell of horse manure continuously permeates the air, it's a culture shock, to say the least. As is transitioning to a private school.

At her new school, Cynthia immediately finds herself caught between two brothers - head boy Thomas, who is white, and his adopted Black brother, Isaac. There is something about Isaac she cannot quite get enough of ... but her father wants her to partner up with someone like Thomas, someone who will be 'better for her future prospects'.

When it turns out the brothers have been keeping secrets from her, secrets that link back to the life Cynthia thought she had left behind in London, she realises that not everything is as it seems.

How can Cynthia follow her heart when it's being torn in two?

An exploration of race, class, love and the complexities of growing up as a Black British teen, from bestselling author Candice Brathwaite.

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2022 Candice Brathwaite

Candice BrathwaiteDami OlukoyaQuercus Children's Books

Caribbean Creators

Contemporary

Contemporary Romance

Difficult Situations

Family & Relationships

Literature & Fiction

Racism & Discrimination

Romance

Discrimination

Heartfelt

Caribbean Creators Contemporary Contemporary Romance Difficult Situations Family & Relationships Literature & Fiction Racism & Discrimination Romance Discrimination Heartfelt

Critic reviews

Emotional, page-turning and beautiful, I loved this book. Candice has created such a relatable character in Cynthia, who you can't help but root for. CUT BOTH WAYS is a breathtaking YA love story that everyone needs to read.

Funny and heart-warming ... Brathwaite tackles big themes with a deft touch

This book handles serious and pertinent themes like knife crime and grief in Brathwaite's signature, compelling style ... her writing is so good you don't want to put it down until you've read it cover to cover.

Deftly tackles big issues with humour and heart

Most relevant

So may layers to this book, I listened to it intently and it did not miss a beat. In a world where this "fiction" is so relatable, timely and the reality of life for many, I am glad that Candice has put ink to paper and brought the twists, turns and wider impacts that come with it to the surface. "Pushing" and knife crime just seems to be accepted as the norm with the younger generation, all over the UK. Certain experiences or environmental surroundings don't allow them to appreciate that life has so much more value. This book brings alive the journey, heartache, trauma and pain that is inevitable for those left behind.... You fall in and it's hard to step back out, the way this book is written it just pulls you in and takes you there. I was stopped in my tracks when the Audible version of this book finished, it was too much! Miss Candice please tell us there is more to come...