The Untended

by Mattea Kramer

For fans of Rachel Kushner and Gillian Flynn, a gritty contemporary debut novel that puts Katniss Everdeen into Euphoria.

Casch Abbey is a waitress, single mom, and recreational boxer who falls in love first with a veteran who secretly grows pot on a rich man’s land in Vermont’s Green Mountains, and then with a painkiller that eases her long-buried pain.

After her foot is crushed under the wheel of a station wagon, Casch loses her waitressing gig and goes broke—and the meds for her foot are her only source of relief. But when the drug is recalled due to outcries of widespread addiction, Casch’s dependence imperils her already tenuous life, as cravings lead her into her small town’s simmering netherworld.

Intimate and exhilarating, The Untended will upend your every assumption about who is a hero and who is worthy of love.

Genres: Fiction

312 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2025

Reviews

[brewdy_reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @shewritespress + @booksparks for the finished copy. ♡

A character study of Casch Alley, single mom, who works diner shifts to pay the bills and take care of her kids.

I wasn't expecting a romance subplot, although I wasn't mad about it. Topher is one of the only characters I loved. He has his own issues (PTSD) after coming home from Afganistan.

This is a grim tale of the slippery slope to addiction, with a nod to big pharma's role in enabling it. I felt anxiety watching Casch spiral into a pit of bad decisions as finding her next high takes over her life. Colonialism and race issues are given passing mentions but are not explored. The ending was satisfying.

This was described by the publisher as "a gritty debut that puts Katniss Everdeen into Euphoria"... I can't say I agree with that, but this was reminiscent of The Many Lives of Mama Love, in fiction format. It also has shades of Demon Copperhead. Both of those had more depth & were more emotional reads, while this is fast-paced, almost thriller-like, with less character depth.

A bingeable debut.

TW: Drug Abuse, Child Abuse, Addiction, Rape (off page)

[Stacy40pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Untended by Mattea Kramer. Thanks to @shewritespress for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Casch is a single mother making do as a waitress. When she breaks her foot, she becomes addicted to the pills which are then recalled leaving her in a spiral.

Despite being over 300 pages, I read this one in one evening. It was very difficult to put down once it started. I was very invested in Casch’s story. It was so realistic as to how fast she spiraled. I think it did a great job of showing it can happen to anyone. I wasn’t as invested in the other storylines but I did like how the characters related and came together.

“Being a single mom, it was always one step forward, two steps back - or in this case two hundred steps back.”

The Untended comes out 5/6.

[Taryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Untended dives headfirst into the gritty realities of addiction, following Casch Abbey, a single mother whose life unravels after an injury leads to a dependency on painkillers. The story doesn't shy away from showing the raw, unfiltered impact of addiction, not just on Casch, but on her children, her relationships, and her already-precarious grip on stability.

The book’s biggest strength lies in its authentic, emotionally charged character work. Casch’s slow descent feels frighteningly believable, and her justifications for her actions ring heartbreakingly true. Topher, a veteran-turned-pot-grower and new boyfriend, is kind-hearted and grounded, offering hope amidst the chaos. Their relationship brings needed softness to an otherwise heavy narrative.

That said, the structure left me conflicted. The pacing swings wildly, with early chapters flying by in a blur of scenes that feel dreamlike, perhaps intentionally so, mirroring Casch’s disorientation—but it made it harder for me to get emotionally grounded at first. The use of three points of view, particularly the inclusion of Russ, felt like a missed opportunity. His chapters didn’t add enough depth to justify their presence and left me wondering what purpose they were meant to serve beyond a single moment of confrontation.

What I did enjoy was the book's unflinching honesty about addiction and the ripple effects it has on everyone involved. Kramer’s writing captures the complexity of human flaws without judgment, making Casch’s struggles deeply relatable and empathetic. The dialogue feels natural and sharp, breathing life into the characters and their relationships, especially the tender, realistic dynamic between Casch and Topher. The Vermont setting is vividly rendered, adding a textured backdrop that grounds the story in a tangible world.

