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Casson Family #4
Caddy Ever After
Love is in the air for the Casson family! Four hilarious, endearing tales unfold as Rose, Indigo, Saffy, and Caddy each tell their intertwining stories. Rose begins by showing how she does special with her Valentine's card for Tom in New York. Not to be outdone, Indigo has his own surprise in store for the Valentine,s Day disco at school. For her part, Saffy has an unusual date in a very, very dark graveyard, and is haunted by a balloon that almost costs her her best friend.
But it is Caddy who dares everything -- as she tells all about love at first sight when you have found the Real Thing. Unfortunately the Real Thing is not darling Michael. What is Rose going to do?
213 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Hilary McKay
137 books388 followersHilary McKay was born in Boston, Lincolnshire and is the eldest of four girls. From a very early age she read voraciously and grew up in a household of readers. Hilary says of herself as a child "I anaesthetised myself against the big bad world with large doses of literature. The local library was as familiar to me as my own home."
After reading Botany and Zoology at St. Andrew's University Hilary then went on to work as a biochemist in an Analysis Department. Hilary enjoyed the work but at the same time had a burning desire to write. After the birth of her two children, Hilary wanted to devote more time to bringing up her children and writing so decided to leave her job.
One of the best things about being a writer, says Hilary, is receiving letters from children. She wishes that she had written to authors as a child, but it never occurred to her to contact them
Hilary now lives in a small village in Derbyshire with her family. When not writing Hilary loves walking, reading, and having friends to stay.
After reading Botany and Zoology at St. Andrew's University Hilary then went on to work as a biochemist in an Analysis Department. Hilary enjoyed the work but at the same time had a burning desire to write. After the birth of her two children, Hilary wanted to devote more time to bringing up her children and writing so decided to leave her job.
One of the best things about being a writer, says Hilary, is receiving letters from children. She wishes that she had written to authors as a child, but it never occurred to her to contact them
Hilary now lives in a small village in Derbyshire with her family. When not writing Hilary loves walking, reading, and having friends to stay.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
April 15, 2011
I felt a little trepidation going into this because Caddy is my least favorite of the Casson kids. It's not that I dislike her, but she's so fluffy-headed I feel impatient when she takes center-stage... so it was a surprise that I actually wish she had more of a role in this book. It just seems unfair that she has such a walk-on role in "her" book. Rose takes center stage once again. And I'm afraid that I'm getting a little tired of her. As she gets older the rude/precocious naif persona gets a little tired; two years of book time don't seem to have made her any older. I also wasn't wild about the essays-as-chapters technique with the different kids writing. For one thing their voices weren't distinct enough, even though they are years apart in age. Also, the previous book made a big point about how Rose can hardly read or write, so I didn't believe that she could write the stories included here. But there were some very good and funny scenes, and McKay is as always excellent at capturing feelings.
August 9, 2013
My least favorite Casson novel, so far. And by a relatively wide margin. Epistolary novels are hard enough, but none of the Cassons have been terribly writerly and it strained credulity a bit to have, say, Rose detailing actual conversations. Add that I really didn't care much for the various storylines and you have a book that felt like it was mostly filler.
Oh, and what's up with it carrying Caddy's name in the title but only having her even show up in the last few pages? Which is bad enough, but when she finally does arrive, she's even dumber than in the last book. Gah.
So should I chance the next? Forever Rose. That's a promising title, right?
Oh, and what's up with it carrying Caddy's name in the title but only having her even show up in the last few pages? Which is bad enough, but when she finally does arrive, she's even dumber than in the last book. Gah.
So should I chance the next? Forever Rose. That's a promising title, right?
June 28, 2020
I want this series to continue until there isn't a Casson left alive, and I want them all to live to an astounding age.
October 5, 2014
Huh. This was an odd one. I knew from reading friends' reviews that this wasn't really Caddy's story (which is a shame--I LOVE Caddy), but I still wasn't prepared for how little she was in it.
And I liked the first two-thirds, but that last third . . .
And I liked the first two-thirds, but that last third . . .
June 3, 2008
This is perhaps my favorite book in the series. I love how different members of the Casson family take turns narrating their own sections of the book. It is different from the other three before it because this book is written in first person as opposed to third person. This different perspective gives more room for the individual characters to show their personalities and styles of writing. I especially like Rose's section; she has such a simple, matter-of-fact way of talking that makes it hilarious to read.
