Caught in the Pot

by Hogan Short

Caught in the Pot is about a young man falling desperately in love, just as he begins to develop an addiction to opioids, and what lies and truths are worth living and loving through.

Kane is a wandering twenty-something, tattooing his way from town to town, looking for a place he can call home -- but what is home? Kane arrives in Sachem, a quaint fishing town on the Atlantic Ocean, where he meets and falls for the charming Tilly. When Kane finds work on a high paying lobster boat, Tilly becomes worried -- the dangerous and demanding work has led to tragedies of all kinds.

Caught in the Pot is a beautifully tragic novel by author Hogan Short. If you like sweet contemporary romances -- and the power and failure of the human condition -- then you'll love this contained story of love, forgiveness, and the ways in which we hope and struggle to find our own way...and each other.

281 pages, ebook

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

Hogan Short was born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1990. After living in Australia, he moved to Vancouver to pursue a career in film and writing. After several years involved with the Vancouver International Film Festival, Calgary International Film Festival, Fantasia Film Festival, and more, he became the section editor at Beatroute Magazine for over two years. Writing freelance for various publications since then, he began writing Caught in the Pot during quarantine. It is his first novel.

Reviews

[Katherine - TheStory.Edit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book is absolutely beautifully written. I was shocked to discover this was Hogan's debut novel, as these reads like someone who's been writing novels for years!

Caught in the Pot is not an easy read. It's intense and heartbreaking but also so important in the message it delivers. Anyone, even those from 'stable' backgrounds can get caught up in the world of drugs. No-one is immune.

From start to finish, I felt fully immersed in Kane's story and the scene that Hogan set.
The pacing was perfect, as it eased the reader through a difficult subject in away that felt completely authentic. I loved how every sensitive topic was covered with the care and respect they deserved.

I will absolutely be looking out for more of Hogan Short’s work in future!

[Colette Ledoux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Caught in The Pot was brought to my attention by the CBC Canada Writes Facebook forum. The author agreed to send me a free copy in exchange for an unbiased, honest review. I had no prior knowledge of him or his work.

I must say, after reading the book, I consider it a rare, unexpected gift. The extraordinary, detailed picture he’s painted left me breathless. Elements in his writing regarding the human condition that might otherwise be considered commonplace are transformed into sweeping, thought-provoking pearls of wisdom. He also has the uncanny ability to see the extraordinary in the ordinary – no small feat, as I can attest, having experienced my own writing journey. The devil is in the details of this story, and it’s something quite spectacular to behold.

If you don’t know Hogan Short’s name, I believe it will become familiar to Canadian readers. Congratulations, Hogan, on a gem of a novel.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite an astonishing debut novel, well-written, well-paced, with vivid descriptions and spot-on characterisation and dialogue. It’s the story of Kane, a likeable, well-meaning drifter, who wanders from town to town, surviving on odd jobs and his skill as a tattooist. One day, by chance, he arrives in Sachem, a small fishing town on the Atlantic Coast. There he meets Tilly and suddenly staying put rather than moving on becomes the better option. However, the only well-paid job he can get is on a lobster boat, where the work is incredibly hard and dangerous. He’s determined to stick it out but gradually finds himself turning to opioids to make it all bearable, something that is both understandable and credible. I really enjoyed this book, finding it compelling and at times heart-rending. The ending is not predictable, and that uncertainty kept me nervously reading in almost one sitting. The writing is pitch-perfect, and shows real insight into human frailty. Highly recommended.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caught in the Pot steals your heart, breaks it and mends it back together. The authors acknowledgements bring you back to life to realize everything the main character Kane is going through, can happen. The opioid crisis and mental health battles are happening constantly and close to home. You fall in love with the characters and only want to know more about how their life plays out while also wanting to know how we plan to deal with these crises in our own backyards. I was enthralled from start to finish and impressed on this accomplishment as a debut novel for Hogan Short. Thank you for sharing this story!

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caught in the Pot explores what it may look like to be a good person who stumbles into the wrong side of fate. It is a rhythmic and gruelling observation into how the world of narcotics and addiction can consume someone who we may affectionally call our partner, sibling, or friend. This story highlights the complexity of mental health, disease, and the equally complex relationships with the people who support us. I very much enjoyed Hogan Short’s way of storytelling and I quickly became attached to the characters. Looking forward to what Hogan writes for us next.

[Olga Levitzki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of Caught in the Pot in exchange for an honest review.
First of all I was “caught” by the name of the novel. It’s very symbolic and, I think, more than appropriate. A pot means a trap in the context, so the main character Kane got trapped in drugs vicious circle, just like a lobster, that he catches in the pot. Kane is an average guy, like all of us, that keeps jumping like a tennis ball from town to town trying to find a place that he could call home, trying to find himself. I like how the author shows us small-town life, gradually opening its dark secrets. I also liked the descriptions of fishermen’s hard work, especially on lobster’s boats. Living hell that they go through was so vivid in the book that I felt their suffers myself. No wonder lobsters are so expensive. For me that world was unknown and I thank the author for my acquaintance to it.
The idea of the novel seems good. It makes you think of the problems young people have. The topic is not new but it will always be of a current interest.
My rating is 4, because of lack of writing experience which is normal for an author of a debut novel. I would suggest to focus on writing craft and techniques. It doesn’t mean Hogan is bad (some of his metaphors I found beautiful: “the sky was a grey ceiling”, “his memories were Polaroids”, “Kirk’s skin seems thinner than tissue paper”, etc) but he can always be better. Anyway I believe Hogan Short has a potential to be a good writer. Caught in the Pot is just the first step to his fame.

[Eric Heard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hogan Short writes a book that is rich in details about the characters and the town they live in. This allowed me to immerse myself in the place were Kane was living in and to draw me into the story. The story was very good in humanizing a problem that I had heard about only in the news.

The author's use of the ocean was very good in adding a layer to his story. It was like the ocean was another character in his narrative that assisted with his storytelling. I really enjoyed the discussion of the ocean since I am someone who loves the chaos and calm of the ocean.

I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a compelling story and want to learn more about a hidden problem that is wrecking a lot of communities.

[Kristina Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful story of human emotion, sacrifice and struggles. The characters were relatable and even the secondary characters provided wonderful entertainment.
There was no detail left out, you can picture The quaint little town perfectly as if you visited as a child.
Kane and Tully’s relationship is relatable and endearing to watch.
I enjoyed devouring this book and wish Hogan the best success with this and future novels.


*was given a copy in exchange for review

[Toyin]

Hogan tells a compelling, emotional, and touching story that covers issues related to love, loss, and drug addiction. The intense relationships between the characters, including Kane’s struggles and journey paints a narrative that we often evade. A reflective journey that leaves you wanting to read more. Worth the read!

As a first-time reader of his work, thanks to Hogan for providing me with a free copy.

[Nnaemeka David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caught in the pot is a telling tale of love triumphing over an obsession, and has a philosophical bent. You keep wondering what home means to Kane, as he transforms from a wandering lost soul to a man who has found love but would get caught up in the world of junkies. It is a good read for a quiet day.

[Joe Helensky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book, well written

Caught in the Pot is one of my favorite books I’ve read in some time. Kane and Tilly are easy to root for, and the plot of their Relationship and Kane’s life and challenges is a compelling read. I highly recommend this book and hope to read more stories from the author.

[M.T.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for it's vivid and emotion-wrenching visuals.
If you are looking for high paced action, this isn't the book for you. However, if you are looking at a more inner look into the interplay between addiction and love then this is a story that you will love.
I would actually rate this book 4.5 stars but I don't have that option.

[Kat Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book and was very invested in Kane and Tilly's story. The secondary characters were fleshed out enough that I knew who they were and the part they played in the story. This is a story about the love, human frailty and the consequences therein for characters I was rooting for. I couldn't wait to read to the end to see how their story played out.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful and telling. cant wait for his next

[Mary McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real triumph for a first time writer. I’ve recommended it to many as a must read. I hope & encourage this writer to continue writing more great stories.

[Brian Huculak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossible to tell that this was Hogan's first novel. A truly great story of how one cannot totally control their destiny.

[Molly Zodikoff · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the worst book ever. 1/10000 stars. If you were thinking about reading this, I promise you can watch paint dry and that would be more enjoyable.

[Kat Short]

I enjoyed this book very much and was very much invested in Kane and Tilly's story, as well, all the secondary characters were fleshed out enough so as to remember them and their part in the story. This is a story about the love, human frailty, and the consequences therein of characters I truly did root for. I couldn't wait to read to the end to see how their story played out.

[Eilish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very beautiful story and a great triumph for a first time author. I was very quick to become emotionally invested in the characters. It was a slow build that paid off beautifully.
Exciting to see what he writes next.

[Lorraine Vetsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review listed above

[Marion Lougheed · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. There's a lot of potential to this story, but it gets bogged down in scenes where little is at stake. For a large chunk of the book, the main character seems pretty content. His motivations are often unclear or feel contrived, as he behaves in ways that seem unlikely when other options are readily available. I do see a lot of potential here and the basic story concept is compelling. I would be interested in reading more from this author once they've developed their craft a bit more.

[S.V. Brosius · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written story of how an average man living a seemingly content life can succumb to crippling addiction in a short amount of time. The author’s descriptions of the town of Sachem are so vivid that you do feel as if you are right there with the main character. I did feel that the pacing was a bit uneven and the female characters a little underdeveloped, but overall a great novel!

[Alexia Mantzouranis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written. You can tell he put his heart and soul into it. I felt his passion for writing throughout every single word in his book! Love it.