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Can I Let You Go? #1
Can I Let You Go?: A Heartbreaking True Story of Love, Loss, and Moving on
Faye is 24, pregnant, and has learning difficulties as a result of her mother's alcoholism. Faye is gentle, childlike and vulnerable, and normally lives with her grandparents, both of whom have mobility problems. Cathy and her children welcome Faye into their home and hearts. The care plan is for Faye to stay with Cathy until after the birth when she will return home and the baby will go for adoption. Given that Faye never goes out alone it is something of a mystery how she ever became pregnant and Faye says it's a secret. To begin with Faye won't acknowledge she is pregnant or talk about the changes in her body as she worries it will upset her grandparents, but after her social worker assures her she can talk to Cathy she opens up. However, this leads to Faye realizing just how much she will lose and she changes her mind and says she wants to keep her baby. Is it possible Faye could learn enough to parent her child? Cathy believes it is, and Faye's social worker is obliged to give Faye the chance.
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First published August 25, 2016
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About the author
Cathy Glass
175 books2,201 followersCathy Glass is a bestselling British author, freelance writer and foster carer.
Her work is strongly identified with both the True Life Stories and Inspirational Memoirs genres, and she has also written a parenting guide to bringing up children, Happy Kids, and a novel, The Girl in the Mirror, based on a true story.
Glass has worked as a foster career for more than 20 years, during which time she has fostered more than 50 children. Her fostering memoirs tell the stories of some of the children who came in to her care, many of whom had suffered abuse.
The first title, Damaged, was number 1 in the Sunday Times bestsellers charts in hardback and paperback. Her next three titles, Hidden, Cut and The Saddest Girl in the World, were similarly successful, all reaching the bestseller charts.
The name "Cathy Glass" is a pseudonym for author Lisa Stone.
Her work is strongly identified with both the True Life Stories and Inspirational Memoirs genres, and she has also written a parenting guide to bringing up children, Happy Kids, and a novel, The Girl in the Mirror, based on a true story.
Glass has worked as a foster career for more than 20 years, during which time she has fostered more than 50 children. Her fostering memoirs tell the stories of some of the children who came in to her care, many of whom had suffered abuse.
The first title, Damaged, was number 1 in the Sunday Times bestsellers charts in hardback and paperback. Her next three titles, Hidden, Cut and The Saddest Girl in the World, were similarly successful, all reaching the bestseller charts.
The name "Cathy Glass" is a pseudonym for author Lisa Stone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
September 15, 2016
A heartbreaking true story of love, loss and moving on. Author Cathy Glass has been a foster carer for over twenty-five years, during that time she has looked after more than 150 children as well as raising three children of her own. Her own father had been in his eighties and in fine health, but he went into the garden to do some weeding and his heart just stopped. He very sadly died of a massive heart attack. In the mean time Cathy had a phone call to ask her If she would foster a pregnant twenty-four young lady that has learning difficulties. She was a sweet young lady with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, refers to a range of physical and mental disabilities that are the result of the mother's alcoholism during pregnancy. My own nan fostered children as well, so this for me is a special personal read.
October 31, 2016
I am a huge supporter of Cathy Glass and her books. I used to work within Childrens Social Services, as a support services officer, and although I wasn’t involved in front line social work I still became caught up in cases. I had to liaise with foster carers and occasionally I had to research certain topics. It was whilst I was working within Childrens Services that I first discovered Cathy and her books. I have all of her books and when I was offered the chance to review her lastest book called ‘Can I Let You Go?’, I naturally jumped at it.
Cathy is asked to foster a 24 year old girl called Faye, who is pregnant but who also has FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) as a result of her mother’s drinking. Faye has learning disabilities and is very child like in her behaviour. She is a child within a young woman’s body. The intention is that she will have the baby in foster care and she will then give the baby up for adoption. It’s a mystery as to how Faye has become pregnant as she never goes out alone and she lives with her grandparents who have mobility issues. I don’t want to say too much more as I don’t want to spoil the book for those, who would like to read it. Cathy writes movingly and tenderly about Faye, the FAS and Faye’s pregnancy. It’s true that there is a lot of detail given in the book about Faye’s daily routine that some people might feel is mundane, but I think that it adds to the story and illustrates the difficulties that Faye has to cope with on a daily basis.
What I also like about Cathy’s books, is that she writes objectively about Social Services. As is often the case, Social Services are often unfairly criticized but Cathy gives a true picture of the often dangerous situations that social workers find themselves in and the heartbreaking decisions that have to be made in the best interests of the children concerned, as well as cope with ever increasing caseloads. Faye decides that she wants to keep the baby and her social worker pulls out all the stops to give her the chance to prove that she is able to care for her child. Cathy also does everything she can to help Faye in her attempt to convince Social Services that she (Faye) can adequately care for her child.
Cathy’s books are always emotional and thought provoking but I found that this one affected me more than her others. I could see that Cathy was trying her hardest to help Faye as well as care for the other members of her family and prepare for the arrival of Faye’s baby. I really immersed myself in the story and felt the heartache of Faye, her grandparents, Cathy and Cathy’s children. It was as if my heartstrings were being pulled in all directions. On more than one occasion my eyes filled with tears and I could sense what was coming next.
I really do think that Cathy Glass is an inspirational person. It takes a special kind of caring person to become a foster carer and Cathy Glass is definitely one special caring lady. She talks honestly about how Faye settles in to her household and the emotional trauma that they go through when Faye returns to her grandparents. They soon pick themselves up though and Cathy gets ready to accept another child in need of a foster placement.
In short, I really did love this book and would recommend it to anybody, who wanted to get an insight into FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) and into what it takes to be a foster carer. I give this book 5* and I can’t wait to read more books by Cathy Glass.
Cathy is asked to foster a 24 year old girl called Faye, who is pregnant but who also has FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) as a result of her mother’s drinking. Faye has learning disabilities and is very child like in her behaviour. She is a child within a young woman’s body. The intention is that she will have the baby in foster care and she will then give the baby up for adoption. It’s a mystery as to how Faye has become pregnant as she never goes out alone and she lives with her grandparents who have mobility issues. I don’t want to say too much more as I don’t want to spoil the book for those, who would like to read it. Cathy writes movingly and tenderly about Faye, the FAS and Faye’s pregnancy. It’s true that there is a lot of detail given in the book about Faye’s daily routine that some people might feel is mundane, but I think that it adds to the story and illustrates the difficulties that Faye has to cope with on a daily basis.
What I also like about Cathy’s books, is that she writes objectively about Social Services. As is often the case, Social Services are often unfairly criticized but Cathy gives a true picture of the often dangerous situations that social workers find themselves in and the heartbreaking decisions that have to be made in the best interests of the children concerned, as well as cope with ever increasing caseloads. Faye decides that she wants to keep the baby and her social worker pulls out all the stops to give her the chance to prove that she is able to care for her child. Cathy also does everything she can to help Faye in her attempt to convince Social Services that she (Faye) can adequately care for her child.
Cathy’s books are always emotional and thought provoking but I found that this one affected me more than her others. I could see that Cathy was trying her hardest to help Faye as well as care for the other members of her family and prepare for the arrival of Faye’s baby. I really immersed myself in the story and felt the heartache of Faye, her grandparents, Cathy and Cathy’s children. It was as if my heartstrings were being pulled in all directions. On more than one occasion my eyes filled with tears and I could sense what was coming next.
I really do think that Cathy Glass is an inspirational person. It takes a special kind of caring person to become a foster carer and Cathy Glass is definitely one special caring lady. She talks honestly about how Faye settles in to her household and the emotional trauma that they go through when Faye returns to her grandparents. They soon pick themselves up though and Cathy gets ready to accept another child in need of a foster placement.
In short, I really did love this book and would recommend it to anybody, who wanted to get an insight into FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) and into what it takes to be a foster carer. I give this book 5* and I can’t wait to read more books by Cathy Glass.
September 9, 2016
I've read all of Cathy Glass's books, most of them have been five star reads for me but for others I've been critical of her written style. I've often commented that Cathy had a tendency to write as if she's reading from her daily reports (i.e at 8.15am we did this, at 9am we did that). I also used to feel that she would portray her children as perfect which for me took away some of the realness of the book. I'm therefore so happy to give this 5 stars as I feel that Cathy's style of writing has just developed so much, this book is outstanding.
This is the story of Faye, a young adult with learning difficulties who finds herself pregnant. Her mother was an alcoholic and her drinking whilst pregnant caused Faye's learning difficulties. Her mother is dead and she has been brought up by her elderly Grandparents who are horrified at her pregnancy and cannot cope with the support that Faye will need during the pregnancy. Faye ends up staying with Cathy despite her usually fostering children who is to support her during the pregnancy up until the birth when the baby will be put up for adoption and Faye will return to her Grandparents. It's believe that Faye is not capable of looking after a baby and thus this is the only option which Faye initially agrees with. When Faye has a change of heart, big decisions have to be made. Can Faye really care for her baby independently? A superb read which I whizzed through in no time.
This is the story of Faye, a young adult with learning difficulties who finds herself pregnant. Her mother was an alcoholic and her drinking whilst pregnant caused Faye's learning difficulties. Her mother is dead and she has been brought up by her elderly Grandparents who are horrified at her pregnancy and cannot cope with the support that Faye will need during the pregnancy. Faye ends up staying with Cathy despite her usually fostering children who is to support her during the pregnancy up until the birth when the baby will be put up for adoption and Faye will return to her Grandparents. It's believe that Faye is not capable of looking after a baby and thus this is the only option which Faye initially agrees with. When Faye has a change of heart, big decisions have to be made. Can Faye really care for her baby independently? A superb read which I whizzed through in no time.
November 6, 2017
I just typed up an entire review of this book, but my cat jumped onto the keyboard and it disappeared forever into the ozone. Anyway, I've read a half-dozen of Cathy Glass's narratives about her role as a short-term foster carer for abused and neglected children in the U.K. This is perhaps the best one yet. A 24-year-old woman who was a victim of fetal alcohol syndrome and has the mentality of perhaps a seven-year-old becomes pregnant and has to decide whether to give up the baby or keep it and raise it in a special home monitored by adults. Her ultimate decision is either painful or heartwarming, however you want to look at it (I chose the latter). It's a great book to read around Thanksgiving or Christmas, since it ends just around Christmas.