December 27, 2019
Caddy is getting married, but not to Darling Michael! Horrors! Plus various other Casson antics. Highly enjoyable.
June 5, 2011
Rose somewhere along the way completely took over apparently. Really all of these last four books are all about Rose, even though Indigo and Caddy get their names mentioned in two of the titles. Caddy is actually the Casson represented the least in this volume. I did like the format though. It made for a somewhat disjointed narrative, but the switch to first person and having each kid narrate a different section really made their personalities stand out. I found each part to distinct and individual, sounding genuine to the characters I've come to know. Caddy's part is as ditsy and scatterbrained as she is. Rose's parts (she gets two) sound much younger than the others and her observations are delightful. I love her childhood assurance that she is so wise while at the same time demonstrating she has so much to learn. Saffy continues to be remote, even in first person, but is smart and wonderful. I loved watching her weather a difficult time with Sarah. Which brings me to Indigo, who, this book cemented it, is my absolute favorite. He is awesome. One of those silent lazy types you need to watch out for because when they are only silent and lazy until they want something. And his date for the Valentine's Disco? Did not imagine that would happen, but I liked it and would have liked to see more come of it.
June 26, 2017
I was mildly disappointed with this entry in the series, after the first three. The quadruple narrative simply didn't work for me. The siblings' voices all sounded too much the same, especially as none of them used contractions (even in dialogue), which sounded unnatural. None of the plot threads got enough space (what about Indigo and Sarah? Saffy and Oscar?), and for a book named for Caddy, hers was the shallowest section of all. I do think hers is the least interesting character of the four siblings and possibly is better seen from the outside, but her plotting needed much more space. I do hope the next book is better.
January 25, 2021
McKay does a fabulous and hilarious job of writing about this unconventional family.
April 24, 2017
Coincidentally, this is the second book in a row that I've read featuring a disabled character. Incidentally, I noticed that all the wheelchair-users in books that I've read are rather reckless and stubborn and/or feisty. I don't know if this is a deliberate attempt at proving a point, or just a coincident, but it's interesting either way.
The story as a whole is good, and reminds me of Clarice Bean in the way it's told. I just would've liked the various narrators to have more of a distinct, individual voice, as they tend to sound like one and the same person. If each section wasn't headed by the new narrator's name, you couldn't tell it was anyone different.
But, don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the story and I'll be reading the rest of the series too.
The story as a whole is good, and reminds me of Clarice Bean in the way it's told. I just would've liked the various narrators to have more of a distinct, individual voice, as they tend to sound like one and the same person. If each section wasn't headed by the new narrator's name, you couldn't tell it was anyone different.
But, don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the story and I'll be reading the rest of the series too.
August 23, 2008
Caddy, Saffy, Indigo, and Rose are back in the next volume of the Casson family. This time it's a little different as all the children narrate throughout the book. Saffy and Sarah are dreading the upcoming Valentine's dance and Saffy is haunted by a balloon. Rose is still mooning over Tom in America and sets out to make him a perfect Valentine's Day card...as well as a perect night sky for herself. Indigo is determined to change the traditional rules for the dance. And Caddy is moving on after Michael. All of the stories are completely intertwined and we see more of the Casson family than we have before.
I still haven't liked any of the books quite as well as the first, Saffy's Angel. But this was a nice twist on the series--although I was hoping for a book all Caddy's own, as she is one of my favorite characters and I feel like we still don't know enough about her. I don't think that this one was as funny as the previous ones, either. Nonetheless, it is an important volume in the series.
I still haven't liked any of the books quite as well as the first, Saffy's Angel. But this was a nice twist on the series--although I was hoping for a book all Caddy's own, as she is one of my favorite characters and I feel like we still don't know enough about her. I don't think that this one was as funny as the previous ones, either. Nonetheless, it is an important volume in the series.
April 26, 2008
the most recent addition to the saga of the casson family. i discovered it at my library yesterday and finished reading it this morning, despite the tall stack of books waiting in line to be read before it. i love this series and i eat up the new books like a slice of my dad’s awesome rhubarb pie–knowing i don’t get it very often, knowing it won’t last very long and enjoying every second of it. the family reminds me somewhat of the austin family in the books by madeline l’engle. each of the children is named for a different paint color (mum is an artist) and although the family isn’t perfect, there is an enormous amount of love in the family and all of their quirks are extremely endearing. go out, read the books and fall in love with the family.
