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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
3 people want to read
About the author
Cath Howe
28 books28 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 - 2 of 2 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.
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
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews