Kiss In The Dark Paperback – April 3, 2014

I'm not really one for reading contemporary novels but I have been reading a few recently based on reviews I've read and this is one of them. I've read a few good reviews for this book so when the opportunity came up to request it on Netgalley I thought I'd give it a request and was accepted.This is my first Cat Clarke book and I've heard that she pulls quite the emotional punch and boy, she really, really does!It's hard to review this book without spoilers as it's a simple premise of 'boy meets girl' but one of them is hiding a REALLY big secret with the potential to ruin their new found love. You really can't say more than that without ruining it for someone who hasn't read it. Even the blurb is pretty vague to keep it's secrets intact from the reader. This does mean that this review is also going to be a bit vague and short so I don't spoil it but I must insist that you read this book though and I insist strongly!It's stunningly written book, very cleverly written in two halves called BEFORE and AFTER, the before written from Alex's perspective and the after written from Kate's and are set before the secret comes out (in quite some style I might add) and afterwards. It's a very interesting idea to write a book in such a way but it works so very well in this case and was a genius move. The writing is clear and precise and completely to the point, there is no 'filler' writing with no purpose as everything within it has it's place and is important to the overall story. Clever work indeed and emotional to read, even I welled up on the last page of the book and I NEVER cry at books, I feel the emotion but never cry so filling up was a bit of a surprise to me but a sign of a really, really good book!It's an emotional roller-coaster to read but it's truly a very well written and clever book indeed and I have a sneaking suspicion that this won't be my last Cat Clarke as I'm curious to see if her other books are like too.......I need to find out so has anyone any recommendations on which to try next?

I'm a huge fan of Cat Clarke's writing, she always creates such realistic teenage characters and her stories never fail to pack a punch. I think A Kiss in the Dark might just be her best book yet which is really saying something!I'm afraid that this review is going to be deliberately vague because this is the kind of story that would be incredibly easy to spoil and I would hate to ruin anyone's experience of reading it. There are so many things I want to talk about when it comes to this novel and it's killing me that I can't discuss them.Alex and Kate are attracted to each other from the moment they first meet, they have the same interests, enjoy spending time together and slowly but surely they fall in love. In a lot of ways they are perfect for each other but Alex has a secret, one that has the power to destroy their relationship if Kate ever finds out the truth. The reader actually finds out what that secret is fairly on in the story and because the first half of the book is told from Alex's point of view we get to see just how much keeping that secret plays on their mind. Alex didn't set out to deceive Kate but what starts as a small misunderstanding between them soon snowballs into something so huge that Alex has no idea how to fix things.I spent half of the book just waiting for the truth to come out, you know Kate is going to be devastated and you're hurting on her behalf but you can't help but feel sorry for Alex even when you're wishing that they could have been honest with each other from the very beginning. After the big reveal the point of view switches so you can see exactly how hurt Kate was by Alex's betrayal. It was at this point she does something incredibly stupid as a way of getting revenge on Alex and although I was incredibly angry at her actions I couldn't help but wonder how I would have reacted in her situation. Kate quickly starts to realise how one small lie can snowball way beyond anything you'd have imagined and I think that probably helps her to see things from Alex's point of view. The real question is whether she will do the right thing by the end of the story or will she see her revenge through to the bitter end.A Kiss in the Dark is a gut wrenching read, I was so emotionally invested in both of these characters and it's very hard to imagine that the outcome of this relationship is going to be anything but heartbreaking which makes even the good times they spend together rather bitter sweet. This is the kind of book that makes you ask uncomfortable questions and I loved it for that. I would like to take a copy of this book and place it in the hands of every teenager I come across, there is a lot we can all learn from Alex and Kate's story and I applaud Cat Clarke for writing such an incredibly emotional book.

