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Two is a Crowd
A stunning contemporary real-life story from the brilliant author of Ella on the Outside, with beautiful illustrations by Miguel Bustos.
Hattie's life is already complicated enough. She's about to start secondary school, her best friend is going off with someone else and her dad seems to have completely forgotten his promise to let her have a room of her own.
So when her mum's goddaughter, Seren, arrives and gets special treatment, Hattie feels pushed out.
Could it be that Hattie's family actually prefer Seren?
Other excellent books by Cath
Ella on the Outside
Not my Fault
How to Be Me
The Insiders
My Life on Fire
Hattie's life is already complicated enough. She's about to start secondary school, her best friend is going off with someone else and her dad seems to have completely forgotten his promise to let her have a room of her own.
So when her mum's goddaughter, Seren, arrives and gets special treatment, Hattie feels pushed out.
Could it be that Hattie's family actually prefer Seren?
Other excellent books by Cath
Ella on the Outside
Not my Fault
How to Be Me
The Insiders
My Life on Fire
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2026
About the author
Cath Howe
31 books29 followersCath Howe is an author and teacher working in South West London writing for, and working with, Key Stage 2 primary age children.
Her first two books were published in 2012 by Pearson in their Bug Club, “The Curse of the Highwayman” and “The Highwayman’s Revenge”. She has won prizes for stories, poems and monologues and even written a musical. Over the past seven years, she has also led children to victory in local festivals performing her work.
Cath Howe runs workshops in schools on everything to do with writing and performing, teaches gifted writers, coaches children for auditions, develops plays and scripts for festivals; everything about being inspired and creative.
Member of SCWBI (Society of Children's Writers of the British Isles), NAWE (National Association of Writers in Education), The Society of Authors and Writer in Residence at Kingston University Writing School.
Her first two books were published in 2012 by Pearson in their Bug Club, “The Curse of the Highwayman” and “The Highwayman’s Revenge”. She has won prizes for stories, poems and monologues and even written a musical. Over the past seven years, she has also led children to victory in local festivals performing her work.
Cath Howe runs workshops in schools on everything to do with writing and performing, teaches gifted writers, coaches children for auditions, develops plays and scripts for festivals; everything about being inspired and creative.
Member of SCWBI (Society of Children's Writers of the British Isles), NAWE (National Association of Writers in Education), The Society of Authors and Writer in Residence at Kingston University Writing School.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy
OMG, I don’t even know where to begin. I love this so so so much. This is only the second time recently that I’ve felt genuinely worked up reading from a middle-grade character’s perspective. Some parts were funny. I literally smiled to myself reading in public. Then there’s this one part where Hattie spirals because of reasons why her best friend isn’t in the same class as her, and I loved how real the conversation felt between her and her parents.
But oh my heart, I also really felt for Hattie. Even though it’s obvious, reading middle-grade books as an adult has made me realize how hard being that much younger actually is. You’re expected to behave a certain way, and transitions like from kindergarten to primary and primary to secondary school can feel so jarring. Here Hattie is explaining everything that’s upsetting her, and her parents turn it back on themselves. I was like, “HELLO, are you even listening?” My heart ached.
Then there are the moments when she has this cloud hanging over her head. Cath Howe described the isolation and loneliness so perfectly that I felt it in my chest. Yet Hattie finds somewhere she belongs in the end, which warmed my heart. The scenes where she watches everyone else fit in while she is on the outside really broke me.
I would probably get cancelled for this, but I think books like this where the middle-grade character is complex and challenging should be required reading for all adults. If adults are planning families, there should maybe be a family planning curriculum and reading middle-grade books with complicated characters should be part of it. This is what some kids look like ten years down the road and adults should be prepared. Yes, kids are frustrating, but you chose to bring them into the world, so maybe just try to actually listen. That part where Hattie’s parents jump to conclusions made me very upset. Communication is a two-way street, but adults also have a responsibility to hear their kids.
This book made me laugh, made me ache, and made me think. Hattie is messy, complicated, frustrating, and real and I adore her for it.
But oh my heart, I also really felt for Hattie. Even though it’s obvious, reading middle-grade books as an adult has made me realize how hard being that much younger actually is. You’re expected to behave a certain way, and transitions like from kindergarten to primary and primary to secondary school can feel so jarring. Here Hattie is explaining everything that’s upsetting her, and her parents turn it back on themselves. I was like, “HELLO, are you even listening?” My heart ached.
Then there are the moments when she has this cloud hanging over her head. Cath Howe described the isolation and loneliness so perfectly that I felt it in my chest. Yet Hattie finds somewhere she belongs in the end, which warmed my heart. The scenes where she watches everyone else fit in while she is on the outside really broke me.
I would probably get cancelled for this, but I think books like this where the middle-grade character is complex and challenging should be required reading for all adults. If adults are planning families, there should maybe be a family planning curriculum and reading middle-grade books with complicated characters should be part of it. This is what some kids look like ten years down the road and adults should be prepared. Yes, kids are frustrating, but you chose to bring them into the world, so maybe just try to actually listen. That part where Hattie’s parents jump to conclusions made me very upset. Communication is a two-way street, but adults also have a responsibility to hear their kids.
This book made me laugh, made me ache, and made me think. Hattie is messy, complicated, frustrating, and real and I adore her for it.
May 7, 2026
I and the children at school love Cath Howe's books. I have had to put plastic covers on them to keep them in one piece!
This is equally good.
Hattie has finished primary school but it's ok as she will be at high school with her BFF, Amber and they both requested to be in teh same class. But Amber hasn't messaged much during the holidays and Hattie hasn't seen her at all.
Hattie has also gained a 'sister' - her mum's god-daughter Seren is staying with them as her Grandfather who she has lived with since teh death of both parents has had an accident. Seren's mum was Hattie Mum's BFF and so as Godmother she is looking after her.
But Seren isn't like Hattie. Seren is quiet and girly. Hattie is quite loud! Seren has Dad's office as her bedroom - the room Hattie has been trying to get.
Things go from bad to worse when they get to school. Seren is in Hattie's class but Amber isn't. Why? Hattie blames her parents.
Hattie feels very alone;extremely resentful of Amber's new friend and Seren until the day Seren's kitten runs away from Hattie and onto the roof of the house.
This is the day that changes everything.
Friendship and family are hard work. They have to be looked after and respected.
This is equally good.
Hattie has finished primary school but it's ok as she will be at high school with her BFF, Amber and they both requested to be in teh same class. But Amber hasn't messaged much during the holidays and Hattie hasn't seen her at all.
Hattie has also gained a 'sister' - her mum's god-daughter Seren is staying with them as her Grandfather who she has lived with since teh death of both parents has had an accident. Seren's mum was Hattie Mum's BFF and so as Godmother she is looking after her.
But Seren isn't like Hattie. Seren is quiet and girly. Hattie is quite loud! Seren has Dad's office as her bedroom - the room Hattie has been trying to get.
Things go from bad to worse when they get to school. Seren is in Hattie's class but Amber isn't. Why? Hattie blames her parents.
Hattie feels very alone;extremely resentful of Amber's new friend and Seren until the day Seren's kitten runs away from Hattie and onto the roof of the house.
This is the day that changes everything.
Friendship and family are hard work. They have to be looked after and respected.
July 7, 2026
Hattie is looking forward to starting secondary school with her best friend and getting her own room, when one phone call changes everything. Her Mum's goddaughter, Seren, comes to live with them and suddenly Hattie's room becomes Seren's, she is in a class with Seren instead of her friend and, worst of all, everyone in her family seems to like Seren more than her.