November 15, 2008
Oh, what a pity Rose stole Caddy´s book! Poor Caddy, she gets mentioned almost in passing, and her story is more as if she is some remote stranger, one of Kiran´s many cousins perhaps. Caddy deserved better I think. OTOH the Rose stories are totally brilliant, naively funny in a way that reminds me of Little Nicholas ( if he was ever translated into English!), I was giggling my way through it. But as a novel, this feels very disjointed, and yeah poor Caddy, her book got hijacked!
April 13, 2014
I would have really liked a Caddy-centered story - this isn't it. Telling Caddy's story from Rose's perspective seems unfair to Caddy.
Also, I can't say I'm all that enamored the children grown up (except for Indigo).
And I kept hoping that Rose and the Casson clan would be wrong, and their rather childish grasp on Michael would prove futile, and that Caddy would have made the right decision with Alex. Oh well.
Also, I can't say I'm all that enamored the children grown up (except for Indigo).
And I kept hoping that Rose and the Casson clan would be wrong, and their rather childish grasp on Michael would prove futile, and that Caddy would have made the right decision with Alex. Oh well.
March 29, 2008
Not as good as the other Casson family books (in spite of the title promising Caddy, it is more about Rose than anyone else, and saddeningly short to boot; the plot is more sloppily constructed & less compelling than in previous installments) but still possesses the trademark McKay spark. Really, any chance to spend more time in the company of these characters is a good thing.
October 15, 2025
I love reading and rereading this series. It is clever, very humorous, and is additionally a nice escape during these troubled times.
It is the second to last book in the Casson family series. Noto to be missed!
It is the second to last book in the Casson family series. Noto to be missed!
August 24, 2020
As perfect as I remember.
April 14, 2023
Saffy's Angel ★★★★☆
Indigo's Star ★★★★☆
Permanent Rose ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Caddy Ever After ★★★☆☆ (2.75)
For a book called Caddy Ever After there was shockingly little Caddy in it. She doesn't even appear at all until page 99, after which she promptly disappeared again for the next 50 pages. This installment differs structurally from the others in the series; instead of a close third-person narration, Caddy Ever After is written in segmented first-person epistolary form with each Casson child having a turn at narrator. I wasn't really a fan and don't think it achieved much for the narrative, other than a running gag where whoever is writing skirts around the juiciest details until somehow forced to relay them. And besides all this, Caddy's section (Caddy, whom the book is named after, remember) numbers a grand total of FIFTEEN pages. That's all. Fifteen pages out of 218 are all that is reserved for the titular character of this novel. (Granted, the entire final act revolves around Caddy's wedding, but even that is all from another character's perspective.) In true McKay fashion, it is Rose of course who dominates the story; the only Casson to have two turns at narrating, which begin and end the book.
I really thought this would be 2 stars, but the ending managed to pull everything together, which McKay is admittedly quite good at. There was blessedly little Bill, and when I tell you I cackled at Rose comparing Alex to Bill (which was the same thought I had a page previous). I do think the book should have ended with another Caddy section in which she . (Also, the first Rose section ought to have been scrapped entirely and the book should have started with Indigo's section, and Caddy could have been better interwoven through the whole thing, but that's just my opinion.) BTW, Tom sends Indigo hundreds of mix CDs, just sayin'.
TW: serious illness
Indigo's Star ★★★★☆
Permanent Rose ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Caddy Ever After ★★★☆☆ (2.75)
For a book called Caddy Ever After there was shockingly little Caddy in it. She doesn't even appear at all until page 99, after which she promptly disappeared again for the next 50 pages. This installment differs structurally from the others in the series; instead of a close third-person narration, Caddy Ever After is written in segmented first-person epistolary form with each Casson child having a turn at narrator. I wasn't really a fan and don't think it achieved much for the narrative, other than a running gag where whoever is writing skirts around the juiciest details until somehow forced to relay them. And besides all this, Caddy's section (Caddy, whom the book is named after, remember) numbers a grand total of FIFTEEN pages. That's all. Fifteen pages out of 218 are all that is reserved for the titular character of this novel. (Granted, the entire final act revolves around Caddy's wedding, but even that is all from another character's perspective.) In true McKay fashion, it is Rose of course who dominates the story; the only Casson to have two turns at narrating, which begin and end the book.
