A Kiss In The Dark by Cat Clarke

A Kiss In The Dark by Cat Clarke
Buy A Kiss In The Dark by Cat Clarke at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Teens
Reviewer: Robert James
Summary: The best yet from the consistently great Cat Clarke, this is a stunning story of a relationship with a secret at the heart of it.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 384	Date: April 2014
Publisher: Quercus
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1780870472
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Alex and Kate meet online and there's an instant attraction between them. When they get together in person at a gig, they're just as right for each other as they are online. It seems like this could be a wonderful romance, but there's a secret at the heart of it which could destroy more than just their relationship. Will this seemingly fairytale romance have a happy ending?

I've said in the past that I'm not all that interested in reading about characters I don't like; Cat Clarke is the only real exception to that rule who springs to mind. Her main characters often aren't particularly likeable, but they're just likeable enough, because they're always sympathetic. They often make some fairly terrible decisions - both Alex and Kate do here - but you can see just why they make these decisions and it's hard to blame them too much even if you hate what they've done. Similarly, her minor characters are uniformly strong, with Alex's brother Jamie probably being the pick of the bunch. I love the way he's so supportive despite not being around for that much of the book. The parents are definitely less supportive but they're also very realistically portrayed.

As well, it's a hugely tense read - it's clear from early on in Alex's narration that something bad has happened; the question is 'how bad'? Given Cat Clarke's track record of trampling readers' hearts to pieces (thanks for Undone, Cat!) I was glued to the book wondering what would happen at the end.

Highly recommended, this edges out Torn as my favourite of Cat Clarke's books. It's amazing to think that her first book was only published about 3 years ago; she's becoming one of the truly 'must read' UKYA contemporary authors, alongside others who started at a similar time like Keren David, Keris Stainton and Simon Packham. All have proved to be remarkably consistent!

I think this is the best yet from Cat, but if you've only just discovered her, don't miss Torn. Of the others from the authors mentioned above, I think fans of Clarke would particularly enjoy the When I Was Joe by Keren David trilogy and Firewallers by Simon Packham.

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