I loved Hattie - she is loud, obstreperous and resentful, and the more aggrieved she feels, the more she acts out and drives everyone further away from her. Under the circumstances, it's easy to understand how Hattie's parents feel compelled to focus on Seren, but it's also incredibly easy to empathise with Hattie's authentically self-absorbed perspective.
Cath Howe is brilliant at viewing the world through the eyes of a child and writing about characters experiencing difficult circumstances with warmth and affection. 'Two is a Crowd' is another poignant and engaging story with an uplifting resolution.
I loved Hattie - she is loud, obstreperous and resentful, and the more aggrieved she feels, the more she acts out and drives everyone further away from her. Under the circumstances, it's easy to understand how Hattie's parents feel compelled to focus on Seren, but it's also incredibly easy to empathise with Hattie's authentically self-absorbed perspective.
Cath Howe is brilliant at viewing the world through the eyes of a child and writing about characters experiencing difficult circumstances with warmth and affection. 'Two is a Crowd' is another poignant and engaging story with an uplifting resolution.
April 9, 2026
Hattie lives in a chaotic but happy family consisting of her parents and two older brothers, but she has always longed for a sister. Nevertheless, when her mothers goddaughter Seren has to move in with them due to some unfortunate circumstances, Hattie finds it hard to welcome Seren, instead resenting her for being so difficult to warm up to.
And that isn't Hattie's only problem. She is making a crucial change in terms of her phase of schooling, though she does not anticipate problems there. Unfortunately things turn out to be - as with Seren - more complicated than Hattie expected...
This is a genuine and relatable piece of story telling, and easily earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
And that isn't Hattie's only problem. She is making a crucial change in terms of her phase of schooling, though she does not anticipate problems there. Unfortunately things turn out to be - as with Seren - more complicated than Hattie expected...
This is a genuine and relatable piece of story telling, and easily earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
October 10, 2026
Wat een goede omschrijving van een pubermeisje. Zo bang om niet gezien te worden, dat niemand van je houdt, dat anderen liever gevonden worden.
Schoppen tegen de wereld en vooral tegen je ouders.
Gelukkig komt het allemaal goed.
Schoppen tegen de wereld en vooral tegen je ouders.
Gelukkig komt het allemaal goed.
August 4, 2026
Two is a crowd
By Cath Howe
Published by Nosy Crow
From the acclaimed author of Ella on the Outside comes a story full of family life.
Hattie has her family to herself.
Her Mum and Dad, her home, her school.
Then everything changes!
The arrival of her mum's goddaughter turns Hattie’s life as she knows it into chaos- her Mum and Dad are busy fussing over Seren.
Her school welcomes Seren.
Her friends and her teachers like Seren.
Everything is about Seren!
Could it be that Hattie's family actually prefer Seren?
This contemporary real-life story by Cath Howe, takes you through all the emotions a teenager feels when she is faced with a new “family member”.
Can Hattie learn to live with someone else in her family?
Can she share her home, her school, her friends?
Will Hattie ever have her family back to herself?
This easy to read middle grade about life’s complications and the emotions it evokes is beautiful written by Cath Howe and will be a bonus to any classroom.
Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#nosycrow
By Cath Howe
Published by Nosy Crow
From the acclaimed author of Ella on the Outside comes a story full of family life.
Hattie has her family to herself.
Her Mum and Dad, her home, her school.
Then everything changes!
The arrival of her mum's goddaughter turns Hattie’s life as she knows it into chaos- her Mum and Dad are busy fussing over Seren.
Her school welcomes Seren.
Her friends and her teachers like Seren.
Everything is about Seren!
Could it be that Hattie's family actually prefer Seren?
This contemporary real-life story by Cath Howe, takes you through all the emotions a teenager feels when she is faced with a new “family member”.
Can Hattie learn to live with someone else in her family?
Can she share her home, her school, her friends?
Will Hattie ever have her family back to herself?
This easy to read middle grade about life’s complications and the emotions it evokes is beautiful written by Cath Howe and will be a bonus to any classroom.
Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#nosycrow
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews