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Versions of a Girl
'No other writer has ever made me laugh and cry as much as Catherine Gray' Daisy May Cooper
'Compulsive, edible, I devoured it' Holly Whitaker, New York Times bestelling author of Quit Like A Woman
Do we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them?
Fern's mother is a social climber and a former ballet dancer who lives a plush life in a London townhouse.
Fern's father only climbs if there's a bottle at the top, has an IQ of 133 and lives hand-to-mouth in Californian motels.
Aged fourteen, Fern has spent equal time with each of her parents. That is, until an unexpected visitor triggers a life-changing dilemma: whether she should get on a plane to London to be with her mother, or stay in California with her father. Here, Fern's narrative splices in two.
Two possible lives, one person. Each Fern will grow in wildly different, but eerily similar directions. Both must determine who they want to be - and how they deal with a thorny problem which threatens to undo them all: a murder.
Warm and brilliantly wise, this is the irresistible fiction debut from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.
'Compulsive, edible, I devoured it' Holly Whitaker, New York Times bestelling author of Quit Like A Woman
Do we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them?
Fern's mother is a social climber and a former ballet dancer who lives a plush life in a London townhouse.
Fern's father only climbs if there's a bottle at the top, has an IQ of 133 and lives hand-to-mouth in Californian motels.
Aged fourteen, Fern has spent equal time with each of her parents. That is, until an unexpected visitor triggers a life-changing dilemma: whether she should get on a plane to London to be with her mother, or stay in California with her father. Here, Fern's narrative splices in two.
Two possible lives, one person. Each Fern will grow in wildly different, but eerily similar directions. Both must determine who they want to be - and how they deal with a thorny problem which threatens to undo them all: a murder.
Warm and brilliantly wise, this is the irresistible fiction debut from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.
Hardcover
Published July 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
August 18, 2024
I absolutely loved reading Catherine Gray’s debut novel, couldn’t put it down. The writing and character development of Fern/Flick was well done, and kept me curious till the end if - indeed, as is the book’s premise, Fern/Flick becomes a copy of her parents, or finds the courage to become their own person. It’s a sometimes light, sometimes dark look at childhood trauma and family dynamics and the influence of place, people and class. Two stories that tell one tale; a wise lesson about the grass on the other side, while keeping the reader hooked through an intriguing underlying mystery. I’ll definitely read her next one!
July 5, 2024
"Versions of a Girl" by Catherine Gray is an emotionally gripping novel that delves into the impact of parental influence and life choices.
At fourteen, Fern's life splits into two narratives: one where she stays in California with her loving but flawed alcoholic father, and another where she moves to London with her controlling, social-climbing mother.
The parallel lives of Fern/ Flick are explored with depth, showing how their different environments shape their personalities and decisions.
Gray’s writing captivates with its complex characters and thought-provoking plot. Fern’s father, despite his flaws, stands out with his deep love for his daughter, adding emotional weight to the story.
The suspense and twists kept me engaged,and I found it to be a very interesting read and I can’t remember reading anything similar so far.
Overall, "Versions of a Girl" is an intriguing, heartfelt read that I highly recommended for fans of contemporary fiction with a psychological twist.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own.
At fourteen, Fern's life splits into two narratives: one where she stays in California with her loving but flawed alcoholic father, and another where she moves to London with her controlling, social-climbing mother.
The parallel lives of Fern/ Flick are explored with depth, showing how their different environments shape their personalities and decisions.
Gray’s writing captivates with its complex characters and thought-provoking plot. Fern’s father, despite his flaws, stands out with his deep love for his daughter, adding emotional weight to the story.
The suspense and twists kept me engaged,and I found it to be a very interesting read and I can’t remember reading anything similar so far.
Overall, "Versions of a Girl" is an intriguing, heartfelt read that I highly recommended for fans of contemporary fiction with a psychological twist.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own.
May 21, 2025
The writing style was not my cup of tea, and it didn't endear me to the MC from the get-go, then I found it very hard to connect with and root for her. I so wanted to like the 'revolving door' premise, but found it confusing and a little bit the same, so much so I had to skip back or forth to reckon whose POV I was reading, which then didn't allow me to get into the book fully.
The writing, and especially the opening, felt very convoluted and overly wordy, the POV not immersive enough, unfortunately.
The writing, and especially the opening, felt very convoluted and overly wordy, the POV not immersive enough, unfortunately.
May 28, 2025
I struggled to finish this - it was so incredibly tedious, I had no attachment to any of the characters or plot points.
I picked it up randomly at the book store because the premise seemed really interesting, how one girl's life can be different depending on which of her divorced parents she lives with. But holy moly, the way the author goes about outlining the two timelines made me feel like I needed a physics degree to understand what was happening and when.
I picked it up randomly at the book store because the premise seemed really interesting, how one girl's life can be different depending on which of her divorced parents she lives with. But holy moly, the way the author goes about outlining the two timelines made me feel like I needed a physics degree to understand what was happening and when.
October 12, 2024
Charming, with solid characters and an original structure... but a few too many cliches tipped me over the edge and I got bored.
March 30, 2025
A quirky novel with alternate viewpoints from Fern/Flick exploring what would happen if she stayed with her dad/mum and lived her life.
The start of the novel reminded me of a YA novel I’ve read where teen daughter and deadbeat dad are battling addictions and living the motel way of life. So I was pleased when the story veered off into the alternate versions of Fern, and it gave so much more.
Format on kindle did leave me slightly confused at times about timelines but I grew to love this way of storytelling pretty quickly.
The story gives hope, found family, bad decisions, parenting differences, unresolved murder and a dog ❤️ and I really really loved it.
A 4.5⭐️ read
The start of the novel reminded me of a YA novel I’ve read where teen daughter and deadbeat dad are battling addictions and living the motel way of life. So I was pleased when the story veered off into the alternate versions of Fern, and it gave so much more.
Format on kindle did leave me slightly confused at times about timelines but I grew to love this way of storytelling pretty quickly.
The story gives hope, found family, bad decisions, parenting differences, unresolved murder and a dog ❤️ and I really really loved it.
A 4.5⭐️ read
September 28, 2025
I do love a ‘sliding doors’ style story! This book follows Fern and how her life changes when she is sent to live with her mother vs if she doesn’t get on the plane. Most of the characters are insufferable - I get that we’re supposed to feel the deep love her father has for her, and I did, but I couldn’t get past his neglect due to his addiction problems. *definitely read the physical book, the flipping back and forth between timelines was very confusing at times, I lost count of how many times I had to go back to the time line page!
October 12, 2024
The sliding doors plot keep me on my toes and makes it a captivating challenge to separate the two versions of the main character Fern/Flick. The story takes many a dark turns and it keeps me guessing how it will go right up until the end.
June 30, 2025
A lovely palette cleanser, written in a very creative way!
February 27, 2024
From The Cover📖
Do we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them? Fern's mother is a social climber and a former ballet dancer who lives a plush life in a London townhouse. Fern's father only climbs if there's a bottle at the top, has an IQ of 133 and lives hand-to-mouth in Californian motels. Aged fourteen, Fern has spent equal time with each of her parents. That is, until an unexpected visitor triggers a life-changing dilemma: whether she should get on a plane to London to be with her mother, or stay in California with her father. Here, Fern's narrative splices in two. Two possible lives, one person. Each Fern will grow in wildly different, but eerily similar directions. Both must determine who they want to be - and how they deal with a thorny problem which threatens to undo them all: a murder.
REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Told in the third person POV over duel timelines but with a twist we met Fern/Flick as she grows from a child into a young woman reflecting on her past and how it shaped her along with a slight mystery as to what has actually happened in the past. The twist being that about five chapters in there is a split in the “how it is now” timelines there is now two stories of the same girl each one showing what would have happened depending on a life changing decision she makes. This weaved with “how it was” timelines of which in we hear again the third person POV from her parents and other characters. All this makes for interesting reading, the layout really adds to the plot, I feel without this split the plot would have been quite weak. We move between Fern in America and Flick in London living very different lives but both lives lead the same way, it was really interesting to see this it made you think about a lot things and reflect on nature versus nature.
There is a lot going in terms of the plot, the underlaying one being the mystery of what happened to Fern/Flicks uncle this for me was really quite poorly plotted until the end in all honesty readin the more interesting parts I forgot this was a plot thread at times and it never really interested me. I found the human aspect to the plot far more interesting, there was a lot reflective writing all of which was tender and told with a truth,this where the book really levelled up into something quite fantastic.
The book comes to a conclusion that will leave readers feeling uplifted and feeling hopeful.
This a good book that will make you laugh and cry in equal measures. The writer shows real promise in her writing but I it still need a little work to make it great.
This would make a good book club pick.
Solid 3.5 stars
Do we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them? Fern's mother is a social climber and a former ballet dancer who lives a plush life in a London townhouse. Fern's father only climbs if there's a bottle at the top, has an IQ of 133 and lives hand-to-mouth in Californian motels. Aged fourteen, Fern has spent equal time with each of her parents. That is, until an unexpected visitor triggers a life-changing dilemma: whether she should get on a plane to London to be with her mother, or stay in California with her father. Here, Fern's narrative splices in two. Two possible lives, one person. Each Fern will grow in wildly different, but eerily similar directions. Both must determine who they want to be - and how they deal with a thorny problem which threatens to undo them all: a murder.
REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Told in the third person POV over duel timelines but with a twist we met Fern/Flick as she grows from a child into a young woman reflecting on her past and how it shaped her along with a slight mystery as to what has actually happened in the past. The twist being that about five chapters in there is a split in the “how it is now” timelines there is now two stories of the same girl each one showing what would have happened depending on a life changing decision she makes. This weaved with “how it was” timelines of which in we hear again the third person POV from her parents and other characters. All this makes for interesting reading, the layout really adds to the plot, I feel without this split the plot would have been quite weak. We move between Fern in America and Flick in London living very different lives but both lives lead the same way, it was really interesting to see this it made you think about a lot things and reflect on nature versus nature.
There is a lot going in terms of the plot, the underlaying one being the mystery of what happened to Fern/Flicks uncle this for me was really quite poorly plotted until the end in all honesty readin the more interesting parts I forgot this was a plot thread at times and it never really interested me. I found the human aspect to the plot far more interesting, there was a lot reflective writing all of which was tender and told with a truth,this where the book really levelled up into something quite fantastic.
The book comes to a conclusion that will leave readers feeling uplifted and feeling hopeful.
This a good book that will make you laugh and cry in equal measures. The writer shows real promise in her writing but I it still need a little work to make it great.
This would make a good book club pick.
Solid 3.5 stars
July 18, 2024
It was—not to put too fine a point on it— with bated breath that I waited for Versions of a Girl to hit the bookshops. I have been a fan of Catherine Gray’s since I was first introduced to her writing through, The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, many moons ago. It was indeed a joy to read a book on the subject of quitting alcohol all the while being entertained and then actually inspired to actually give it a go. Full disclosure, I read it with a glass of wine (who am I kidding— bottle!) and a packet of skinny menthol cigarettes. At the end I wanted to be in Cath’s gang and I tossed the lot. I went on to read The Unexpected Joy series and loved the way she wove her stories and anecdotes and her lovely turn of phrase. I laughed and I cried. What more can you ask for?
Release day came and I was not disappointed. Versions of a Girl is wonderfully bold and audacious and you will be fully entertained. The premise is brilliant — young girl reaches a fork in the road at age fourteen and there the story splits. On the one hand we have Fern, raising herself (and her da) in the US, and on the other we have Flick, being gromed and fashioned by her socialite mother in the UK.
The reader is taken on a journey into parallel lives but within the constraints of the same fundametal personality with, crucially, the same messy early childhood. In the wise words of the Jesuits ‘show me the boy at 7 yr and I’ll show you the man’. Questions fizz at the corners of your mind as you read — how are we formed? Nature or Nurture? How do our caregivers influence us? How do our peers influence us? What does addiction look like in different settings.
No spoilers here. My advice — Go read it!
Release day came and I was not disappointed. Versions of a Girl is wonderfully bold and audacious and you will be fully entertained. The premise is brilliant — young girl reaches a fork in the road at age fourteen and there the story splits. On the one hand we have Fern, raising herself (and her da) in the US, and on the other we have Flick, being gromed and fashioned by her socialite mother in the UK.
The reader is taken on a journey into parallel lives but within the constraints of the same fundametal personality with, crucially, the same messy early childhood. In the wise words of the Jesuits ‘show me the boy at 7 yr and I’ll show you the man’. Questions fizz at the corners of your mind as you read — how are we formed? Nature or Nurture? How do our caregivers influence us? How do our peers influence us? What does addiction look like in different settings.
No spoilers here. My advice — Go read it!
May 24, 2024
This is a fantastic sliding doors style novel about family, addiction, belonging, and second chances, which begs the question, do our upbringings make us the person we become? Fern/Flick has some seriously effed up parents whichever door she chooses - on one hand a loving but helpless alcoholic father who acts more like the child than the parent, and on the other, an uptight, unloving mother who is only happy with her when she’s in the spotlight. Either way, she never really stood much of a chance but for some wonderful friends made along the way.
This is a pretty emotional and devastating read at times, and if you’ve experienced addiction I have no doubt it will resonate a lot. But there’s also a surprising bit of mystery to the story which will keep you hooked (and wasn’t what I was expecting!), and a sense of hope by the time you turn the last page. I will admit I found the timelines a bit confusing at times, but it’s so worth persevering to see this character develop and grow against the odds - a truly brilliant fiction debut!
This is a pretty emotional and devastating read at times, and if you’ve experienced addiction I have no doubt it will resonate a lot. But there’s also a surprising bit of mystery to the story which will keep you hooked (and wasn’t what I was expecting!), and a sense of hope by the time you turn the last page. I will admit I found the timelines a bit confusing at times, but it’s so worth persevering to see this character develop and grow against the odds - a truly brilliant fiction debut!
July 5, 2024
I was so excited to read this as I love a “Sliding Doors” style story, but I found it very confusing and the writing style didn’t connect with me at all.
There didn’t seem to be much of a difference between Fern/Flick and the issues they faced in the two different outcomes were very similar. I didn’t like any of the characters, Fern’s parents were particularly unpleasant and Fern herself didn’t have any substance as a character, so it was hard to care about what happened to any of them.
I am an outlier in this one, so likely a case of wrong audience and I hope other readers will love it!
2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Catherine Gray and Headline for an ARC in return for an honest review.
There didn’t seem to be much of a difference between Fern/Flick and the issues they faced in the two different outcomes were very similar. I didn’t like any of the characters, Fern’s parents were particularly unpleasant and Fern herself didn’t have any substance as a character, so it was hard to care about what happened to any of them.
I am an outlier in this one, so likely a case of wrong audience and I hope other readers will love it!
2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Catherine Gray and Headline for an ARC in return for an honest review.
September 6, 2024
Versions of a Girl is a superb novel. Beautifully written, highly insightful and, well, USEFUL!
There are two timelines, where we follow the same girl through two different potential life paths. The backdrop to both lives is roughly the same: she has the same parents but at age seven, the novel splits, showing how her life would be lived out in parallel ‘universes’. One life takes place mostly in London and the other in the US.
It's actually very easy to follow the two timelines because the girl has different names in each life (Fern/Flick), and both her character and personality evolve differently. She’s the same person but – nature/nurture – she grows up under different circumstances that mould and shape who she becomes.
Versions of a Girl is extremely insightful, showing the [potential] lifelong impacts of events such as trauma, dysfunctional parenting, attachment wounds and addiction. The psychology is not facile; Fern/Flick’s experiences and relationships don’t necessarily have outcomes that one might expect. And the characters are not cardboard cutouts, but complex and multifaceted.
From the description of the book I was expecting quite a bit of drama and an interesting story. And it met those expectations. I wasn't expecting it to be so moving and even profound in parts. I wasn't expecting such amazing writing.
Catherine Gray has written some very popular books about addiction/sobriety, which is a topic close to my heart (alcohol played a big role in my own family history, and I’ve been sober since 2006). This theme is central to the narrative of Versions of a Girl, which shows the plain awfulness of addiction and what it does to individuals and their families. But it's also about sobriety and the joy of sobriety. In this respect, Versions of a Girl is a very successful melding of Grays’ non-fiction writing into a fictional context.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who might be interested in reading about addiction and sobriety, trauma and PTSD, family dynamics, etc. Or who might enjoy reflecting on the forks in the path of life. Do we become who we are because of our past or in spite of it?
My thanks to the publisher, author (@unexpectedjoyof) and @NetGalley_UK for providing an ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.
#NetGalley #NetGalley_UK #bookreview #VersionsOfAGirl #CatherineGray
There are two timelines, where we follow the same girl through two different potential life paths. The backdrop to both lives is roughly the same: she has the same parents but at age seven, the novel splits, showing how her life would be lived out in parallel ‘universes’. One life takes place mostly in London and the other in the US.
It's actually very easy to follow the two timelines because the girl has different names in each life (Fern/Flick), and both her character and personality evolve differently. She’s the same person but – nature/nurture – she grows up under different circumstances that mould and shape who she becomes.
Versions of a Girl is extremely insightful, showing the [potential] lifelong impacts of events such as trauma, dysfunctional parenting, attachment wounds and addiction. The psychology is not facile; Fern/Flick’s experiences and relationships don’t necessarily have outcomes that one might expect. And the characters are not cardboard cutouts, but complex and multifaceted.
From the description of the book I was expecting quite a bit of drama and an interesting story. And it met those expectations. I wasn't expecting it to be so moving and even profound in parts. I wasn't expecting such amazing writing.
