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Original poster

To think Cathy glass has jumped the shark?

102 replies

Droveouttotheocean · 16/02/2022 20:35

Anyone else a fan?

I used to love her books but the last few have been pretty bad. The latest - claiming that a teenage mum and baby were both fostered by Cathy (not a mum and baby placement - two separate fostering) seemed crazy to me.

There is one out tomorrow set during the pandemic. I’ll be interested to read it despite the fact I think they’ve gone really downhill.

OP posts:
Original poster
Droveouttotheocean · 20/02/2022 17:28

I love Cathy’s sandwich lunches Grin

Cathy definitely has a Thing about daily baths and showers.

OP posts:
Original poster
Droveouttotheocean · 20/02/2022 17:29

I’d like to see Paula with a bit more life and personality. She seems so bland. Just helps Cathy with the foster children and works and comes home. Does she have friends, a boyfriend? Just wondering …

OP posts:
WeAreTheHeroes · 20/02/2022 17:33

I'm sure I read a thread on here a good while ago asking whether the fostering or a baby and it's mother separately was possible. I wonder if it was research?

UserWithNoUserName · 20/02/2022 17:37

I don't know if officially it is allowed, but from a common sense POV, the teenage mother completely blanked the baby, as though it didn't exist, didn't she? Surely a red flag for an unhealthy situation and I would be surprised if it were allowed.

Original poster
Droveouttotheocean · 20/02/2022 17:37

As in, you think Cathy Glass comes on MN to ask whether something would be possible? I doubt it!

OP posts:
user1471504747 · 20/02/2022 17:39

Paula seems to just go to work and help Cathy.

I think she was a real foster carer a long time ago and has created characters out of true stories from children she’s fostered, her imagination, and stories she’s read online.

Or she’s otherwise invoked in the system as a social worker or similar.

The most recently unbelievable thing to me is how recent her newest book is. This is a child she fostered less than 2 years ago and would be fairly easily identified even with some details changed, to someone who knew them. Surely not allowed?

Imagine getting attacked by your husband, in hospital after nearly dying, your 2 kids sent to foster care, and less than 2 years later someone’s profiting off it in their new book.

JellybabyGina87 · 20/02/2022 17:41

I've read them all. Her writing style is a bit basic but I find the books interesting. I don't think her time lines match up though. There was an early book where she said she was in her early 20s and had started fostering and she already had Adrian. If that was correct he would be in his 40s by now but she writes as though her kids are in their 20s. I think it all happened decades ago but she's changed details to make it seem more current and to be non identifying.

Original poster
Droveouttotheocean · 20/02/2022 17:45

I think Adrian was born around 86-87 and Lucy maybe 89/90 and Paula possibly 92/93, but as you say, the details often don’t match.

That’s a good point about the pandemic book. I think all those children were fictitious.

OP posts:
ninnynonny · 20/02/2022 17:46

I have literally just started reading the new one. It's like Call The Midwife - an addiction I am disgusted with myself for, but can't stop! So far, so CG...

delilabell · 20/02/2022 17:48

I found this book as previous poster had said all about the panic and its a bit to soon for me to read about that if that makes sense?

Sandwich lunches, casseroles and having the Christmas "sacks" it felt like it was aimed at American audiences too a bit with some of the explanations?

Original poster
Droveouttotheocean · 20/02/2022 17:50

Also what is weird is the way the foster child’s form teacher has to attend the reviews. I’ve never been asked to do that in all my years teaching secondary - it would be the DSL, surely?

OP posts:
Cassimin · 20/02/2022 17:59

I’m a fostercarer haven’t read her books but reading the thread looks like they’re not for me!
I’ve had over 25 different social workers through my door and never asked one of them to take off their shoes, nor have they offered.
It’s the doors being slammed off hinges, snot wiped all over the walls, dirty underwear down the sides of beds and bedroom furniture being slung around you’ve got to worry about not a bit of muck on your carpets!!!!

Partyatnumber10 · 20/02/2022 18:17

@Droveouttotheocean

Also what is weird is the way the foster child’s form teacher has to attend the reviews. I’ve never been asked to do that in all my years teaching secondary - it would be the DSL, surely?
I'm a teacher and routinely attend them so that's completely possible. The school are invited to attend and they decide who to send.
Original poster
Droveouttotheocean · 20/02/2022 18:22

Fair enough - I never have! Grin

I imagine quite interesting.

OP posts:
OneTiredMam · 20/02/2022 18:24

I love Cathy glass but the words "easy chair" really annoy me. They must feature in every other chapter 😂

Partyatnumber10 · 20/02/2022 18:54

@Droveouttotheocean

Fair enough - I never have! Grin

I imagine quite interesting.

Interesting...yes Also often extremely emotional and upsetting too because you get very attached to the children in your class don't you?
purpleme12 · 20/02/2022 19:08

@delilabell

I found this book as previous poster had said all about the panic and its a bit to soon for me to read about that if that makes sense? Sandwich lunches, casseroles and having the Christmas "sacks" it felt like it was aimed at American audiences too a bit with some of the explanations?
Ah I don't know about that! She's always explained even the most simplest of things that most people would know! One of her weird things!
user1471504747 · 20/02/2022 22:13

I found it hilarious and annoying in her new books all the

That afternoon I sat and watched the news. They spoke of a new virus in China. But none of my friends or family were in China so except for feeling some sympathy for those impacted, I continued with my day.

X100

She has at least decreased how many times she goes on about being an experienced foster carer that all the social workers are falling over to give the most complex of complex cases to. Or I’ve just gotten used to it.

She’s got a new one coming out again in September so not sure if it’ll be an old story or will still be recent and in the pandemic.

delilabell · 12/09/2022 13:42

Just finishing her new book. I'm certain I've known the ending from a few chapters in. It feels like q short story has been dragged out into a very long (and very boring) book

Retrievemysanity · 12/09/2022 16:11

Yes, I felt I knew the ending after a few chapters too @delilabell! Interesting to see how fostering and families were impacted during the pandemic though. I do like CG’s books and her shepherds pies and casseroles! Samey but comforting. I always assumed they were broadly true just with names and a few details changed.

PinkFrogss · 12/09/2022 16:59

I don’t really understand where she goes from here, surely she’s pretty much up to date with stories now.

Im not even sure how that is allowed because even with some details changed the children could still be very identifiable Hmm

Antarcticant · 12/09/2022 17:12

I realise this is an old thread, but I have been thinking the later books can't possibly bear much resemblance to real events, because they would be too identifiable.

Gymnopedie · 12/09/2022 18:08

Why did this thread - originally from February - have to pop up on the front page today?????

I had never heard of her before so I didn't know any of this back story, but this very afternoon I picked up Too Scared to Tell in the supermarket (reduced from £8.99 to £4.00!) because I thought it sounded interesting. I hadn't seen it before, it was placed prominently on an end shelf. I may now end up reading it with a more jaded eye.

Jourdain11 · 12/09/2022 18:25

Because a new one was published a week or so back.

This one reminded me of the FII book - the situation seemed very obvious in the retelling and because of this, the pace seemed really draggy.

PinkRiceKrispies · 12/09/2022 18:30

Oh yes, the sandwich lunch reference all the time.
I read that a particularly story will be based around lots of scenarios she has come across and not just one but don't know how true that is. I still enjoy her books. Also Casey Watson, Maggie Hartley and Rosie Lewis are all good