I'd highly recommend it to anyone with a heart.
I would have given it five stars, but I save those for books that blow the top of my head off. Nonetheless, this is a great book of this genre.
I'd highly recommend it to anyone with a heart.
I would have given it five stars, but I save those for books that blow the top of my head off. Nonetheless, this is a great book of this genre.
March 14, 2017
Really good read ,slightly different to her others as this is an adult she is caring for .I haven't read the whole book yet but one thing that bugs me a bit is how she portrays her life to be perfect and her children too . They never seem to do anything wrong and she sometimes explains things to the reader that really don't need explaining .She gives the impression she is more superior than her readers . There was a comment in it about social housing but rather implying something rather than making a comment outright . I had grandparents in social housing their choice all their lives and they could of easily brought the house outright.They were good people with morals and standards. As I say don't let this put you off as all her books are good and if you are going through a fostering assessment then they are very helpful more so for how the social workers deal with things and her involvement with them .
January 8, 2024
9/1/2024
A 25 year old girl that thinks and functions as an 8 year old.. why would they treat her like an adult?! It sends mixed signals to her and to all people around her.
I'm very sad she had to give her son for adoption but clearly more research about the boy would have been useful.
He is 19 but Cathy looked at him as a child!
I keep thinking about the things that the social worker did. More investigation, and psych eval. And the man! He is getting away with it?! I can't believe it.!
A 25 year old girl that thinks and functions as an 8 year old.. why would they treat her like an adult?! It sends mixed signals to her and to all people around her.
I'm very sad she had to give her son for adoption but clearly more research about the boy would have been useful.
He is 19 but Cathy looked at him as a child!
I keep thinking about the things that the social worker did. More investigation, and psych eval. And the man! He is getting away with it?! I can't believe it.!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2020
Brilliant book not the usual fostering done but still a great ending very sensible decision was made from Faye, considering she has learnt f difficulties and that the decision wasn't easy to make
November 28, 2020
These foster stories kill me. But I’m addicted to them. This particular one was so sweet yet so sad. A mentally challenged young adult is pregnant and needs a place to stay through the last months of her pregnancy as her elder grandparents can no longer cope. The trials and tribulations of what she experienced make your heart bleed. I won’t go into details and spin it for any readers of my review, but this is one memoir that everyone should read. I dare you to try it without shedding any tears.
March 2, 2018
This was a great read. Right choices made. Fantastic lady Cathy glass.
December 20, 2023
The book itself is very good and very well written and flows easily. My problem with this book was Cathy. I have read at least 20 books by her, and this is the first one I was disappointed in her fostering.
Faye has a learning disability and could not even care for herself. Neither Cathy nor her social worker had any right to make her think there was any chance of keeping her baby. And even worse, when Faye realizes that she can't learn everything she needs to learn to look after the baby and tells everyone she's giving it up for adoption and Cathy tried to talk her out of it! She had no right! That was cruel and unnecessary.
I also want to say that who the father of the baby was should have been investigated from the get-go. Yes, in the end, it turned out to be her neighbor friend, and it was consensual, but I spent the majority of the book assuming she'd been raped and nobody seemed to care! As far as her grandparents knew, no men had access to her besides her grandfather, and I was so terrified he had raped and impregnated her, and nobody else seemed to care. Neither the social services nor Cathy pursued the truth at all, so luckily, the truth came out on its own.
Faye has a learning disability and could not even care for herself. Neither Cathy nor her social worker had any right to make her think there was any chance of keeping her baby. And even worse, when Faye realizes that she can't learn everything she needs to learn to look after the baby and tells everyone she's giving it up for adoption and Cathy tried to talk her out of it! She had no right! That was cruel and unnecessary.
I also want to say that who the father of the baby was should have been investigated from the get-go. Yes, in the end, it turned out to be her neighbor friend, and it was consensual, but I spent the majority of the book assuming she'd been raped and nobody seemed to care! As far as her grandparents knew, no men had access to her besides her grandfather, and I was so terrified he had raped and impregnated her, and nobody else seemed to care. Neither the social services nor Cathy pursued the truth at all, so luckily, the truth came out on its own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2018
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** Cathy Glass and other foster care memoirs are the epitome of guilty-pleasure reading. They all follow the same format: the child starts off with a problem or misbehavior, there's almost always a secret from the darkness of a child sex ring to an unknown relative who can now take the child, and there is always a happy ending of some sort that, while some of the horrors cannot be unseen, makes you ultimately feel better for reading it. I should hate them due to their formulaic nature, and yet I always devour and enjoy them and this one was no different.
In this novel, we are introduced to the mild-mannered and intellectually disabled Faye-who is about to have a baby-that her grandparents can no longer care for. She is introduced to Cathy Glass and her family and they all start to take a liking to each other until Faye overcomes her initial reluctance to discuss the pregnancy and makes the ultimate decision to try to keep the baby when it was previously determined that she should give it up for adoption once it's born.
