Let Me Go: Abused and Afraid, She Has Nothing to Live for

by Casey Watson

Let Me Go is the powerful new memoir from foster carer and Sunday Times bestselling author Casey Watson.

Harley, 13, has been sectioned under the mental health act after attempting suicide. She was spotted climbing the railings on a footbridge that crossed a busy motorway and pulled to safety by a member of the public. After six weeks in hospital, social services are looking for a short-term placement so she can be kept safe while family therapy takes place. Harley has a family – a widowed mother and an older sister, Milly, who left home with her long-term boyfriend just over a year ago. There is no prospect of Harley going home just yet though, as her mum, who has learning difficulties and addictions issues, feels she cannot cope. So she arrives with Casey and Mike under a twenty-eight day care order.

As Harley tries to hurl herself out of the moving car on the way home, it quickly becomes clear she is in urgent need of help. Three weeks into the placement, after Harley has made various attempts to abscond, it seems like zero progress is being made. Then all of sudden there is an unexpected breakthrough, and light at the end of a long dark tunnel, but only once Harley is finally able to share the truth about the abuse she suffered at the hands of a very dangerous man.

Genres: Nonfiction, Abuse, Audiobook, Memoir, Fostering, Biography, Mental Health

Audible Audio

Published August 6, 2020

Reviews

[Erica⭐ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harley has a secret she just can't tell. So she acts out by self harming and running away. She won't talk to Casey and just stays in her room. But Casey being Casey finds out why. You could feel the frustration Casey felt when no-one seemed to be helping Harley. Harley's problems seemed to stem from when her father died and her mother took to drink/drugs.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but a tough one.

I feel for all foster kids even when they’re placed with beautiful foster parents.



Listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox
Published by HarperCollins
Narrated by Kate Lock
Duration: 8 hrs, 32 min. 1.50x Speed

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ⭐️
True story about a 13 year old girl with problems we can’t even imagine.

All of Casey Watson’s stories are compelling and compassionate. It’s not the best writing, but while I’m reading I am involved in the story and don’t see myself caring much about how it was written.
It’s not my favourite Casey Watson book, but it’s a heartbreaking story as always.
Can’t get over how much these children suffer in the little time they have lived.

Thank you to Casey Watson for writing their stories, for letting the world know how these children feel, what they have been through, and for making the readers aware of them and caring about them.
And ultimately, thank you for the amazing job done with them, thank you for helping and caring when other people in their lives haven’t.

Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time ❤️‍🩹

[Pat K · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is a really compelling true story about a 13 year old foster child, told in a compassionate way. It's also about the failings of the foster care system in the UK. This is one of the rare books I would listen to a second time. There is no swearing and no gratuitous sex scenes. It is very thought provoking and I believe suitable for teens.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not an author I will be following.

[Lill ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

jag tycker alltid att det är intressant att läsa böcker om fosterhem, och jag ville särskilt läsa denna eftersom den handlade om bland annat självmord, självskadebeteende och depression. det var första gången jag läste en bok av casey watson men jag vill definitivt läsa mer av henne. dessutom var boken lättskriven, vilket var kul för mig eftersom svenska inte är mitt morsmål :)

[Kelly Ferrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let Me Go. by Casey Watson.
Casey and Mike have just dropped off the two littlies they have had for a month while their parents have been in hospital after a house fire. They know they shouldn’t be getting calls at the moment to take any children as they await the birth of another grandchild. Casey sees the number on her phone and just thinks they are asking how the drop off went! No such luck ... Harley a teenager is in need of a 28 day care placement ...... they are in real need for Casey to do this ... she does have some time before the baby is due by caesarean ... after some discussion with Mike they agree it is what needs to be done .... Harley is to be picked up from a Mental Health Unit ... she had tried to kill herself ... she can’t go home as her mother is not able to look after her ... yet!
The next 28 days for Casey will be a really hard slog .. things happen and there not good!
A well written book .. I did find it a bit slow at first but all in all a great read.

[Maureen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read from Casey

This is a good read, it's also an insight into how much change is taking place in social services and childcare, not all for the better! Hats of to Casey Mike and family for doing a great job in fostering and helping these troubles children to open up and get the help they need, in these changing times

[Lara Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book covering the pressures of keeping a teen who has attempted suicide safe and the pressures this puts on a foster family. the storry covers the role of a foster carer in a 28 day placement, and the authors strong feelings about the use of such placements. In parts I felt the book was not believable and I did not like the way the authors experience as a foster carer meant they seemed to have a less than favourable view of professionals around the child. I am sure that the way the troubled teen was allowed to live in one room would not be the desired treatment.

[Lauren Cheshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved Casey Watson's books, but I particularly enjoyed this one. Although at times it was difficult to digest, it was nice to read something that I could relate to on a personal level. Casey always reminds me that there is actually some good people left in the world 💕

[eddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

casey "the worst part about this child's suicide attempts is the inconvenience it causes me" "social workers only do paperwork and have a ludicrously easy hands off job" watson i will fucking fight you

[Emma Rategan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but because of books like Go Ask Alice, I am super skeptical about "true" stories from authors who seem to have a never-ending supply of novel fodder....

[ANJH · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to start off this review by saying, if you’re thinking of reading this book, *MAJOR* trigger warning for s**cide, SI, s3lf h*rm, mental illness and @b*se.

this book was incredibly dark and sad but very gripping. i think the reason i found it so “easy” to keep reading is the fact that to some small extent i relate to Harley in ways i won’t go into but i do know what it’s like to be a mentally ill teenager convinced they are hopeless and could very much empathise with her not wanting Casey to worry about her. often mental illness really feels like another person who is there but isn’t really you.

i think this book did a great job at showing the awful reality of 28-day placement in foster care (not that i would have any experience) and how hard that can be for both foster carer and child. i really think more work still needs to be done in the system to ensure better outcomes for these poor children who have often been through so much.

i forgot a few times that this was based on a true story through how horrific the story actually was but unfortunately this is the reality for some children and the foster system.

again, if you’re thinking of reading, please check trigger/content warnings.

[Bekah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let Me Go is another heartbreaking memoir from Foster Carer Casey Watson. Each of her books has just the right amount of fostering details, personal life, and explanations of how the whole system works. Let Me Go tells the story of Harley, age 13, who has just been discharged from a Children's Mental Health Inpatient Unit and who still very much struggles with suicidal ideas and self harm, and who is on a 28 day care order to live with Casey. This book differs from all the others I have read by Casey Watson in that usually the background of the children and the abuse that led them to be in foster care is gradually discovered and drip fed throughout the child's time with Casey and her family, but Let Me Go deals with a child who is incredibly closed off and the horrific details are revealed with a bang towards the end of the book. As a reader we can easily identify with Casey and her frustrations and anger at not having the information she needs to be able to help Harley to the fullest. We are left with an understanding of how easy it would have been to just leave things buried and to just get through the 28 day care order the easiest way possible and pass Harley, the problem, on to the next person. But that's not what Casey does, and that's exactly why she had such a successful fostering career and is able to write memoirs with incredible emotions running through them.
As usual there is possibly triggering or upsetting aspects to this story but if you are someone who enjoys reading these types of books then this is definitely one to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written

This book had me so gripped I finished it in two nights! It highlights 28 day placements and the negative side of them as we saw in this story. It was interesting to see how Casey and Mike dealt with a girl who was ‘environmentally suicidal’ and wasn’t able to be treated by any professional. It broke my heart to see how much Casey tried to get through to her for so long and just got nothing back. This all just highlights how 28 days to build a relationship just isn’t possible and even the children don’t want to form new bonds when they just have to move on again. It was lovely to see them making progress and then all of a sudden the story comes out from Harley about her family life and what really happened. I’m so glad the outcome worked out the way it did and everyone found some happiness.

[Me · Rating 3 out of 5]

What this book may have lacked in detail it certainly made up for in realism. Often these books portray Casey and her family as perfection personified - but the stress and anger made this much more believable. It is a shame the book pretty much stopped at the disclosure, but I guess a happy, calm placement doesn’t make for much of a misery-lit storyline.

What I will add is that it doesn’t seem very believable about mental health services both washing their hands of Harley AND the inpatient services not noticing signs of trauma. As well as Harley being perfectly happy to hide in her room until she disclosed and then at that point wanting to sleep on the sofa as it was too upsetting to be in a bedroom.

[Katie Stride · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written and sadly harrowing account of a foster placement. Introducing us to the interesting 28 day placements and the barriers they can add to the work done when fostering a child.

An honest account of a very hard to talk about subject and a reminder of why it’s important to not judge just from behaviours no matter how repetitive or exasperating.

A recommended read but please if you are or have been in a vulnerable position with any abuse then to check in with yourself mentally before starting to read.

[Anna Sisti · Rating 3 out of 5]

My one issue with this book is that it is a memoir from a foster mom. It tells the story of a little girl going through so many traumatic events. My question is: did the foster mom get her permission to share her story? Even with names changed for privacy, did the child consent to her story being published and put out for everyone to read? Her story is so raw and real and I wonder if she wanted those things being share with others.

On the other hand, it’s a beautiful representation of foster care and the complexities and pitfalls it has.

[Dan Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a good book, albeit a bit disturbing at times. For a 13 year old to want to 'end it all' is sad, but Casey being Casey finds out why. You could feel the frustration Casey felt when no-one seemed to be helping Harley (her dad loved Harley Davidson bikes). Harley's problems seemed to stem from when her father died and her mother took to drink/drugs. The ending as you'd expect works out well for all concerned.
2 people fou

[Lisa Carlile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent as always
As always I love the books by the Foster carer Casey Watson and this did not disappoint. Follow the story of Harley and how Casey and her family tried to help her through her traumatic current life she is in.. Recommended if you like true life accounts. Thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Mackenzie Deaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This story was heartbreaking and really opened my eyes to the struggles of my own generation. It made me feel less alone and see how much worse life could be for myself. The only reason It’s a 4 and not 5 would be because it can get a tiny bit repetitive but I didn’t mind because the ending was so worth it.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it because I felt like she expressed and went through all the thought processes I did/do as a foster carer. How much do you sacrifice things within your own family to care for a child who so desperately needs someone to love them but will challenge and test that more than you could ever think. I love how this author writes, her heart for children and her ability to share a life story.

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by this author. Read all of them and really enjoy them. This was a really hard story to read with what Harley went through. Casey is clearly a caring person and her and her family always do their best for the children they look after.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harley

Reading this my heart broke for Hartley being abused by family wanting to die. Thank goodness she came into caseys life and yes it was hard but casey got through to her in the end 5 stars

[Mrs Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Another good read that I couldn’t put down. The things these kids go through is beyond me. Casey is good but also honest about her own feelings. I love to follow her family too.

[Jenny McAteer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harley

Very interesting book. I was really worried it was going to be a tragic ending and as awful as the story was as it evolved it took a turn i wasn't expecting but at the same time very relieved to get.

[connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was very interesting book. Quite different from other fostering books I have read but still quite interesting. The people involved were real and you wanted to just reach in and help the ones you felt you could help and throttle the ones that stood in the way. I highly recommend it.

[Helen Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that I picked up whenever I had a few minutes to read. Tough subject matter but I do love memoirs. Casey you are my hero. Good flow and not at all rambly or boring. I am ready to read part 2 !

[Lennie-Jay Petchey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad story.

Unfortunately I found it to be quite a slow and wasn't keen on how it was written. It may not of helped that I listened to it as an audio book, so part of my judgement is how somebody else read it.

[Thomas Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this story very intriguing. A true accounting of a young girl who is sent to a foster home. Written by the mother in the foster home, it shows the challenge of trying to help a young person who makes it very difficult.