Catherine Gray has written some very popular books about addiction/sobriety, which is a topic close to my heart (alcohol played a big role in my own family history, and I’ve been sober since 2006). This theme is central to the narrative of Versions of a Girl, which shows the plain awfulness of addiction and what it does to individuals and their families. But it's also about sobriety and the joy of sobriety. In this respect, Versions of a Girl is a very successful melding of Grays’ non-fiction writing into a fictional context.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who might be interested in reading about addiction and sobriety, trauma and PTSD, family dynamics, etc. Or who might enjoy reflecting on the forks in the path of life. Do we become who we are because of our past or in spite of it?
My thanks to the publisher, author (@unexpectedjoyof) and @NetGalley_UK for providing an ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.
#NetGalley #NetGalley_UK #bookreview #VersionsOfAGirl #CatherineGray
August 2, 2024
VERSIONS OF A GIRL
Versions of a Girl by Catherine Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
“Do we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them?”
—
Fern’s mother is a social climber living in a London townhouse. Fern’s father lives hand to mouth in Californian motels. She has spent equal time with both until, aged 14, an unexpected event triggers her to make a decision between going to London or staying in California. Two possible lives.
—
This book is definitely a book that requires your full attention as, not only is it told from multiple POVs, but there is also a split timeline, *and* there are time jumps between past, present and future. 😬 it was a little difficult to follow, but Fern having a different name (Flick) in one of the alternate timelines definitely helped
I mostly liked this! I thought it was gripping and I was really hooked on the mystery of the thing that triggered it all, Fern’s uncle’s death. I am fascinated by stories that are about alternate lives and follow different timelines of what could have happened if you made a different choice.
There was something so deeply human about this book. Everyone in this was flawed to some extent, and nobody made perfect choices 100% of the time. Everyone was some shade of grey (and some darker than others), they weren’t neatly slotted into “good person/bad person”. It showcased how much the people around you and your environment impact you.
Ultimately, the confusing way the story is told, despite the authors’ best efforts to make it as easy to follow as possible (including diagrams), trying to stay on track continuously took me out of the story and made it difficult to stay engaged. Alongside that, the book cover gives the impression that this will not be as dark as it was, and I think we should have spent more time with those heavy topics in with less of solving the mystery of Rory’s death.
Saying that, I would consider reading something by this author again, because I was still entertained and loved the concept.
TW: CSA/pedophilia, murder, toxic parent, alcoholism, abandonment, rape
Versions of a Girl by Catherine Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
“Do we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them?”
—
Fern’s mother is a social climber living in a London townhouse. Fern’s father lives hand to mouth in Californian motels. She has spent equal time with both until, aged 14, an unexpected event triggers her to make a decision between going to London or staying in California. Two possible lives.
—
This book is definitely a book that requires your full attention as, not only is it told from multiple POVs, but there is also a split timeline, *and* there are time jumps between past, present and future. 😬 it was a little difficult to follow, but Fern having a different name (Flick) in one of the alternate timelines definitely helped
I mostly liked this! I thought it was gripping and I was really hooked on the mystery of the thing that triggered it all, Fern’s uncle’s death. I am fascinated by stories that are about alternate lives and follow different timelines of what could have happened if you made a different choice.
There was something so deeply human about this book. Everyone in this was flawed to some extent, and nobody made perfect choices 100% of the time. Everyone was some shade of grey (and some darker than others), they weren’t neatly slotted into “good person/bad person”. It showcased how much the people around you and your environment impact you.
Ultimately, the confusing way the story is told, despite the authors’ best efforts to make it as easy to follow as possible (including diagrams), trying to stay on track continuously took me out of the story and made it difficult to stay engaged. Alongside that, the book cover gives the impression that this will not be as dark as it was, and I think we should have spent more time with those heavy topics in with less of solving the mystery of Rory’s death.
Saying that, I would consider reading something by this author again, because I was still entertained and loved the concept.
TW: CSA/pedophilia, murder, toxic parent, alcoholism, abandonment, rape
July 9, 2024
It will be challenging for me to put into words how much I enjoyed this book, but I will do my best.
The premise itself is engaging. Fern had experienced a difficult upbringing already by age 14, but when faced with the choice to either go and live in the UK with her mother or stay in California with her father, the novel splits into two parallel timelines.
At its core, this novel explores the influences our earliest relationships have on us as we grow into adulthood. Both of Fern’s parents are extremely different, though have equally flawed parenting styles. Her father is more kindly, but is an alcoholic and isn’t able to provide stability. Her mother vibes Mrs. Coulter from His Dark Materials, showing off her daughter at prestigious parties and attempting to mould her in her own image, living through Fern and her successes as if they are her own.
The novel also occasionally switches to POVs other than Fern’s, however, this is not frequent and is always done to further the story or provide interesting insights.
The storylines are packed with family secrets, twists and turns. Moments I thought were predictable turned out to be red herrings all along and I found it difficult to put the book down, eager to find out what would happen next.
There are a few trigger warnings as this is a rather heavy story, touching on sensitive issues such as sexual abuse, alcoholism, drug misuse and more. It is clear to see how Fern’s parallel upbringings have influenced her in different ways. There is an exploration of adult survivors of narcissistic abuse and how our attachment styles as adults can be influenced by our childhood experiences.
Despite the intensity of both directions, which definitely prompts to reader to wonder ‘what if’ about their own life, the ending to both directions were satisfying and left me feeling hopeful about my own future.
I received an advance reader copy of this book, which in no way affects my review. This review is voluntary.
The premise itself is engaging. Fern had experienced a difficult upbringing already by age 14, but when faced with the choice to either go and live in the UK with her mother or stay in California with her father, the novel splits into two parallel timelines.
At its core, this novel explores the influences our earliest relationships have on us as we grow into adulthood. Both of Fern’s parents are extremely different, though have equally flawed parenting styles. Her father is more kindly, but is an alcoholic and isn’t able to provide stability. Her mother vibes Mrs. Coulter from His Dark Materials, showing off her daughter at prestigious parties and attempting to mould her in her own image, living through Fern and her successes as if they are her own.
The novel also occasionally switches to POVs other than Fern’s, however, this is not frequent and is always done to further the story or provide interesting insights.
The storylines are packed with family secrets, twists and turns. Moments I thought were predictable turned out to be red herrings all along and I found it difficult to put the book down, eager to find out what would happen next.
There are a few trigger warnings as this is a rather heavy story, touching on sensitive issues such as sexual abuse, alcoholism, drug misuse and more. It is clear to see how Fern’s parallel upbringings have influenced her in different ways. There is an exploration of adult survivors of narcissistic abuse and how our attachment styles as adults can be influenced by our childhood experiences.
Despite the intensity of both directions, which definitely prompts to reader to wonder ‘what if’ about their own life, the ending to both directions were satisfying and left me feeling hopeful about my own future.
I received an advance reader copy of this book, which in no way affects my review. This review is voluntary.
April 8, 2024
An amazing and intriguing read. Catherine conjures up such vivid imagery and atmosphere, a true wordsmith. The words of the author evoked such compelling curiosity to read on! I was engrossed and engaged from the very beginning. As a reader with a huge interest in psychopathology, Catherine held me captive throughout the story with psychological insights into attachment, developmental trauma, personality development/disorders, emotions, and behaviour. Versions of a Girl examines 2 diverse and fascinating vignettes regarding Fern/Flick's life experiences, emotional development, and insecure attachment to both parents who were harrowingly neglectful and dysfunctional in their own ways, driven by their own demons. What a tale and exploration of the nature/nurture debate, the genetic and environmental influences on the personality development of the insecurely attached child.
When I managed to have uninterrupted pockets of time to devote to it, I devoured it!
In the midst of the many ‘life fires’ I read about, I had a disturbing and intense sense of the depth of Fern/Flick’s pain, anguish, depravity, and low self-worth, a dark and lonely place. A product of neglect resulting in tortuous insecurity, so hard to form healthy relationships due to mistrust in others, the world, and herself.
BUT! She got there in the end, our vulnerable but courageous heroine of the piece!
Such a well-considered, satisfactory, and hopeful ending! What a gripping journey the author has created. A cleverly crafted must-read. Given the twists and revelations at the end of the book, I look forward impatiently to the next writings from Catherine Gray.
When I managed to have uninterrupted pockets of time to devote to it, I devoured it!
In the midst of the many ‘life fires’ I read about, I had a disturbing and intense sense of the depth of Fern/Flick’s pain, anguish, depravity, and low self-worth, a dark and lonely place. A product of neglect resulting in tortuous insecurity, so hard to form healthy relationships due to mistrust in others, the world, and herself.
BUT! She got there in the end, our vulnerable but courageous heroine of the piece!
Such a well-considered, satisfactory, and hopeful ending! What a gripping journey the author has created. A cleverly crafted must-read. Given the twists and revelations at the end of the book, I look forward impatiently to the next writings from Catherine Gray.
July 22, 2024
For the first 7yrs of her life, Fern is raised by her mother, then for the next 7yrs she is raised by her father. At the age of 14, her timeline splits into two - one follows her life if she had stayed with her dad and the other follows her life if she had returned to her mother. But both timelines will converge on the same point, when at the age of 34, Fern turns herself in to the Northern Ireland police near her father's family estate.
Sometimes the timelines were a little confusing but for the most part it was easy enough to follow. It was interesting to see the different things Fern would have done, depending on which parent she was with, but some of the issues she faces are the same in both timelines. It seems she can't get away from the drugs and alcohol, no matter which parent she's with. Though in both timelines she gets clean - one timeline by going to rehab and the other by having the support network of adults her love her around her to help her out.
Before she can turn herself in, Fern finds out something huge about her early childhood. It doesn't change anything for her, but it at least helps her make some sense of her life.
This was a really enjoyable story, and I really felt for Fern because all she ever wanted was to be love and have some structure in her life and while one parent provided love and the other provided some structure, neither were able to bring themselves to give her both. It took a long time for Fern to find happiness but she does eventually and both timelines end with her returning to her father's family estate.
Thanks to NetGalley & Headline for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Sometimes the timelines were a little confusing but for the most part it was easy enough to follow. It was interesting to see the different things Fern would have done, depending on which parent she was with, but some of the issues she faces are the same in both timelines. It seems she can't get away from the drugs and alcohol, no matter which parent she's with. Though in both timelines she gets clean - one timeline by going to rehab and the other by having the support network of adults her love her around her to help her out.
Before she can turn herself in, Fern finds out something huge about her early childhood. It doesn't change anything for her, but it at least helps her make some sense of her life.
This was a really enjoyable story, and I really felt for Fern because all she ever wanted was to be love and have some structure in her life and while one parent provided love and the other provided some structure, neither were able to bring themselves to give her both. It took a long time for Fern to find happiness but she does eventually and both timelines end with her returning to her father's family estate.
Thanks to NetGalley & Headline for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
July 4, 2024
💬 My Bookish Thoughts
This Sliding Doors-esque novel that delves deep into the concept of dual narratives and how our lives can change based on a single decision. At the age of fourteen, Fern's story splits after she has spent equal time with her damaged parents. We follow Fern, who stays in America with her alcoholic but loving father, and Flick, who is raised by her loveless, dominating, ex-ballet dancer, social-climbing mother in the UK.
Fern/Flick is a complex character, and I was fascinated by how the author played with her personality, lifestyle, and emotions impacted by the split narrative. The third-person storytelling of these parallel lives required my full concentration to keep up with the different timelines, but the distinct names for each narrative—Fern and Flick—helped immensely.
One standout character for me was Fern's father. Despite his many flaws, his deep love for his daughter was clear and added a layer of real interest to the story.
Coming from a broken family there were many aspects I could relate to, at times I feel quite emotional reading about her parents and the impact of their flaws had on their daughter. I have always wondered what my life would have been like if I had chosen to live with my other parent.
The book is full of suspense and twists, keeping me engaged throughout. However, as much as I love the cover, I felt it didn't quite reflect the serious topics covered in the story.
Overall this novel would make a great book club read, sparking discussions about how our choices shape our lives and the enduring impact of our parents' influence.
CW/TW: Please be aware, this book could contain mentions of paedophilia, drug and alcohol abuse, parental neglect and murder.
Thank you to NetGalley, Headline Books and Mountain Leopard Press for gifting me a digital proof copy in return for an honest review.
This Sliding Doors-esque novel that delves deep into the concept of dual narratives and how our lives can change based on a single decision. At the age of fourteen, Fern's story splits after she has spent equal time with her damaged parents. We follow Fern, who stays in America with her alcoholic but loving father, and Flick, who is raised by her loveless, dominating, ex-ballet dancer, social-climbing mother in the UK.
Fern/Flick is a complex character, and I was fascinated by how the author played with her personality, lifestyle, and emotions impacted by the split narrative. The third-person storytelling of these parallel lives required my full concentration to keep up with the different timelines, but the distinct names for each narrative—Fern and Flick—helped immensely.
One standout character for me was Fern's father. Despite his many flaws, his deep love for his daughter was clear and added a layer of real interest to the story.
Coming from a broken family there were many aspects I could relate to, at times I feel quite emotional reading about her parents and the impact of their flaws had on their daughter. I have always wondered what my life would have been like if I had chosen to live with my other parent.
The book is full of suspense and twists, keeping me engaged throughout. However, as much as I love the cover, I felt it didn't quite reflect the serious topics covered in the story.
Overall this novel would make a great book club read, sparking discussions about how our choices shape our lives and the enduring impact of our parents' influence.
CW/TW: Please be aware, this book could contain mentions of paedophilia, drug and alcohol abuse, parental neglect and murder.
Thank you to NetGalley, Headline Books and Mountain Leopard Press for gifting me a digital proof copy in return for an honest review.
July 4, 2024
I was excited to read this book as Catherine Gray has written some great quitlit books already, and I liked the idea of the plot.
It was, for me, similar to a book I’ve read before ’When Polly Won the Lottery’ and the two versions of what might happen to her and it reminded me in a very small way of The Midnight Library.
It’s a story about choices, about addiction, about confusion, about motherhood and fatherhood too. Fern is dumped on her father by her mother and he takes her off to America after an ‘accident’ kills her uncle in Ireland. We then learn from flashbacks in time about the story leading up to all the events. Then in one version Fern stays with her father in the states and in another she returns to England to be with her mother initially for a holiday but that gets extended. Her mother encourages her to be Flick (as her middle name is Felicity and Fern was her father’s choice of name) and she lives a very different life to that of Fern.
Honestly, I found it all quite confusing, both Fern and Flick seem to have the same problems in both lives, kind of in the ‘sliding doors’ theme that what’s for you won’t go past you - as my grandmother used to say.
Sadly it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t really like any of the characters so I didn’t get invested in Fern or Flick, nor her parents.
My thanks go to the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for an advanced e.reader copy of this book.
It was, for me, similar to a book I’ve read before ’When Polly Won the Lottery’ and the two versions of what might happen to her and it reminded me in a very small way of The Midnight Library.
It’s a story about choices, about addiction, about confusion, about motherhood and fatherhood too. Fern is dumped on her father by her mother and he takes her off to America after an ‘accident’ kills her uncle in Ireland. We then learn from flashbacks in time about the story leading up to all the events. Then in one version Fern stays with her father in the states and in another she returns to England to be with her mother initially for a holiday but that gets extended. Her mother encourages her to be Flick (as her middle name is Felicity and Fern was her father’s choice of name) and she lives a very different life to that of Fern.
Honestly, I found it all quite confusing, both Fern and Flick seem to have the same problems in both lives, kind of in the ‘sliding doors’ theme that what’s for you won’t go past you - as my grandmother used to say.
Sadly it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t really like any of the characters so I didn’t get invested in Fern or Flick, nor her parents.
My thanks go to the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for an advanced e.reader copy of this book.
July 19, 2024
Versions of a Girl is an intriguing, character-driven novel. The narrative starts with Fern living with her chaotic, alcoholic father and soon splits into two ‘what would happen’ narratives - one where Fern stays with her dad in America and one where she leaves to go to live with her selfish mother in London. Her two possible lives become very different as we see the lasting effects of one momentary decision…
The characters in this novel are really interesting. Fern is a complex character and makes some terrible decisions at times but I really felt for her as a small child, dealing with her father, who had a good heart but was so neglectful. He had many personal demons to cope with, as did her mother.
There’s an element of mystery which kept me intrigued and some twists which I enjoyed. The novel also has some dark themes running through it, which add weight to the story.
I always enjoy novels that explore the 'how would one decision change the course of your life' idea, and this novel does it well. It could be a little confusing at times to tell what year we were in, but overall I really enjoyed this novel and learning more about Fern/ Flick’s character as she grew up. A recommended read!
The characters in this novel are really interesting. Fern is a complex character and makes some terrible decisions at times but I really felt for her as a small child, dealing with her father, who had a good heart but was so neglectful. He had many personal demons to cope with, as did her mother.
There’s an element of mystery which kept me intrigued and some twists which I enjoyed. The novel also has some dark themes running through it, which add weight to the story.
I always enjoy novels that explore the 'how would one decision change the course of your life' idea, and this novel does it well. It could be a little confusing at times to tell what year we were in, but overall I really enjoyed this novel and learning more about Fern/ Flick’s character as she grew up. A recommended read!
May 4, 2025
Déjà, la couverture est wahou.
J’ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Fern/Flick. L’auteure a bien réfléchi à comment les mêmes traits de caractères pourraient se manifester différemment dans deux mondes parallèles, mais j’aurais adoré si cela avait été poussé encore plus loin. J’ai trouvé les personnages secondaires super bien choisis et intégrés dans l’histoire (mais par contre entre Doug, Scout et les autres, les noms étaient trop proches......). Le suspens est bien géré. Le style est fluide et drôle et les thèmes abordés des traumatismes dans l’enfance, des classes sociales, du regard de l'autre, de l’addiction (aux substances, à l’attention, à l’amour) sont intéressants. La narratice de l’audiobook avait un accent irlandais donc j’étais dans l’ambiance. La construction des chapitres entre les différents points de vue, mondes parallèles et flashback/présent est très bien gérée pour rendre la lecture sans prise de tête, chaque personnages à son style de narration.
Mais j’ai quand même une pointe de déception parce que je pense qu’avec ce concept cela aurait pû être encore mieux. L’enquête qui est menée aurait pu se faire en décalé dans les deux mondes parallèles, avec certains aspects que Fern saurait que Flick ne saurait pas et inversement.
J’ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Fern/Flick. L’auteure a bien réfléchi à comment les mêmes traits de caractères pourraient se manifester différemment dans deux mondes parallèles, mais j’aurais adoré si cela avait été poussé encore plus loin. J’ai trouvé les personnages secondaires super bien choisis et intégrés dans l’histoire (mais par contre entre Doug, Scout et les autres, les noms étaient trop proches......). Le suspens est bien géré. Le style est fluide et drôle et les thèmes abordés des traumatismes dans l’enfance, des classes sociales, du regard de l'autre, de l’addiction (aux substances, à l’attention, à l’amour) sont intéressants. La narratice de l’audiobook avait un accent irlandais donc j’étais dans l’ambiance. La construction des chapitres entre les différents points de vue, mondes parallèles et flashback/présent est très bien gérée pour rendre la lecture sans prise de tête, chaque personnages à son style de narration.
Mais j’ai quand même une pointe de déception parce que je pense qu’avec ce concept cela aurait pû être encore mieux. L’enquête qui est menée aurait pu se faire en décalé dans les deux mondes parallèles, avec certains aspects que Fern saurait que Flick ne saurait pas et inversement.
May 20, 2024
I raced through this intoxicating novel in just 2 days – it’s a breathtaking ride!
Versions of a Girl is a unique novel with an interesting premise, looking at two versions of the same girl, whose timeline splits when she is 14. Fern was abandoned by her mother aged 7 and since then has lived a hand to mouth existence in the States with her boozehound Irish musician dad. Aged 14, she is summoned to live with her mum, now a well-heeled social climber, in London. And this is where the timeline splits. Fern stays in the States with dad. ‘Flick’ returns to London to be finessed and fussed over by her neurotic, narcissistic mother. Two possible lives. One person. And an unsolved murder back home in Ireland, many years before. Each Fern takes a different direction in life, yet they both end up a hot mess.
This novel asks big questions about the nature / nurture debate, is full of hilariously sharp one-liners, jerks tears of both joy and sadness AND has a huge twist at the end! What more could you ask? Fern/ Flick is a delightful, wild and headstrong character with an authentic, believable voice, and you’ll be rooting for her every step of the way!
Versions of a Girl is a unique novel with an interesting premise, looking at two versions of the same girl, whose timeline splits when she is 14. Fern was abandoned by her mother aged 7 and since then has lived a hand to mouth existence in the States with her boozehound Irish musician dad. Aged 14, she is summoned to live with her mum, now a well-heeled social climber, in London. And this is where the timeline splits. Fern stays in the States with dad. ‘Flick’ returns to London to be finessed and fussed over by her neurotic, narcissistic mother. Two possible lives. One person. And an unsolved murder back home in Ireland, many years before. Each Fern takes a different direction in life, yet they both end up a hot mess.
This novel asks big questions about the nature / nurture debate, is full of hilariously sharp one-liners, jerks tears of both joy and sadness AND has a huge twist at the end! What more could you ask? Fern/ Flick is a delightful, wild and headstrong character with an authentic, believable voice, and you’ll be rooting for her every step of the way!
July 13, 2024
A multi-dimensional, multi-genre miracle of a life
In the ever-present debate between nature vs nurture, there's no clear winner; in fact, nature and nurture appear to be equally important. In Versions Of A Girl, Gray takes this philosophical duality in hand and looks at both sides of a what-if scenario: what if pubescent Fern stayed with her rocker father in their precarious life? Or what if Fern flew back to her demanding mother in England and the middle class milieu her mother had clawed herself into? Versions gives you both Ferns, or Fern and Flick respectively, and shows you the highlights reel of a life that didn't start in exactly the way that all the adults said it did.
This book has everything: thriller and suspense, a long running mystery that gets cleared up in dribs and drabs; YA/NA adventures on both sides of the pond; middle class snobbery and salt-of-the-earth camaraderie; rocky marriages and same sex longing; high art and academic excellence; joy and tragedy, love and friendship. I can't think anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book. Not populist but just a damn good read.
In the ever-present debate between nature vs nurture, there's no clear winner; in fact, nature and nurture appear to be equally important. In Versions Of A Girl, Gray takes this philosophical duality in hand and looks at both sides of a what-if scenario: what if pubescent Fern stayed with her rocker father in their precarious life? Or what if Fern flew back to her demanding mother in England and the middle class milieu her mother had clawed herself into? Versions gives you both Ferns, or Fern and Flick respectively, and shows you the highlights reel of a life that didn't start in exactly the way that all the adults said it did.
This book has everything: thriller and suspense, a long running mystery that gets cleared up in dribs and drabs; YA/NA adventures on both sides of the pond; middle class snobbery and salt-of-the-earth camaraderie; rocky marriages and same sex longing; high art and academic excellence; joy and tragedy, love and friendship. I can't think anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book. Not populist but just a damn good read.
July 26, 2024
Not a perfect book, but a very good one - and quite different from anything I're read before. I enjoyed the Sliding Doors-style plot, with Fern's/Flick's life somehow magically splitting off into two different paths - one where she moves to America with her sympathetic but alcoholic father, and another where she ends up in London with her not very nice (to put it mildly) mother.
Fern/Flick herself is a beautifully realised character and some of the best parts of the book are when she grapples with her relationships with those around her - and in particular her deeply flawed parents. The weakest part is the murder mystery the book is built around. The 'who pushed Rory' storyline was pretty far fetched and, while I did care about Fern/Flick, I found myself struggling to care about how it would resolve. Some of the minor characters verge on caricature as well.
But overall I enjoyed this original and interesting book - and I would happily read another by this author.
Fern/Flick herself is a beautifully realised character and some of the best parts of the book are when she grapples with her relationships with those around her - and in particular her deeply flawed parents. The weakest part is the murder mystery the book is built around. The 'who pushed Rory' storyline was pretty far fetched and, while I did care about Fern/Flick, I found myself struggling to care about how it would resolve. Some of the minor characters verge on caricature as well.
But overall I enjoyed this original and interesting book - and I would happily read another by this author.
May 29, 2024
This book is an absolute exceptional read, I could not put it down and found myself savouring chapters to prolong this treat of a read which will take you on a beautiful emotional journey following Flick and Fern through their twists and turns of life.
The time line, character development and way the individual paths are woven together is really clever. It is such a delicately complex layer of tales, yet such an easy read.
The chapter lengths are very bite sized so the book is easy to pick up and put down with out feeling you will miss something or have to catch up.
The descriptions and Fern/Flicks narratives are so honest, witty, intelligent and poetic I found myself re-reading so much text with a big smile on my face.
I laughed and cried, and found this read heartwarming and uplifting.
Can't wait for the next, thank you Catherine!
The time line, character development and way the individual paths are woven together is really clever. It is such a delicately complex layer of tales, yet such an easy read.
The chapter lengths are very bite sized so the book is easy to pick up and put down with out feeling you will miss something or have to catch up.
The descriptions and Fern/Flicks narratives are so honest, witty, intelligent and poetic I found myself re-reading so much text with a big smile on my face.
I laughed and cried, and found this read heartwarming and uplifting.
Can't wait for the next, thank you Catherine!
June 30, 2024
Fern's mother is a social climber and a former ballet dancer who lives a plush life in a London townhouse.
Fern's father only climbs if there's a bottle at the top, has an IQ of 133 and lives hand-to-mouth in Californian motels.
Aged fourteen, Fern has spent equal time with each of her parents. That is, until an unexpected visitor triggers a life-changing whether she should get on a plane to London to be with her mother, or stay in California with her father. Here, Fern's narrative splices in two.
I am a big fan of Gray's writing having read most of her books so I was intrigued to see what her foray into fiction would be like and it hasn't disappointed.
Fern's split narrative brought up some interesting plot lines and I found it really interested. These are real, flawed characters. Yet Gray portrays them with grace and verve.
Fern's father only climbs if there's a bottle at the top, has an IQ of 133 and lives hand-to-mouth in Californian motels.
Aged fourteen, Fern has spent equal time with each of her parents. That is, until an unexpected visitor triggers a life-changing whether she should get on a plane to London to be with her mother, or stay in California with her father. Here, Fern's narrative splices in two.
I am a big fan of Gray's writing having read most of her books so I was intrigued to see what her foray into fiction would be like and it hasn't disappointed.
Fern's split narrative brought up some interesting plot lines and I found it really interested. These are real, flawed characters. Yet Gray portrays them with grace and verve.
July 9, 2024
At the age of fourteen, Fern has spent the same amount of time with each parent, but it has come to a point where she has to choose which parent she wants to stay with - Her mother in the UK, or her father in California. This is where the story splits and we get to follow each version - Fern who stays in America with her Dad who is loving anough, but struggles to care for Fern properly and Flick (thankful for the name change for making it easier to follow!) who moves to live with her cold, strict mother who only seems to pay Flick any attention when she can gain something from her.
This was not as complex a read as it could have been, the different names for the main character really helped with that! It was so interesting to see the impact that the different upbringing and surroundings had on Fern/Flick and really highlighted how one decision can have a huge effect on your life.
This was not as complex a read as it could have been, the different names for the main character really helped with that! It was so interesting to see the impact that the different upbringing and surroundings had on Fern/Flick and really highlighted how one decision can have a huge effect on your life.
July 17, 2024
Reminiscent of Sliding Doors, Versions of a Girl has a fun cover that looks like it could be conventional chick-lit, but was unexpectedly heavy, showing us how one decision can shape a whole life. One path sees our protagonist Fern/Flick stay in the US with her father, the other has her move to the UK with her mother (both extremely imperfect people and parents). Along the way, we learn about family, the reality of addiction, and the possibility of second chances.
I found the parallel narrative structure tricky to follow at first and it took me a while to get into, but ended up hooking me - this would be a great book club pick as there's so much to delve into. It really has a bit of everything: murder mystery/thriller and suspense, a coming-of-age story, love and painful relationships. A brilliant debut! Grateful to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC.
I found the parallel narrative structure tricky to follow at first and it took me a while to get into, but ended up hooking me - this would be a great book club pick as there's so much to delve into. It really has a bit of everything: murder mystery/thriller and suspense, a coming-of-age story, love and painful relationships. A brilliant debut! Grateful to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC.
September 12, 2024
Absolutely loved this book!
It’s an emotional novel that packs a punch and I couldn’t put it down, especially once I learned the twist, which kept me hooked and turning every page eagerly. A lovely piece of writing, I found Gray’s writing beautiful -- I'm new to this author and love it when I find an author I can enjoy and recommend to others -- and it absolutely pulled me in, between the plot and the twist, the characters, and the emotionally charged themes, this was an absolute pleasure to read and I would absolutely recommend it to everyone, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction or a book they can connect emotionally with.
I haven’t read anything else by Catherine Gray but this novel will definitely have me looking into her past works as her writing is lovely and really enjoyable to read.
It’s an emotional novel that packs a punch and I couldn’t put it down, especially once I learned the twist, which kept me hooked and turning every page eagerly. A lovely piece of writing, I found Gray’s writing beautiful -- I'm new to this author and love it when I find an author I can enjoy and recommend to others -- and it absolutely pulled me in, between the plot and the twist, the characters, and the emotionally charged themes, this was an absolute pleasure to read and I would absolutely recommend it to everyone, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction or a book they can connect emotionally with.
I haven’t read anything else by Catherine Gray but this novel will definitely have me looking into her past works as her writing is lovely and really enjoyable to read.
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