All the characters involved in this book are really likable and I enjoyed seeing them interact with each other and the little nuances that make you see them as actual people, although the blurb made it seem like this was going to involve a lot more of after the baby was born and made a really big deal about not knowing who the father was when neither really happens until well over half the book has passed and the way the book was set up really made it seem like the incredibly sweet grandfather was the baby's father when in actuality it was just a random neighbor Faye experimented with there was something more sinister going on than there was and it wasn't even really brought up much other than in passing.
This book deals a lot with grief and everybody certainly has to earn their happy endings: there is no convenient relative not previously mentioned, no real saving grace, so this is a welcome change from the admittedly eyebrow-raising "your uncle you never knew existed from Maryville, Missouri wants to adopt you and your baby!" that sometimes occurs. While I don't doubt this does happen (truth is stranger than fiction because fiction has to stay within the confines of probability) and probably more often than I think, it's still kind of nice to see.
I criticize foster care memoirs, perhaps too harshly, but I really do love them, and I truly did like this one. I certainly don't regret getting this, as it does offer me a nice dose of chick-lit in a book list that could certainly use it once in a blue moon.
In this novel, we are introduced to the mild-mannered and intellectually disabled Faye-who is about to have a baby-that her grandparents can no longer care for. She is introduced to Cathy Glass and her family and they all start to take a liking to each other until Faye overcomes her initial reluctance to discuss the pregnancy and makes the ultimate decision to try to keep the baby when it was previously determined that she should give it up for adoption once it's born.
All the characters involved in this book are really likable and I enjoyed seeing them interact with each other and the little nuances that make you see them as actual people, although the blurb made it seem like this was going to involve a lot more of after the baby was born and made a really big deal about not knowing who the father was when neither really happens until well over half the book has passed and the way the book was set up really made it seem like the incredibly sweet grandfather was the baby's father when in actuality it was just a random neighbor Faye experimented with there was something more sinister going on than there was and it wasn't even really brought up much other than in passing.
This book deals a lot with grief and everybody certainly has to earn their happy endings: there is no convenient relative not previously mentioned, no real saving grace, so this is a welcome change from the admittedly eyebrow-raising "your uncle you never knew existed from Maryville, Missouri wants to adopt you and your baby!" that sometimes occurs. While I don't doubt this does happen (truth is stranger than fiction because fiction has to stay within the confines of probability) and probably more often than I think, it's still kind of nice to see.
I criticize foster care memoirs, perhaps too harshly, but I really do love them, and I truly did like this one. I certainly don't regret getting this, as it does offer me a nice dose of chick-lit in a book list that could certainly use it once in a blue moon.
November 9, 2016
Thank you for HarperCollins and Goodreads for giving me this book. I receive this book as a winner of Goodreads giveaway on 2nd September 2016. The book actually was sent on 20th of September, but due to long shipping to my country I just received it this morning. Now, I have read this book, and ready to give my honest review :D
This book is about Cathy caring after Faye, a 24 years old girl that suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which made her mental state is around 8 years old. Faye is sweet natured, gentle, very loved, while being over-protected by her grandparents. So it gave the grandparents a big shock when she suddenly turned pregnant.
Let me tell you, this book feels nothing like any other Cathy's books. It's just so, so heartbreaking that I can't even pretend that it's not sad. You see, there's no crazy turn of event about the story (I'm looking at you, Damaged). Like, if you read this, you'd know from the start how it would end. Okay I'm exaggerating, you'd have your doubt, but really, whatever happen you'd already predicted it.
The thing is, there are just so many story like this, it happens all around us everyday. But nothing, no writing ever made me feels like this kind event was in front of my eyes, nothing ever made me feel like the Faye character is somehow related to me, nothing made my heart clenched it hurts.
I have to say, Cathy, your writing in this book has topped all other your writing.
This book is about Cathy caring after Faye, a 24 years old girl that suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which made her mental state is around 8 years old. Faye is sweet natured, gentle, very loved, while being over-protected by her grandparents. So it gave the grandparents a big shock when she suddenly turned pregnant.
Let me tell you, this book feels nothing like any other Cathy's books. It's just so, so heartbreaking that I can't even pretend that it's not sad. You see, there's no crazy turn of event about the story (I'm looking at you, Damaged). Like, if you read this, you'd know from the start how it would end. Okay I'm exaggerating, you'd have your doubt, but really, whatever happen you'd already predicted it.
The thing is, there are just so many story like this, it happens all around us everyday. But nothing, no writing ever made me feels like this kind event was in front of my eyes, nothing ever made me feel like the Faye character is somehow related to me, nothing made my heart clenched it hurts.
I have to say, Cathy, your writing in this book has topped all other your writing.
March 9, 2018
another book from foster parent Cathy glass. a young girl who suffered foetal alcohol damage, therefore, leaving her with learning difficulties is pregnant. she lives with her grandparents who do not really accept the pregnancy and cannot cope due to their own ill health. just before Christmas Faye joins Cathy and her family. she is caught up in trying to get the girl firstly to accept her pregnancy then when she decides to keep the baby instead of it going for adoption somehow despite her difficulties Faye has to learn about what is entailed in looking after a baby even though she is going to a mother and baby unit if she keeps the baby she still has to pass tests before they approve of her keeping the baby.
Cathy has to also break down the resistance from the grandparents to her help find out who the father is and generally cope day to day with Faye and the recent loss of her father especially in relation to her mother.
it is always interesting to read a true life book but I find that Cathy does come across as a bit pious and sanctimonious
Cathy has to also break down the resistance from the grandparents to her help find out who the father is and generally cope day to day with Faye and the recent loss of her father especially in relation to her mother.
it is always interesting to read a true life book but I find that Cathy does come across as a bit pious and sanctimonious
November 8, 2016
I read this in a single day, I do really enjoy these stories and tend to read one every month or so.
But omg the woman annoys me much!
The constant unnecessary phrases she puts in make me feel like she is either determined to inflate her own ego by repeatedly emphasising how perfect she thinks she is, or she believes that the people who read her books are total morons who need every tiny thing spelling out to them.
And it drives me freaking crazy!!
Apart from that I really enjoyed the book lol.
But omg the woman annoys me much!
The constant unnecessary phrases she puts in make me feel like she is either determined to inflate her own ego by repeatedly emphasising how perfect she thinks she is, or she believes that the people who read her books are total morons who need every tiny thing spelling out to them.
And it drives me freaking crazy!!
Apart from that I really enjoyed the book lol.
March 25, 2019
I read 'Damaged' and thought I'd give this book a read. Thanks to Cathy for providing care, but this story should not be made into a book. Many, many people give birth but are not good mothers and look to adoption. I felt like it was remedial reading, basic sentences, re-stating things more than one time, telling us about mundane things and just not a professional read. Sorry, didn't like it.
September 7, 2016
I dont read mush. well I generally don't read non horror / thrillers. Cathy Glass is the break in that rule, and as always I read this book in one sitting and was crying for atleast half of it. My heart broke for Cathy's temporary charge. :'(
now time to butch back up with horror lol
now time to butch back up with horror lol
September 19, 2016
As people know, i am a big fan of this author. I have read most of her books. This one was a good one, it was different because of the nature. She handled Fay very well and really believed in her. Looking forward to her next book.
September 9, 2016
Round up to 4.5 stars. One of my favorites, but really sad, especially at the end. I always read Ms. Glass's books super quickly, and this was no exception.
December 25, 2016
as always a heart warming and heart breaking story from Cathy she really is a truly amazing woman
August 25, 2021
Another wonderful Cathy Glass book. I kept tearing up through this one, more than usual.
June 23, 2017
A true story about a girl named Faye.
After reading about Lucy in “Will You Love Me?”, I am hooked on Cathy Glass’ books. She creates intrigue about her career as a foster carer. I am drawn in by the histories of the children she fosters, and am inspired by her ability to work through many difficult issues with grace and dignity.
Faye’s time with Cathy is different. Cathy cares for younger children and teenagers, not adults. Faye is cognitively disabled and comes to Cathy’s care when she is in the third trimester of her pregnancy. She is like a child in many ways.
“Reassured, Faye turned her attention to what was going on outside, gazing through the window with the intrigue and wonder of a child.” (pg 71)
A lot of Cathy’s previous training and experience with younger children is used during Faye’s stay. Thankfully, Cathy’s three children (including Lucy) are older, in their late teens and 20s, and are able to help support Faye wherever they can. Cathy explains in each book that fostering is a family experience and choice. The decision to take on Faye and her baby eventually poses challenges for each of the family members and they make it through each difficulty as a team.
Spoiler alerts below!
When Faye first meets Cathy and her family, she is adamant about not referring to her baby. She is avoiding emotional attachment and prefers to avoid the topic all together. Cathy struggles with how she is going to help Faye prepare for the final trimester of her pregnancy and ultimately the delivery. Also, there’s the aspect of who-dun-it. Who is the father of the baby? Was Faye taken advantage of?
Faye continues attending her prenatal appointments and experiences changes in the baby’s physiology, she broaches the subject of wanting to keep her baby. There are concerns as to whether or not Faye would make a fit parent but those on her care team oblige with her wishes. They work diligently to have her trained and evaluated after the baby is born at a centre and take on the task of informing her grandparents and the adoptive parents of her decision.
There is little time for Faye to learn an immense amount of information that new parents are expected to. Her delivery is soon. Cathy is by Faye’s side as she goes through labour. She hopes that the new information shared and practiced with Faye has stuck. A few days after the birth, Faye confides in Cathy:
“There’s too much to learn…lots and lots of things I can’t remember.” Page 265
The reality of her ability to care effectively for her child is apparent to Faye. She agrees to go through with the original adoption.
Sounds like a happy ending for all right? Well, there’s one more plot twist but I’ll let you find out what that is.
Onto my next Cathy Glass book!
After reading about Lucy in “Will You Love Me?”, I am hooked on Cathy Glass’ books. She creates intrigue about her career as a foster carer. I am drawn in by the histories of the children she fosters, and am inspired by her ability to work through many difficult issues with grace and dignity.
Faye’s time with Cathy is different. Cathy cares for younger children and teenagers, not adults. Faye is cognitively disabled and comes to Cathy’s care when she is in the third trimester of her pregnancy. She is like a child in many ways.
“Reassured, Faye turned her attention to what was going on outside, gazing through the window with the intrigue and wonder of a child.” (pg 71)
A lot of Cathy’s previous training and experience with younger children is used during Faye’s stay. Thankfully, Cathy’s three children (including Lucy) are older, in their late teens and 20s, and are able to help support Faye wherever they can. Cathy explains in each book that fostering is a family experience and choice. The decision to take on Faye and her baby eventually poses challenges for each of the family members and they make it through each difficulty as a team.
Spoiler alerts below!
When Faye first meets Cathy and her family, she is adamant about not referring to her baby. She is avoiding emotional attachment and prefers to avoid the topic all together. Cathy struggles with how she is going to help Faye prepare for the final trimester of her pregnancy and ultimately the delivery. Also, there’s the aspect of who-dun-it. Who is the father of the baby? Was Faye taken advantage of?
Faye continues attending her prenatal appointments and experiences changes in the baby’s physiology, she broaches the subject of wanting to keep her baby. There are concerns as to whether or not Faye would make a fit parent but those on her care team oblige with her wishes. They work diligently to have her trained and evaluated after the baby is born at a centre and take on the task of informing her grandparents and the adoptive parents of her decision.
There is little time for Faye to learn an immense amount of information that new parents are expected to. Her delivery is soon. Cathy is by Faye’s side as she goes through labour. She hopes that the new information shared and practiced with Faye has stuck. A few days after the birth, Faye confides in Cathy:
“There’s too much to learn…lots and lots of things I can’t remember.” Page 265
The reality of her ability to care effectively for her child is apparent to Faye. She agrees to go through with the original adoption.
Sounds like a happy ending for all right? Well, there’s one more plot twist but I’ll let you find out what that is.
Onto my next Cathy Glass book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2017
The first book of this type I have read centring on a disabled adult.
We are brought into this book on the eve of Cathy's fathers funeral, over the course of many books I had grown very attached to the family (I remember years ago when Glass wrote about the divorce I was angry and upset with her husband for days - I literally spent hours thinking about his character and I don't and won't ever know the man obviously) I was heart broken that the family had lost this loving caring father and grandfather.
Then we are introduced to Faye, I am not going to lie I expected something very disturbing to have happened to this young lady to get her pregnant - or at least something that was very disturbing to her, consent given but then having Faye understand what had happened - particularly when they started to hint at her denial ( or her not understanding what happened at all).
It was sad to see how much she could understand and yet how much of the same information she didn't grasp. The grandmothers influence was irritating and wonderful all at the same time. I understand why they had ignored the presents of the baby to distance themselves but that still did not make it the right approach. I was shocked at how little support the family had considering Faye's disability and her grandparents health - in a perfect world I think the lot of them would have been in a care home situation (although we don't know the full extent of everything or the details).
I knew right from the beginning that Faye would not be allowed to keep her baby, and I was amazed that Glass had ever thought she would (she did express doubt and realism but....) it was obvious to me that Faye just didn't have the ability to mother a child and that no amount of help from her grandparents would have been able to change that.
this was a very touching story, tragic and I would have liked to know more about the mother and her situation but as a work of non-fiction the author cannot obviously just come up with these facts that are very personal (and I cannot see the grandparents wanting to share or Faye knowing the full story)
We are brought into this book on the eve of Cathy's fathers funeral, over the course of many books I had grown very attached to the family (I remember years ago when Glass wrote about the divorce I was angry and upset with her husband for days - I literally spent hours thinking about his character and I don't and won't ever know the man obviously) I was heart broken that the family had lost this loving caring father and grandfather.
Then we are introduced to Faye, I am not going to lie I expected something very disturbing to have happened to this young lady to get her pregnant - or at least something that was very disturbing to her, consent given but then having Faye understand what had happened - particularly when they started to hint at her denial ( or her not understanding what happened at all).
It was sad to see how much she could understand and yet how much of the same information she didn't grasp. The grandmothers influence was irritating and wonderful all at the same time. I understand why they had ignored the presents of the baby to distance themselves but that still did not make it the right approach. I was shocked at how little support the family had considering Faye's disability and her grandparents health - in a perfect world I think the lot of them would have been in a care home situation (although we don't know the full extent of everything or the details).
I knew right from the beginning that Faye would not be allowed to keep her baby, and I was amazed that Glass had ever thought she would (she did express doubt and realism but....) it was obvious to me that Faye just didn't have the ability to mother a child and that no amount of help from her grandparents would have been able to change that.
this was a very touching story, tragic and I would have liked to know more about the mother and her situation but as a work of non-fiction the author cannot obviously just come up with these facts that are very personal (and I cannot see the grandparents wanting to share or Faye knowing the full story)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2017
This is the fourth of Cathy Glass's novels that I have read, and as before, I am quite impressed! If you are a child abuse survivor, or someone who works with troubled youth, her books will touch your soul.
In this book, there is no child abuse per se. Faye is a young woman who suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, so the abuse endured when she was in the womb, when her mother drank heavily. Faye has been raised by her maternal grandparents since she was two years old. Now an adult, Faye becomes pregnant, and no one knows the identity of the father. Well, I guessed who it was, and I was right, but I won't spoil it. Since Faye has the mental capacity of an eight-year-old, she and her grandparents decide that it is best that she gives her baby up for adoption. That is when Faye goes to stay with Cathy Glass and Cathy's wonderful children, in order to prepare her for childbirth. The grandparents have too many health problems to occupy such a task.
As in the other books of hers that I read, Cathy continues to display the utmost compassion and warmth to her foster charge. There are so many heartwarming passages in this book, and Cathy's family lost their patriarch recently, so they have a lot on their plate when Faye comes into their lives. However, they are such a sweet family, and any foster child would be incredibly lucky to be placed with them. In a passage from the book, Cathy states that "fostering involves the whole family, not just the main care giver". Quite sweet!
Faye is a very nice young lady as well. I hope she is doing fine. Thank you Cathy Glass for being such an outstanding person!
In this book, there is no child abuse per se. Faye is a young woman who suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, so the abuse endured when she was in the womb, when her mother drank heavily. Faye has been raised by her maternal grandparents since she was two years old. Now an adult, Faye becomes pregnant, and no one knows the identity of the father. Well, I guessed who it was, and I was right, but I won't spoil it. Since Faye has the mental capacity of an eight-year-old, she and her grandparents decide that it is best that she gives her baby up for adoption. That is when Faye goes to stay with Cathy Glass and Cathy's wonderful children, in order to prepare her for childbirth. The grandparents have too many health problems to occupy such a task.
As in the other books of hers that I read, Cathy continues to display the utmost compassion and warmth to her foster charge. There are so many heartwarming passages in this book, and Cathy's family lost their patriarch recently, so they have a lot on their plate when Faye comes into their lives. However, they are such a sweet family, and any foster child would be incredibly lucky to be placed with them. In a passage from the book, Cathy states that "fostering involves the whole family, not just the main care giver". Quite sweet!
Faye is a very nice young lady as well. I hope she is doing fine. Thank you Cathy Glass for being such an outstanding person!
February 26, 2022
Cathy Glass books are always an interesting read and I'm gradually working my way through them. It's not easy to read them in chronological order so I've given up trying and now jump randomly back and forwards in time. Cathy's family situation always sets the time of the books in the first couple of paragraphs - is her husband still around? how old are her children? In this book Cathy's father has just died, placing it as a fairly recent story.
The book is 312 pages and 24 chapters.
CG's books do not usually have a dedication apart from a few standard thank yous so it is particularly noticeable that this book is dedicated to Faye who is the subject of the book.
Cathy doesn't foster adults so Faye was an unusual placement. There was plenty for CG to learn from Faye and, as always, she communicates that clearly to the reader.
Of course, most of the book talks about issues that are very specific to Faye but there are more general topics that Cathy learns about whilst caring for Faye. Faye's capacity to make decisions is a bug issue in this book and CG finds this hard to come to terms with as Faye is an adult but with childlike thought processes. There is an option of a mother and baby unit which is explained. The most interesting principle for Cathy is the concept of "good enough" parenting and she explains that clearly to the reader.
These deep and life effecting principles are intertwined with the day to day detail of Faye's time with CG and her family.
The book is 312 pages and 24 chapters.
CG's books do not usually have a dedication apart from a few standard thank yous so it is particularly noticeable that this book is dedicated to Faye who is the subject of the book.
Cathy doesn't foster adults so Faye was an unusual placement. There was plenty for CG to learn from Faye and, as always, she communicates that clearly to the reader.
Of course, most of the book talks about issues that are very specific to Faye but there are more general topics that Cathy learns about whilst caring for Faye. Faye's capacity to make decisions is a bug issue in this book and CG finds this hard to come to terms with as Faye is an adult but with childlike thought processes. There is an option of a mother and baby unit which is explained. The most interesting principle for Cathy is the concept of "good enough" parenting and she explains that clearly to the reader.
These deep and life effecting principles are intertwined with the day to day detail of Faye's time with CG and her family.
August 19, 2020
A true story which shows the personal involvement of the foster carer in the life of the vulnerable young woman who is pregnant. Faye had been living with her elderly grandparents since her mother died as a consequence of alcoholism some years earlier. She led a sheltered life and seldom went out on her own except to the stables or day center. The social worker was unable to get Faye to open up about her pregnancy or who the father of the baby might be. When she went into care with Cathy Glass she did eventually acknowledge her pregnancy and tried to prepare for the birth and to look after the baby. By Faye had significant learning difficulties as a result of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and she faced many difficult challenges.
This is a very emotional story told in great detail. However I found at times it read like a journal with many details I felt were not really necessary, such as the description of the many times Stan walked them as far as the elevator and the fact that she spent an hour dusting before going to the hospital. Overall though I liked the story and will read more of Cathy Glass in the future.
This is a very emotional story told in great detail. However I found at times it read like a journal with many details I felt were not really necessary, such as the description of the many times Stan walked them as far as the elevator and the fact that she spent an hour dusting before going to the hospital. Overall though I liked the story and will read more of Cathy Glass in the future.
October 18, 2019
This was a departure for Glass as she fostered a 24 year old developmentally disabled woman who was pregnant and who intended to relinquish the child for adoption upon birth. There were several mysteries involved such as how she got pregnant in the first place as she lived with disabled and very overprotective grandparents. Cathy was to encourage independence as best as she could. The young woman wouldn’t acknowledge the pregnancy nor would she open up to Cathy about her feelings on the subject. However, 6 weeks before the baby was due, she changed her mind and decided she wanted to keep the child. Cathy has her work cut out for her as she attempts to teach basic parenting skills in order to give the girl a chance to keep her baby. This was a very interesting departure from Glass’ other fostering experiences and I read this book in one sitting. Available at the Duncan Public Library.
March 17, 2018
I have always loved Cathys books and how much work cathy does for them in need of her care. And wonder how some people actually live there lives and how cruel some people are but then you have the wonderful cathy there to help out with children who needs to be looked after.
As always cathy has delivered on every book shes written and this is her view on her live as a foster carer. And it only takes me a day or two to get through her books. These books help me get over my book hangovers from any previous books i have read as theses books just grab you and tug at your heart strings.
I loved faye and how much she thought that she wanted to keep her grandparents happy and thought that the best thing was to have her baby adopted and wih the help of cathy and becky fayes social worker went through all the options even to see if faye could learn to look after her baby. But im pleased of the outcome and I cant wait to find her next book.
I will always recommend cathy to other people always who are struggling to find there next reads i think cathy will always be my next favourite author to read always a 5 star read
As always cathy has delivered on every book shes written and this is her view on her live as a foster carer. And it only takes me a day or two to get through her books. These books help me get over my book hangovers from any previous books i have read as theses books just grab you and tug at your heart strings.
I loved faye and how much she thought that she wanted to keep her grandparents happy and thought that the best thing was to have her baby adopted and wih the help of cathy and becky fayes social worker went through all the options even to see if faye could learn to look after her baby. But im pleased of the outcome and I cant wait to find her next book.
I will always recommend cathy to other people always who are struggling to find there next reads i think cathy will always be my next favourite author to read always a 5 star read
January 26, 2018
Moving and memorable.
This is the fourth book I have read by Cathy Glass-I really enjoyed all of them-so much so that I read them one after the other.
Cathy Glass has been fostering for many years and has so many stories to tell about her experiences. At the time of fostering each child or young adult, foster carers have to keep a diary or log of every happening with their charges. These logs obviously were the main foundation for Cathy's excellent memoirs as all details were readily available, nothing could be forgotten.
This particular book tells the story of 24 year old Faye. Faye has learning difficulties due to Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. She is pregnant and she won't be able to look after her baby on her own after it's born. Her own mum has died and her grandparents have severe mobility problems, so they will find a baby in the household incredibly difficult to cope with too. Faye is entrusted to Cathy's care until the baby is born and then it's planned for Faye to give up her baby for adoption-that being the only option that they feel is viable for Faye and her grandparents.
This is a wonderful story and there are many twists and turns whilst Cathy, Faye and her grandparents consider if they could maybe cope, would there be a way? There is also intrigue as to who could be the father of Faye's baby. This was incredibly moving in the latter stages and an unforgettable read.
This is the fourth book I have read by Cathy Glass-I really enjoyed all of them-so much so that I read them one after the other.
Cathy Glass has been fostering for many years and has so many stories to tell about her experiences. At the time of fostering each child or young adult, foster carers have to keep a diary or log of every happening with their charges. These logs obviously were the main foundation for Cathy's excellent memoirs as all details were readily available, nothing could be forgotten.
This particular book tells the story of 24 year old Faye. Faye has learning difficulties due to Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. She is pregnant and she won't be able to look after her baby on her own after it's born. Her own mum has died and her grandparents have severe mobility problems, so they will find a baby in the household incredibly difficult to cope with too. Faye is entrusted to Cathy's care until the baby is born and then it's planned for Faye to give up her baby for adoption-that being the only option that they feel is viable for Faye and her grandparents.
This is a wonderful story and there are many twists and turns whilst Cathy, Faye and her grandparents consider if they could maybe cope, would there be a way? There is also intrigue as to who could be the father of Faye's baby. This was incredibly moving in the latter stages and an unforgettable read.
August 7, 2023
Another 5 start read from Cathy Glass. I love how respectful Cathy can be to every single child or adult she fosters. You learn a lot from reading her books which I really enjoy reading about. In this book she was so nice and helpful towards the young adult and her needs but also the needs of her baby later in the book and they way she went about it was so lovely and so loving. I really wished the grandparents could of supported the young women more but it’s the beliefs and morals and I respect that 100 everyone is different. The ending of the book is so bitter sweet but it what was best for the baby and mother xxx
March 7, 2018
This is an inspiring, bittersweet story about a young woman who must make one of the most difficult decisions a person ever faces. While the author never mentions this overtly, I am struck by the magnificent contrast with which two women, a mother and daughter, handle their unplanned pregnancy. The mistakes made by the woman’s mother spread like a ripple through her life. In this case, the ripple is dark and ugly, but the woman shows how other choices can be made, one that causes ripples of something beautiful.
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