A Kiss in the Dark is, I believe, one of Cat Clarke’s best books. I’ve read several of her other titles, and this is the first one I read in one sitting, devouring the book in 4-5 hours. I just could not put it down.This is a complicated story of love, deceit, betrayal, and the difference between right and wrong. The twist that comes at the end of the second chapter blew me away—the whole book pivots around this, and I can’t write a thorough review without giving away that spoiler, so be warned. Don’t read on if you don’t want the spoilers!Right away in chapter one, we’re introduced to Alex (who I read as male). He’s watching a girl at a gig, a girl he’s met online and arranged to meet up with at the gig. Kate is confident, charismatic, and immediately likeable. I’ll be honest; at first, I wasn’t sure that Alex’s intentions were good. There were some creepy vibes I was picking up on, and I was sure there was something we weren’t being told.And then, bam. We’re told it. He’s a girl and didn’t mean to deceive Kate into thinking she was a boy. She just likes to wear more unisex clothes, and Kate assumed from the start that Alex was a boy. Alex doesn’t correct her, feeling it would be too awkward and embarrassing, and we’re drawn into a somewhat tangled relationship. At first, Alex is pleased that someone likes her—she has no friends at school, and she likes the company. Then she falls in love with Kate, and Kate’s in love with her too (oblivious to Alex’s secret), very much believing that Alex is a boy.Alex comes up with increasingly drastic ways to keep this allusion going—bandaging her breasts, creating a fake “penis”, wearing her brother’s clothes, and Skyping Kate from her brother’s room.As much as I wanted to dislike Alex for this deceit, the narrative voice was compelling and I found myself wishing there was a way forward for them and that Alex could be truthful to Kate. I could feel their love, though based on lies it was. I desperately wanted to see this relationship last—even though we know from the start that it doesn’t; the book is told in two parts, before and after Kate finds out. Alex narrates the before section, and Kate the after.And at the end of part one, Kate does indeed find out Alex’s secret at a point where Alex is convinced it’s all over, having been persuaded by her brother (who learned of what was going on) to break up with Kate and avoid hurt. Yet Kate’s hurt deepens upon the discovery of the deceit. This revelation turns her bitter and looking for revenge—and she goes down the path of accusing Alex of sexual assault.Immediately, this false accusation annoyed me. I hated Kate (it seemed really out of character, from what I thought I knew of her) and I was desperate for things to turn out okay for Alex who’s facing prison due to Kate’s accusation.In this book, we see both main characters making a terrible decision that snowballs out of their control and has dire consequences on those around them. It was certainly a captivating read. And the writing itself is lyrical and just wouldn’t let me stop reading.Neither Alex or Kate identify as LGBTQA+, both insisting at various times that they’re straight, yet by the end both realise they’re in love with each other. This is a powerful exploration of love, free from the restrictions of labels or categorisations being imposed on it, and I’m glad that Kate does admit she’s lying and prevent Alex from going to prison—in part due to the interference of Jamie, Alex’s brother.Jamie was possibly my favourite character. He’s the kind older brother who’s 18 and into girls and the “uni life”, but still has a logical and sensible head on his shoulders. He definitely plays the role of peacekeeper in this book and always advocates for the truth to be told. When he finds out about his sister’s lies, he tells Alex she can’t continue. Alex is too scared to break up with Kate, so Jamie persuades her to end it and avoid Kate being “stringed along”. And when Kate lies to the police, falsely accusing Alex of assault, it’s Jamie who seeks her out and begs her to do the right thing and not ruin Alex’s whole life. Jamie provided a nice contrast to both characters and was real and believable.All in all, I highly recommend this read.

I haven't been able to put this book down and have found it a compelling read. The first half of the book told from the POV of Alex, shows how one secret can have a massive knock on effect. Then the second part of the book told from the POV of Kate, shows how one lie has the potential to destroy lives.I much preferred Alex as a character to Kate but also wasn't happy about the secret that Alex was keeping.The book would have been 5 stars if it hadn't been for the ending, it just didn't seem likely and was very abrupt.Entangled is still my favourite Cat Clarke book, now on to my final Cat Clarke book, Girlhood.

As much as I wanted to love this book, I can't say I did. It is a fast read and the storyline is easy to follow along but with every turn of a page I got more and more uncomfortable with the lies, especially when it goes to Kate's (is it Kate I don't remember) point of view and everything just gets worse. And the ending, I'm glad she came clean but really?

This was a really enjoyable book. Although not an entirely original premise, the characters and feelings felt authentic and the plot was compelling. However, I felt disappointed by the abrupt ending; without revealing anything, there are very obvious loose ends (particularly legal) that would need tied up, and given the procedural focus of much of the latter part of the book, I'm surprise the author neglected to address them. Real people are affected by what Kate does, and to fail to explore the ramifications is a serious misstep by the author.

This is the first cat Clarke book I've read and was recommended to me to read by the author keris stainton...this will certainly not be the last book I read of cat clarkes (I've already gone out and brought torn). Cat's writing is so sensitive and beautiful....it just drew me in and I adored both alex and Kate so much. Cat captures how 1st love and those feelings are perfectly and takes you on a journey with a twist.

I loved this book I could not put it down. The fact tht Alex was so in love tgat she would go to prison for kate is so moving and at the end when Kate says she loves alex made me smile. The only thing is the ending is so sudden. It could to with an epilouge or an extra chapter. i would still recomend this book an think it is great

I enjoyed this book even more than I expected. I have loved all of Cat Clarke's books which was the reason I bought this one without even reading anything about it, and I didn't regret it for one moment.The story had me gripped right from the beginning until the last word, I loved the subject matter and the change of perspective half way through. I didn't start reading it for a few weeks but it saved me on a particularly quiet day at work and I haven't been able to put it down since.

Good book that talks about the feelings and emotions that happen during a first relationships with a twist...

When I read the blurb of this book I did not realise it was going to be this emotional 😞

I expect a lot from Cat Clarke, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. I cared so much about Alex and Kate that as their relationship developed I was scared for both of them. Sensitive, emotional, heart-rending, this book asks essential questions about sexual identity and love.

Cat is a brilliant author it is just that this book wasn't entirey an original find being quite like 'The Art Of Being Normal' The ending was slightly dissapointing ending though. All in all it was aa great book despite al of that.

My daughter has now completed all of Cat Clarkes books which is fantastic as she wasn't really a reader. She is 13 and read most of them within a couple of days. Very impressed Cat is is awaiting your next novel. Thanks for writing books that she can't wait to read. A happy mom. :)

The big lie makes me uncomfortable. waiting for the secret to come out...squirm!

Good read, but I got frustrated with the characters in the end

Omg that was amazing best book I've read in ages well done cat another amazing book I would recommend this book to anyone.