Overall, The Untended is an emotionally potent debut with a strong voice and a clear understanding of its subject matter. It’s an important story, even if it's not always a polished one. It's definitely worth reading for its message and emotional core.

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A fantastic example of great character and development. I really enjoyed Casch as a character, she was complex and diverse and felt real. I did struggle with the writing, at some points it felt overwritten or a little confusing, especially the over describing of the sex scenes. Apart from this, I do think this book was a good example of addiction and all the dangers. An entertaining short read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheUntended #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5

What I loved:
•How realistic the story felt. The story is really relatable and shows how addiction can affect not only the user but those surrounded by them.
•The dialogue was done really well which added to the realism and the developing relationships between each character
•The location! I grew up & lived around the areas mentioned

What I didn’t love:
•Some chapters ended abruptly which led to the story feeling a bit rushed and unfinished
•The ending felt a bit forced

[Wesley Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Booksparks for a finished copy of the Untended and including me in the Summer Ambassador program!

Casch is a single mom who is working her butt off to try to make a good life for her children. She was also recently admitted to nursing school, so things are looking good! But one day her foot is run over by a car, and she enters the scary world of prescription pain medicine. And so the spiral begins.

There were so many pieces of this story that worked for me. I love that it draws attention to addiction and how often addiction can begin with doctor-prescribed medication. The book also highlights the predatory nature of pharmaceutical companies. Using a character like Casch made these messages even more poignant.

Casch is a mom who is doing her best. She loves her kids more than anything and is trying to escape her past to do the best thing for her kids. I felt sympathetic towards Casch as I read her decline. I wanted her to overcome her demons and unfortunately when it comes to addiction, things often get worse before they get better.

The love story between her and Topher was sweet. It was enjoyable going back and forth between their perspectives seeing how each of them was dealing with their trauma and pasts. I believe they made each other stronger. There are tons more great side characters that add depth to the story.

It’s a hard read at times due to subject matter but the author writes with care and kindness. Highly recommend!

[Trinity Nifong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addicting !

[Alexandria Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Untended by Mattea Kramer
Genre: Literary Thriller I Applachia
Length: 312 pages
Release date: May 6, 2025
Rating: 3

Thank you @booksparks for the finished copy and having me as an #SRC2025 ambassador.

This is a twisty novel that deals with addiction and the seedy underbelly of society that we find our protagnist Casch Abbey in. This was such an addicting read because it is almost solely carried by the diaglogue between the characters. This is very much a character driven story, the communication between the characters felt very natural and was an easy read in that regard. Casch is a single mother just trying to make it as a waitress when her foot is ran over in the parking lot of a Dunkin Donuts. She is prescribed painkillers for the incident and everything seems to be going at a decent clip, that is until the medication is recalled due to it being addictive. From here, she descends down a path that was stressful af but I literally could not put down the book because I HAD to know how this ends.

Casch makes decision after decision that I found to be so realistic for someone who is falling into an addiction unknowingly. It's not that she's a "bad" person who is actively seeking out addiciton, but with every choice her through her inner monologue she tries to justify her increasingly terrible decisions by saying she is "just trying to feel normal". Part of the reason this felt so real is that the author is from the town for which the story is set in and I can only imagine she drew from her either lived experiences or those around her.

With this being said, there were some stylistic choices that I thought were odd. The ending felt very rushed to me, I could have read at least another 50-100 pages easily to make for a better resolution. Another choice that took some time getting use to was when a character was confused that was depicted as a literal question mark on the page instead of describing the character was at a loss or bewildered. I was not a fan of some of the choices made but overall I enjoyed the debut and I am looking forward to what the author releases in the future.

[Rileigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Untended by Mattea Kramer is a short but emotional novel about the struggles of addiction and cycles of abuse. Casch is a single mother with little support who is trying to better herself when she breaks her foot and becomes hooked on a highly addictive pain medication. Topher is a military veteran turned marijuana grower, who falls in love with her drive. Together they form a bond in the midst of Casch’s struggles with motherhood, addiction, and a somewhat broken family.

The pacing of this novel can take some getting used to as it begins by flashing through scenes at a quick rate, and sometimes reads a bit like a fever dream with how days and weeks seem to slip by. However, it is a bit poetic as Casch also seems to slip through time, losing track of herself as her addiction takes hold. The novel really goes to show how quickly things can spiral out of control, and it captures the emotions and chaos of Casch’s addiction beautifully. Topher also has his own struggles as a veteran, and there are some deep scenes where he reflects on how war affected him. The characters feel real and imperfect.

There is also a third viewpoint from the perspective of Casch’s abusive stepfather Russ, although I am not entirely sure on the purpose of this subplot. I kind of wish this had been a bit more in depth as it was getting somewhere but felt a bit incomplete. Maybe a bit of closure from his perspective could have helped.

This book can easily be read in a single sitting and anyone who enjoys an emotional roller coaster, and is prepared to read about addiction and implied abuse, will not regret picking it up.

[Sebastian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you She Writes Press and NetGalley for an E-ARC of The Untended by Mattea Kramer in exchange for an honest review.

The story opens with a character we come to appreciate from her dedication as a hardworking mother, Casch. We see our main character encounter addiction, abuse, mental illness, trauma, and the toll she takes to nurture her children. The decisions Casch makes to get the next high in order to remain happy reveal how addiction doesn’t affect the victim alone, but their family and friends. I found it important when this aspect was demonstrated through her job, passion, relationship, great friends, and even her drug dealers.

The book is told through three points of view, and I couldn’t understand the importance of reading through our side character, Russ. His part of the story only confessed his past abuse toward another character and admitted to his personal trauma. These attributed little to the story for me, and I couldn’t empathize with Russ. His abrupt ending made me feel both relieved from reading more about him. I think Russ was only purposeful to one altercation between the main character and him to build tension, but that’s not enough for the plot in this story. I would have preferred if the story remained with Casch and Topher’s perspectives.

I enjoyed reading the dynamic between Casch and Topher, her new boyfriend, because it provided hope for Casch despite her stubbornness and growing addiction. Throughout the three characters, I appreciated reading about their regrets to display how even in our worst times we are still human.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first contact with this author's work, and after reading this novel, I was convinced this was the fourth or fifth book this author had written. I congratulate the author for giving us a thriller on drug addiction with a different format than I am used to. The short scenes quickly interrupted, and the different POVs worked for me. They advance the plot really fast, making it a sad but easy read that lingers in our minds with a bittersweetness. The interruptions sometimes leave details out or in the air, and we feel like we missed something, but I feel that a person high or in pain doesn't recall all the details in order. It fits the character. Also, the author allows the reader some space for creativity, questions, and theories.
Cash is a single mother who has such strength and love for her kids in chapter one, but one accident makes a prescription for painkillers turn her life into a downfall. All we can do is see this avalanche of red flags raining slowly with bad choices about to strike this woman, and there's nothing we can do to stop it. It's a well-described insight into her downfall. She becomes the hero and villain of her story, trying to do it all by herself. Other characters end up surprising us as well.
The end is satisfying, and the life lessons too (not only the conclusions at the end but those four universal lies learned in war that Topher reveals to her as well)

[Melissa Stordahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘It was scary to be happy. You know you can lose everything.’

