Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

 

Zoe Collins has a dark and terrible secret that she dares to confess to no one. But one day she hears of a criminal on death row who knows all about secrets. And lies. And betrayal. 

Desperate to confide in someone, Zoe picks up a pen. 

These are the letters that she wrote. 

Star Rating 

This book had been on my to read list for ages so when I saw it on offer in Waterstones I just had to buy it and boy am I glad I did. Unfortunately it didn't quite make the 5 star mark purely because I found the beginning quite slow, however don't let the four stars put you off. This book was brilliant and, for any fans of YA fiction, a must read!

I have always been a fan of stories told in letter/diary form, having enjoyed the likes of 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower' and the old, but brilliant, 'Adrian Mole's diary'.
The letters in this book are written by a young girl named Zoe who lives a seemingly ordinary life with her loving family. However, very early on, the reader is made aware that Zoe holds a terrible secret that she will have to live with for the rest of her life. 

Zoe begins an unlikely friendship with Max, a popular guy with the ladies, from her local high school. However, at a party that Max also attends, Zoe locks eyes with Aaron and a new romance blossoms. Zoe finds herself in the centre of a love triangle and, not realising that the two boys are in fact brothers, finds herself in a very sticky situation. 

"I laughed. I couldn't help it, even though my mind was conjuring up a picture of two brothers side by side in the same room with their phones, no idea they were texting the same girl."

This novel by Annabel Pitcher is extremely hard to put down as the reader is always eager to know Zoe's terrible secret. Although it had a very slow start (as the month's coincide with the incident that happened one year previously) I was gripped by the events unfurling and was desperate to know what had happened.

The novel was filled with touches of humour and some characters that readers can really relate to. Annabel Pitcher includes subplots of family troubles such as parental arguments, money troubles and living with siblings with disabilities. 


This is a very well written book with enough mystery and suspense to force you into reading it in one sitting. It is a moving and edgy story that again will stay with you long after finishing. Why the ketchup clouds I hear you ask! Well to be honest, I don't really know. But what's in a title.