Erika’s POV: Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

Title: Ketchup Clouds

Author: Annabel Pitcher

Series: Standalone

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery

Format: Published November 12th 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: Own copy; bought in Fully Booked

“Spread those strong wings of yours. Fly.” 

My Summary:

After 3 months of heavy guilt, Zoe can’t stand it anymore. She decides to write to Mr. Stuart Harris, a Texas inmate on death row, even though he may never write back. An unconventional pen pal you might say but who better to talk about how it feels to murder someone than someone who knows how it feels.  She’s been keeping it inside all these months. It’s time for Zoe to tell her story.

Dear Mr. S Harris,

I know what it’s like.

Mine wasn’t a woman. Mine was a boy. And I killed him three months ago exactly.

My Thoughts:

“If you ask me, no one can write off a human like that, as if they’ve looked inside their soul and decided it’s bad, all bad, without even the tiniest bit of good worth saving.”

When I read the synopsis of this, I was instantly interested. The concept is unique and I love books with crime scenes and murders. I feel like CSI. The writing of this book is in letter format which I love. It feels very personal in a way. It’s like you know you shouldn’t read it cause it’s not meant for you kind of thing.

Once I started reading the no. 1 question on my mind was, “Why did she kill him?” First, she doesn’t seem like the type who would do that. Zoe is very kind and she’s very sheltered and her mom is on her 24/7. Her mom seriously needs to take a chill pill. She’s too tense all the time.  It’s seriously impossible that she would kill him on purpose. What happened???

Then we get introduced to two very attractive guys. It’s like why does there have to be two?! How will she choose? Most importantly, how will I choose?! One is Max, he’s the most popular guy and who every girl wants to be with. He’s the typical he knows his hot so his kind of douchey but eventually you see the other side of him. The side you’d want to comfort.

“So, this is the part where you give me your number,”

“Without me having to ask for it.”

We have Aaron. They meet for the first time without getting to know each other’s name so they have nick names for each other. CUTE TO THE MAX. I love it when people have nicknames for each other. Oh. Aaron. He is amazing. I fell in love with him from the first moment. He’s really cute. You instantly know the moment you meet him that you’ll fall in love with him. He’s the real deal guys. Swear. He’s the best. He’s so funny and witty. I’m Team Aaron from the start!

There is a surprise and I’m like, “What?! Honestly. Are you kidding me? How?! I mean I know how but why?!!!” Then I start to think… One of these men will die. I’m scared. While reading, I’m just scared what will happen. I don’t want anything to happen but of course it does. This book keeps you’re heart pumping cause she’s telling a story and slowly unravels everything. The moment everything unravels I wished that it never did. My heart can’t take it. It hurts. It really really hurts but after everything you realize that it’s the good kind of pain but it’s still pain.

“My heart skipped a beat. It skipped a thousand beats. He’d been thinking of me, too.”

The ending. The whole book makes my heart ache. After I read the book, I just wanted to live under a rock and cry so yes, I highly recommend this book. I can’t tell you guys enough the emotional investment I gave. Even thinking about it right now, I want to cry. I didn’t want it to end that way but it did. And now, I keep rereading the last part and it hurts nonstop. I feel like a masochist. Guys, read this book but prepare to leave your heart with it. This is my very first Annabel book and I’m now a fan.

Happy (until you reach the parts that will break your soul) Reading!!!