Casch Abbey is a struggling single mom, waiting tables and taking out her frustrations on a punching bag while hoping to become a nurse. When her foot is crushed under the wheel of a careless driver, she is unable to work her shifts and begins to spiral as she becomes increasingly dependent upon pain killers. She finds herself needing more to numb herself and quickly descends into criminal activity to fuel her habits. The abuse and abandonment of her past makes it difficult to trust anyone, including Topher, the traumatized Afghanistan veteran who grows pot out in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

This story was so raw, with great dialogue and details of Casch’s experience with addiction. I loved the character Topher, how he instantly took her children under his wing, teaching them about the natural world. Parts of this frustrated me: abrupt chapter endings and jumping around; Casch not doing all she could to protect her own children; the seeming portrayal of her abuser as a sympathetic character because of vague references that he also had been abused. The ending was satisfying but wrapped up so quickly that it didn’t seem realistic.

Thank you so much to She Writes Press and BookSparks for this copy of The Untended by Mattea Kramer!

[Raven R · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It was scary to be happy. You know you can lose everything."

Casch is just trying to get by as a waitress while raising her two children. She wants to get into nursing school and make a better life for all of them, but an unfortunate accident leads her into a downward spiral.

There are a lot of heavy themes here including addiction, abuse, motherhood, military trauma, and prison.

This was way out of the norm for me, but I'm glad I read it. It grabbed my attention with the unique tone, good pacing, and having to do with a mother's love. There is also a prominent romance that I wasn't expecting. The MMC was very devoted very quickly, which was surprising in a too good to be true way, but I liked his character a lot.

With Casch, I was so mad at her. So. Many. Times. I wanted to yell, shake her, and throw my book. At the same time, I could not stop turning the pages. I had to know what would happen and if the metaphorical dumpster fire would ever be extinguished. Making me feel things even if they're negative sometimes is kind of the point though, isn't it? They are the kind of books that stick with you and give you a lot to think about.
Even though I was frustrated, I just couldn't put it down, so I'm somewhere in the 3.5-4⭐ range on this one.

Thank you to Booksparks and the author for the gifted copy!

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

A general fiction tale, The Untended (2025) by Mattea Kramer has an all too human protagonist. Casch Abbey is a single mother of Dean, aged eight and Molly ten, who live in Greenfield, a small-town in New England. Casch works as a waitress and enjoys boxing as an exercise. Her life undergoes major changes when she meets Topher and begins a relationship. When her foot is crushed by a car, Casch is unable to work, loses her job, becomes dependent on pain medication and struggles for survival. A story of one woman striving to overcome adversity is a somewhat grim and disappointing tale, with a two and a half stars read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to She Writes Press and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

[Lindsay Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am THRILLED to have been selected for the @booksparks Summer Reading Challenge #src2025 💛 I’m excited to see what the rest of this summer has in store because this first read was a rollercoaster.

This book will put you on a journey of hope, despair, and perseverance. I had no idea that this story would give me all the feels. This was an unexpected read with a lasting impression.

Following the turmoil of Casch’s life paired with her two kids, Molly and Dean, in a small Vermont town keep you engaged start to finish. Due to unfortunate luck and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, you follow Casch on a downward spiral. I felt so invested in Casch even though she made me mad a lot of the time; I was pulling for her the entire time. The inclusion of two other perspectives, Topher and Russ added depth to the story which made it even more engaging but also, enraging in some cases. I’ve seen some negative reviews as to why Russ’s perspective was even included. If you think that, you’re missing the wide scope of why this social issue runs rampant and the many faces of addiction that end up being correlated from person to person.

The writing was straightforward and real. There was no fluff, which is probably why I ended up tearing up at the end. The reality of this widespread struggle that people endure is in your face, on the pages, without any sugarcoating. It hit me hard, especially since I work in the court system and see stories like this all too frequently. Casch and her story will enrage you, her kids will inspire you, and you will not forget them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kris the retired librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casch Abbey is a single mom of two young children. She works hard at her waitressing job. She’s tough. She dreams of becoming a nurse and buying a house.

Casch’s life changes when an accident leaves her with a broken foot. Unable to work, the pain meds prescribed for her injury quickly become her only solace. As Casch spirals into addiction, her life unravels in ways she never imagined.

This is a gritty story that’s all too familiar to so many people. The Untended is a moving debut novel. The writing is raw and powerful. It pulled me right into Casch’s world. This is a gut wrenching story and I was rooting for Casch the whole time. This is a story of love, heartache, and perseverance that will stay with me for a long time.

The Untended is out today. Pick this one up if you’re looking for an unflinching and compelling novel.

Thank you @shewritespress for the gifted copy for Booksparks Summer Reading Challenge.

[Kelly Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Untended is a sharp, unflinching debut that refuses to ask for sympathy and earns it anyway. Casch Abbey is not written to be admired or redeemed; she is written to be understood. Her pain, both physical and emotional, shapes every decision she makes, and the novel never pretends that love or grit alone can undo it.

What makes this book compelling is its refusal to moralize addiction. Dependency is portrayed as consequence rather than weakness, emerging naturally from injury, isolation, and need. The prose is intimate without being indulgent, and the story moves with a tense, grounded momentum that mirrors Casch’s narrowing options.

This is literary fiction that trusts its readers and its protagonist to live in complexity.

[Becky Sweger · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've all seen the news and statistics about opioid addiction in the U.S. and its effects on communities. The Untended is an important book because it personalizes the crisis, painting a vivid picture of how easy it is for someone's life to be upended by a small accident.

Casch, the protagonist, is quirky, nuanced, and likable. I found myself rooting for her and getting genuinely upset when addiction derailed the life she'd been barely holding together.

The town and its characters exist everywhere, even if we don't see them. I'm thankful to Kramer for providing a glimpse into this world.

[Michelle Godard-Richer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took a fictional dive into the danger of the addictive properties of some pharmaceutical drugs, and the havoc they can wreak. Single mother Casch’s experience with addiction isn’t sugarcoated, nor the impact it has on her children. Topper is also a wonderful character that helps Casch and her children throughout her struggles. This is one of those stories that takes you on an emotional ride with the fast-pacing and the depth of character. This is a good book for fans of drug thrillers or literary fiction.

[Michele Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Topic Worth Exploring Even Deeper

Kudos to this new author. Drug addiction and taking us along the slide to how it happens was interesting and described well. I also appreciated the mention of the local landmarks, being a Western MA resident. Character development nicked the surface, there were some loose ends that weren’t tied up or explored deeply enough and I felt let down by the fairy tale ending. Poverty, trauma, lack of education and drug addiction don’t wrap up nearly as this ending suggests.

[Logan Brice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Untended
This will hit close to home for many as it winds through the struggles of making ends meet, single parenting, trauma, addiction & abuse. I thought that the character development was great and the pace/tension kept me reading on!

On a deeper note even though this is fiction it paints a very real picture of just how quickly things can spiral with addiction. Prescription or not.

Thank you NetGalley and She Writes Press for this Arc!

[Moira · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Untended captures the stark reality of drug addiction with raw honesty, showing how close survival and poverty sit for so many people. The novel doesn’t shy away from the bleakness of broken lives, yet it contains rare moments of happiness and hope that make the struggle feel all the more real.Reminded me at times of Demon Copperfield Casch, as a central character, is both flawed and engaging
Netgalley ARC

[Alicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 19%

[Barondestructo · Rating 4 out of 5]

At turns bleak, heartingbreaking, and, ultimately, hopeful.

[Susan (The Book Bag) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started this book. I didn't know much about the storyline other than what I read in the synopsis. I didn't expect to come to like and respect Casch, the main character, a woman and single mom who struggled with drug addiction.

This is an eye-opening story about how far down someone can go and the lengths that they will go to, to come back up to the top again. Drug addiction is a real problem in the world and The Untended gives us glimpse of how easy it is to spiral out of control, thanks to the availability of drugs.

This wasn't always an easy story to read but I'm glad I stuck it out and got to enjoy the satisfying ending. The Untended was well worth my reading time.