The Calico Cat by Amanda James is a 2018 publication.

This book has been on my TBR list since 2018- so, I’d long forgotten anything specific about it that prompted me to add it- except, of course, that I was drawn to it because of the title and cover art.

As it turns out, the synopsis didn’t really capture the gravity of the story, so I got something a little different from the usual contemporary fiction novel I’d been expecting.

After her grandmother died, Lottie has no one she can trust, other than herself. She takes this to the extreme though, but mostly it’s a coping mechanism designed to protect herself. Still, it is quite sad that she refuses to allow herself to get close to anyone. She has no deep connection to anyone- but...

When she decides to pursue her dream, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will eventually lead her to a better understanding of her life- as it will for others who had no idea the trauma she endured growing up.

The road is still occasionally fraught, as well-meaning people make a few colossal blunders-but Lottie also meets up with mature, stable people who prove that though people can be flawed they can also be counted on to come through, to be steadfast in their support and to love unconditionally.

I read through a few reviews, briefly, after I finished this book, to see if anyone else had been taken by surprise by the story, considering the lovely cover and title.

Some felt it was a gentle story, but I feel I’d be remiss if I did not point out the dark undertones that address some trigger-y topics like self-harm, for example.

There is self-destructive behavior, dark thoughts, violent actions all centered around some intense emotional abuse- which left Lottie emotionally stunted, as a result. So, while the story is unique, a bit quirky, and ends on a heart-warming, inspirational- though realistic-note- it’s not exactly the light-hearted romance one might be led to believe it is.

Despite all that, I ended up liking the story a lot and do recommend it to anyone who enjoys books about personal growth and self-discovery- about friendship and family- and with a just a dash of romance.

I appreciated the author’s approach and felt the story was well-executed- with fantastic character development. It was unconventional, but that’s what made it stand out and kept me invested in the characters and caring about what happened to them.

Overall, a bit offbeat- but in a good way. I loved the allegory with the calico cat, and felt the author paralleled it quite nicely- and despite some dark passages and depressing periods, the story still qualifies as a ‘feel-good’ story in the end.

4 stars ( )