Hi everyone. Like I said when writing my reading wrap-up last week, Casey Watson had a new foster care memoir out. Actually, it came out in mid-April already but I didn’t find out until a few weeks ago. Even though I was worried that Apple Books might mess with the book, I decided to buy it anyway and guess what? It was fine! Here’s my review.
Summary
After taking a few weeks off work, Casey is presented with a new foster child: 14-year-old Elise, whose Mum left her at just five years old.
At first, she’s no trouble at all, that is until she falsely accuses another carer, Jan, of acting inappropriately towards her. It turns out this isn’t the first lie Elise has told – her previous carer was constantly following up allegations Elise had made of people bullying her, trying to have sex with her, or hurting her physically. With some reservations, Casey agrees to take Elise on long-term, but when she makes some dark claims about her mum, Casey doesn’t know whether to believe her. In any case, she is determined to find out the truth…
My Review
As regular readers of this blog will know, I love foster care memoirs. I especially love reading about older children and teens, as their personalities are usually more formed, for the obvious reason, than those of young children. That doesn’t seem to be the case with Elise at first: she seems really shallow. This does get me wondering whether this book is going to be boring. But the exact opposite is true.
Most foster care memoirs aren’t too fast-paced and I can usually see the twists coming. This one, though, was far from predictable. Since the chapters also didn’t have titles, I couldn’t guess what was coming from there.
The story was written in such a manner that I kept going along with the characters’ emotions. As such, at first, I felt like Elise, much like the teen in one of Casey’s other books was quite difficult, to the point where, if she’d been an adult, she’d be diagnosed with some cluster B personality disorder. Of course, this makes the dramatic change in Elise’s behavior after her disclosures hard to believe, but then again she’s a teen, not a grown-up.
Overall, I found this story really evocative and gave it a solid five stars. I liked it at least as much as the one I linked above, which I also gave five stars.
Book Details
Title: I Just Want to Be Loved
Author: Casey Watson
Publisher: HarperElement
Publication Date: April 14, 2022
A Multitude of Musings 
Not my usual type of story but this one sounds really interesting! I’ll definitely give it a try!
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I can understand this isn’t your kind of story. I love memoirs and this one is especially good.
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After autobiographies, memoirs are my favorite genre. Thanks for reviewing this memoir for us.
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Oh, how great too meet another memoir/autobiography fan. I love autobiographies too! Thanks for commenting.
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This book may not be something that I would immediately pick up. Then again, suspense stories can get me glued on pages for a long time.
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Thanks for sharing. This book isn’t really a suspense story, though it does contain some interesting plot twists.
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Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts. It sounds like an interesting book to read and I love twists that are unexpected. I will add this on my reading list!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
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Thanks for commenting. I’m glad I inspired you to put this book on your reading list.
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This is an interesting read and happy to see that you have given it a solid five stars. Will take your recommendation and grab a copy. Thank you for sharing your review.
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Thanks for commenting and I’m happy I inspired you to get a copy.
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I don’t think I have ever read a foster care plot in a book. Your review got me interested though.
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Thanks for your comment. This isn’t fiction though. It’s an actual memoir by a UK foster carer about a teen she looks after.
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It sounds like a good book. I don’t think we have enough information on fostering and possible issues with it so any resources are helpful. Reading a book is immersive and makes you feel it with your own skin if the author is talented
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I agree with you about completely being immersed in the story if the author is talented, and Casey Watson certainly is. Thank you for commenting.
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Must have been a great book – I can imagine having a 14 year old foster daughter not being an easy task
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It was a great read indeed and I totally agree it sounds rather difficult to care for troubled teens.
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Will look into this book. Have enjoyed similar titles…not necessarily children in foster care but children in troubled families who probably should have been fostered. Just finished listening to the The Funny Farm. It was bittersweet and touching.
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Oh, I’ve never heard of that book, but will check it out. Thanks for sharing.
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Really enjoyed reading your review and insight into this foster story – sounds really interesting and well written and it’s going on my list
Laura x
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Thank you so much for commenting. I’m so happy I inspired you to put this book onto your reading list.
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