The Boy Who Steals Houses

My teenage son LOVED this book - he couldn't put it down. He usually struggles with reading but I told him once he finds a book he loves it wouldn't be a chore. This was it! I'm just about to order another book by this author for him and hope he finds it just as enjoyable.

This book will break your heart and stitch it back together with caramel and sunbeams. It is a story filled with hope, pain, love, fear, and beautiful, beautiful connection.CG Drews once again demonstrates her ability to craft the most astounding characters and weave the most heart wrenching narratives. The Lou brothers are masterfully written: all fear and rage and brotherly love and the relationship between them is portrayed with such raw honesty with all the sibling frustration and affection. The De Lainey family is just that most fabulous ball of waffle fuelled chaos and I adore every single one of them. I LOVED the big family dynamic: the teasing, the sibling rivalry, the anger and frustration and the fierce love is all just perfect.I absolutely adored everything about this story: the range of characters and relationships, the dual timeline narrative, the anxiety and autism rep, the unflinching portrayal of darker themes, the friendships, the family, the romance - just...everything. A complete triumph. Read it with a box of tissues.

I absolutely adored Cait’s first novel, A Thousand Perfect Notes so when I found out this was coming out, it went straight onto my pre-order list.I think it would be grossly underestimating the little book by describing it simply as a contemporary YA romance.Full disclosure: I had to stop reading at one point because I was crying so much my glasses fogged. So yea I adored this book even though it made me cry.I’m really into reading about sibling relationships right now, possibly because it’s a major theme in my own writing but I think Cait has surpassed herself this time.I really liked how she managed to balance a very understanding and respectful portrayal of autism with the reality of having a sibling – of growing up knowing they are different but being willing to fight for them because they’re your sibling and that’s what you do. I read somewhere that this is an #ownvoices rep for autism and anxiety and I can get that.Sam is in one word, adorable. While I did fall in love with him for his unwavering support and care (and fear for) his brother I also could identify with him through his need of finding safety – of finding a home that fits him – and he fits into perfectly.I think the danger would be that the story would focus too heavily on Avery, and Sam’s love and care for him – this is an #ownvoices story about autism but it’s made clear that it’s not only about autism. It also deals so well with the post traumatic effects of growing up in both a physically and emotionally abusive household for Sam. Is it a nervous tic that makes him steal houses – or the keys at least – or is it his way of coping with his isolated and troublesome world?Of course, there are romantic elements – Sam falls for Moxie. In a way that only a scared, abandoned boy can – by falling in love with her family first. But romance aside (because really, would the book fail if it didn’t have the romantic relationship between Sam and Moxie? I don’t think so) this is a book about falling in love with safety; with a chance for a family – however patchwork and broken it might be.You see, I could probably keep going on but there are only so many ways I can say that I adored this book. While both are standalone this and A Thousand Perfect Notes fit each other perfectly – from having a male POV to dealing with various forms of love, abuse, anger and hope. I can’t wait to read more of Cait’s stuff!

Being of a great age I usually like the main characters of books to be baby boomers too. I picked up this book not realising it is meant for teenagers. I was mesmerized from the first pages and right the way through to the end. It is quite simply a brilliant book. Extremely well written, beautifully drawn characters, dialogue you truly believe in. I learned so much from it. Not about how to steal houses (!!!) but about the emotions and potential difficulties of being a teenager today. I loved the lead characters as well as everyone in the family who live in the butter yellow house. One of my favorite ever books. And that's huge praise and love as I read a lot of novels but rarely fall for one.

A tale of found family, sunbeams, glitter, caramel waffles and so much love; it will tear you apart at the seams and stitch you back together with yellow thread and mismatched buttons.I fell in love with the entire cast, particularly Sam, Avery, Moxie and the De Lainey twins. The main character Sam, is a sweet, soft and anxious boy who will descend into a red mist of pure fury if you happen to look wrong at his autistic brother. The character development was pure perfection with both Sam and Avery, I just wanted to wrap them up and take them away from this world that had treated them so badly. Both were adorable. And as for the De Laineys - what an awesome cyclone of chaos to sweep up broken and lost boys.This book is also an #ownvoices rep for Autism, fleshing out a beautifully flawed and real Autistic character, Avery, with so much care and love.If you want a book that leaves you desperate to be part of the cast and wrapped in sunshine, then grab yourself a plate of brownies, pull up a chair at the De Laineys table and sit down with this. Now. Go do it.