I really thought this would be 2 stars, but the ending managed to pull everything together, which McKay is admittedly quite good at. There was blessedly little Bill, and when I tell you I cackled at Rose comparing Alex to Bill (which was the same thought I had a page previous). I do think the book should have ended with another Caddy section in which she . (Also, the first Rose section ought to have been scrapped entirely and the book should have started with Indigo's section, and Caddy could have been better interwoven through the whole thing, but that's just my opinion.) BTW, Tom sends Indigo hundreds of mix CDs, just sayin'.
TW: serious illness
May 30, 2022
2.5 stars.
ok so you know when i said the casson family were automatically entitled to at least 3 stars no matter what…?
eek.
in all fairness, there was an attempt. i appreciate that after 3 books of the same basic thing you might want to try something else. but in my opinion, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. and definitely don’t make it worse.
i just personally didn’t vibe with the whole first-person diary-entry thing, especially since rose seemed to dominate this book, and it was meant to be caddy’s, which would’ve been interesting as rose has already had her own book (and has another to follow!) but i shan’t be too bitter because the stories themselves were fair enough. i just think they’d have worked much better in the usual format. although i must admit it does pick up considerably in the second half, from saffron’s section onwards.
ok so you know when i said the casson family were automatically entitled to at least 3 stars no matter what…?
eek.
in all fairness, there was an attempt. i appreciate that after 3 books of the same basic thing you might want to try something else. but in my opinion, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. and definitely don’t make it worse.
i just personally didn’t vibe with the whole first-person diary-entry thing, especially since rose seemed to dominate this book, and it was meant to be caddy’s, which would’ve been interesting as rose has already had her own book (and has another to follow!) but i shan’t be too bitter because the stories themselves were fair enough. i just think they’d have worked much better in the usual format. although i must admit it does pick up considerably in the second half, from saffron’s section onwards.
August 21, 2024
I have but two complaints:
1. WHY WHY WHY did she switch to 1st person POV? In the middle of the series? I liked it much better as 3rd.
2. Major spoiler alert.
1. WHY WHY WHY did she switch to 1st person POV? In the middle of the series? I liked it much better as 3rd.
2. Major spoiler alert.
October 25, 2020
In need of a bit of a comfort read!
I love these books so much - this one...was a little weird but we’ll roll with it 😂 Definitely a bit more grown up than I remembered, well I hardly remembered anything at all so...
Kinda sad about the Caddy content in this tho since she’s my fave & an absolutely legend & Rose is also my least fave? Whoops....
But still the best ☺️
I love these books so much - this one...was a little weird but we’ll roll with it 😂 Definitely a bit more grown up than I remembered, well I hardly remembered anything at all so...
Kinda sad about the Caddy content in this tho since she’s my fave & an absolutely legend & Rose is also my least fave? Whoops....
But still the best ☺️
February 24, 2026
This book was a fast but harder read for me. It skips around as different people tell their point of view of what happened. Not everyone is a straight to the point narrator and you get the feeling of all there ages in how they say something. The end was funny but it took awhile to get there and find out the point of the whole story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
I did enjoy this book quite a bit but it doesn't top the other Casson Family books so far. It felt very overwhelming with the multiple story lines. It didn't have many moments about the family itself.
November 10, 2018
Caddy Ever After fits the romance theme of this book, but is misleading. There’s not so much about Caddy, and a lot more about Rose, for better or worse. Sarah’s star is probably my favorite part in this book: “A sliver star to light your way...” and to haunt you and your family. :-)
PG
PG
May 18, 2020
Wasn't a fan of the format of essays from each Casson child. The hook was Caddy's wedding but I found it didn't really get into that until 60% of the book. Sorry to say I found Saffron's POV boring. The weakest book in the series imo.
May 15, 2017
This one isn't my FAVOURITE of the series, as it took quite a while for me to realize what the central theme was (it was romance), but still Hilary McKay can do no wrong.
June 21, 2017
I like this book alot.
March 5, 2019
I love the Casson Family, but the first person narrative appealed less. Indigo's school disco story was definitely my favourite though!
June 11, 2019
Funny as ever, but I didn't like the way the Casson siblings told the story in the form of letters/journal entries in this book.
Kind of threw me off track as far as my flow of reading goes.
Kind of threw me off track as far as my flow of reading goes.
July 24, 2021
I like how this book is arranged a bit differently - each characters having a piece of the story to tell.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews