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I Just Want to Be Loved
After taking a few weeks off work, Casey is presented with a new foster 14-year-old Elise, whose Mum left her at just five years old.
At first, she’s no trouble at all, that is until she falsely accuses another carer, Jan, of acting inappropriately towards her. It turns out this isn’t the first lie Elise has told – her previous carer was constantly following up allegations Elise had made of people bullying her, trying to have sex with her, or hurting her physically. With some reservations, Casey agrees to take Elise on long-term, but when she makes some dark claims about her mum, Casey doesn’t know whether to believe her. In any case, she is determined to find out the truth…
At first, she’s no trouble at all, that is until she falsely accuses another carer, Jan, of acting inappropriately towards her. It turns out this isn’t the first lie Elise has told – her previous carer was constantly following up allegations Elise had made of people bullying her, trying to have sex with her, or hurting her physically. With some reservations, Casey agrees to take Elise on long-term, but when she makes some dark claims about her mum, Casey doesn’t know whether to believe her. In any case, she is determined to find out the truth…
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2022
66 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 6, 2022
Casey is presented with an apparently pleasant 14-year-old girl Elise, who, it turns out, has been expelled from school and who has been rejected by her previous carer for making untrue allegations about how they treated her. Her dress code and heavy make-up are completely inappropriate for her age, and before long she's parading around in front of Casey's son wearing nothing but her underwear. This is something Casey can, and does, forbid. But the girl repeatedly posts Facebook and Instagram photos of herself completely naked; she goes out to meet a number of "friends" who she's met on social media, but has never actually seen or spoken to face to face, and most of whom are much older than her. Elise freely admits that she's sexually active, and tells Casey that she has no need to worry about her getting pregnant, as she's been medically fitted with a contraceptive implant. The worrying part is that Casey, as her carer, is not able to prevent her from any of these activities; at the age of 14, the girl has to be free to go out when and where she chooses, and Casey has no say in the matter. she doesn't have the authority to insist that Elise behaves appropriately for her age. It turns out as sadly it so often does that Elise has been sexually abused as a child.
April 17, 2022
I don't think this was one of Casey's better books. I found it a bit predictable.
I still managed to read it in 48 hours though.
I still managed to read it in 48 hours though.
July 22, 2022
This is the first book I have read of Casey Watsons and it makes me want to read them all. You hear so many bad stories of kids being abused for years or killed because of incompetence from care/social workers but you never really here of happy endings. This book highlights Elise’s life and journey through the care system and shows how she was let down by people until she met Casey.
April 18, 2022
I Just Wanted To Be Loved. by Casey Watson.
Casey is asked to do a week of respite for another carer … in that time allegations are made against that carer. Elise is 14 years old … first glance is eye opening. Elise is not your average 14 year old …
Casey needs to get to the bottom of the dramas that she is facing … what has Elise seen and been through … time will tell.
A great book by a good author.
Casey is asked to do a week of respite for another carer … in that time allegations are made against that carer. Elise is 14 years old … first glance is eye opening. Elise is not your average 14 year old …
Casey needs to get to the bottom of the dramas that she is facing … what has Elise seen and been through … time will tell.
A great book by a good author.
August 15, 2022
Casey has done it again what a kind and caring family the Watson's are this book had me in tears it was such a heartbreaking read and hit home it reminded me of the maliuplation I had to listen to as a child and teenager and made to feel guilty and that I couldn't say no.im so glad Elise,her nan,dad and half siblings ended up with a happy ending caseys books really make my heart melt with all the kindness that there are people who care and will love and support you and watch you grow I'm looking forward to being able to read Caseys next book foster carers really deserve to have recognition.thank you Casey and family for being such a brilliant and caring family Xx
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2022
Typical Casey Watson but does not disappoint.
Always love her books
Always love her books
April 15, 2022
Really enjoyed this book. Casey always does everything possible to help every child she cares for and never gives up on any of them. I was happy that Elize got a happy ending after what she went through.
April 30, 2024
actual rating: 3.5
first of all, i need to commend this book for helping me escape my year long reading slump, as i finished it in like 3 days 🙌🙌
but also, this WAS actually very good for the most part— easy to read, flowed well, realistically written. very sad, and definitely necessary to check any trigger warnings, but made even sadder by the realisation that it is based on a true experience.
my only issue was that sometimes it appeared a little… insensitive? but in a way where it was obvious that it didn’t mean to be. for instance, in reference to self harm, the main character (and author?) thinks: i'd seen worse. seen far worse. seen life-threatening worse. these wounds were superficial -- clearly not a serious attempt to harm herself. they had been, i judged, inflicted with the sole aim of getting my attention.
whilst those lines were not as bad as they seem out of context, for the girl had in fact done it once, and never again, as a cry for help, i really disliked the phrasing of this, and the focus on it being a form of "attention-seeking" rather than a severe and serious plea of, "please help me". besides, it was described as there being a lot of blood on the area and clothing, so clearly it was indeed "bad enough"...
despite this, i found the book really, really interesting and definitely wanted to keep reading, keep finding out more. i’m going to look out for more of watson’s books, as i think i would enjoy her others too.
first of all, i need to commend this book for helping me escape my year long reading slump, as i finished it in like 3 days 🙌🙌
but also, this WAS actually very good for the most part— easy to read, flowed well, realistically written. very sad, and definitely necessary to check any trigger warnings, but made even sadder by the realisation that it is based on a true experience.
my only issue was that sometimes it appeared a little… insensitive? but in a way where it was obvious that it didn’t mean to be. for instance, in reference to self harm, the main character (and author?) thinks: i'd seen worse. seen far worse. seen life-threatening worse. these wounds were superficial -- clearly not a serious attempt to harm herself. they had been, i judged, inflicted with the sole aim of getting my attention.
whilst those lines were not as bad as they seem out of context, for the girl had in fact done it once, and never again, as a cry for help, i really disliked the phrasing of this, and the focus on it being a form of "attention-seeking" rather than a severe and serious plea of, "please help me". besides, it was described as there being a lot of blood on the area and clothing, so clearly it was indeed "bad enough"...
despite this, i found the book really, really interesting and definitely wanted to keep reading, keep finding out more. i’m going to look out for more of watson’s books, as i think i would enjoy her others too.
June 27, 2023
I Just Want To Be Loved by, Casey Watson .
2/5⭐️⭐️
TRIGGER WARNINGS-
.
.
.
Abuse, sexual assault/abuse
Casey and her husband, Matt are foster parents and just took in 14 year old Elise, who appears to be a well rounded, polite, and endearing teen. Only under the surface of her act she's a bit of a pot stirrer. She has a history of lying and falsely accusing people of being inaaprioate towards her. When Elise's mum enters back into the picture Casey doesn't know if these accusations about her past are true or not.
I didn't really enjoy this book. I'm not too sure if it's the writing style or just the genre, as it's not normally a go to of mine. I also can't believe that as foster carers that Casey and Matt have so little control over these kids. The children basically run the show it seems like. How do you protect, parent, discipline, or correct anything when you can't implement groundings or take phones away, when teens are doing dumb things on line, or going out to god knows where with god knows who! And even getting them help is totally up to them!? Surely therapy would be beneficial to them. It seems like if there was proper parenting and structure in Elise's life while in foster care things in regards to the lies wouldn't have escalated to the point that they did, and she could have started healing sooner.
2/5⭐️⭐️
TRIGGER WARNINGS-
.
.
.
Abuse, sexual assault/abuse
Casey and her husband, Matt are foster parents and just took in 14 year old Elise, who appears to be a well rounded, polite, and endearing teen. Only under the surface of her act she's a bit of a pot stirrer. She has a history of lying and falsely accusing people of being inaaprioate towards her. When Elise's mum enters back into the picture Casey doesn't know if these accusations about her past are true or not.
I didn't really enjoy this book. I'm not too sure if it's the writing style or just the genre, as it's not normally a go to of mine. I also can't believe that as foster carers that Casey and Matt have so little control over these kids. The children basically run the show it seems like. How do you protect, parent, discipline, or correct anything when you can't implement groundings or take phones away, when teens are doing dumb things on line, or going out to god knows where with god knows who! And even getting them help is totally up to them!? Surely therapy would be beneficial to them. It seems like if there was proper parenting and structure in Elise's life while in foster care things in regards to the lies wouldn't have escalated to the point that they did, and she could have started healing sooner.
May 4, 2022
A rollercoaster of a read.
I was halfway through the book before I realised that her name was Elise NOT Elsie. That said, I couldn't believe what she was getting up to. What was she going to do next! Casey knew there was more to this. Thankfully there are people like Casey in this world.
I was halfway through the book before I realised that her name was Elise NOT Elsie. That said, I couldn't believe what she was getting up to. What was she going to do next! Casey knew there was more to this. Thankfully there are people like Casey in this world.
April 27, 2022
Fab read
I absolutely loved this book I couldn't put it down , I just hope there is more to come ,
So if u love reading about foster carers amazin jobs they do for these children then give this a read you won't be disappointed
I absolutely loved this book I couldn't put it down , I just hope there is more to come ,
So if u love reading about foster carers amazin jobs they do for these children then give this a read you won't be disappointed
May 6, 2022
Deep Secrets
Case Watson is a child carer in England. She writes emotional caring books about the worse of these cases. It is amazing adults could be so cruel to unsuspecting children
Case Watson is a child carer in England. She writes emotional caring books about the worse of these cases. It is amazing adults could be so cruel to unsuspecting children
May 7, 2022
Excellent reading as always
May 18, 2022
I listened to the audio book and the voices were absolutely horrible to listen to! But a good story. My advice is to read the book and not listen to the audio version
May 25, 2022
Another really good book from Casey Watson.
June 2, 2022
Just WOW
Amazing read! Couldn't put it down once I started it. Poor elise went through so much but she got her happy ending
Amazing read! Couldn't put it down once I started it. Poor elise went through so much but she got her happy ending
June 10, 2022
Another great Casey Watson novel!
Loved everything about this book. The wit, the story itself and Casey’s warmth have made this book a page turner.
Loved everything about this book. The wit, the story itself and Casey’s warmth have made this book a page turner.
July 14, 2022
Omg such a good book! I fell in love with Casey Watson and definitely going to be buying the rest of her books.
October 17, 2022
Lovedddd this book!!!!!
November 12, 2022
Couldn’t get through it. I’ve read plenty of her books. Typically finish them. Dunno?
March 13, 2023
It only took so long because I lost the book. These books are so sad, how can anyone do these things to a child?
May 7, 2023
Brilliant as usual
May 26, 2023
Another fantastic read by Casey Watson
August 17, 2023
This was so good and although the first by this author it won’t be the last.
August 24, 2023
This book was very raw and sad. But quite realistic to some cases of young children and teenagers in care. Not all cases but a sad few.
February 28, 2024
Feb 2024
March 12, 2024
I love this author.. The stories are sad, but there’s hope for the children in the book.
November 17, 2024
A perfect ending for a lovely teenager who just needed someone to believe in her! I love Casey’s books, at times I did find this book a bit predictable but over all I did enjoy it
May 20, 2022
Another amazing book written by Casey Watson.
May 27, 2022
excellent as always!!!
Loved catching up with the lives of Casey and Mike!!! Can’t wait for the next book!! Am glad Elise finally spoke up and is on the path to healing xx
Loved catching up with the lives of Casey and Mike!!! Can’t wait for the next book!! Am glad Elise finally spoke up and is on the path to healing xx
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews