Easy Freedom

Cathy #2

by Liz Berry

Cathy Harlow, a brilliant young painter, has at last given in to the pressures around her and agreed to marry rock musician superstar, Paul Devlin, and to keep his baby. But Cathy is still filled with doubts, for her art is the most important thing in her life and at only seventeen she desperately fears being overwhelmed by Dev and his fame and money. Her relationship with Dev has inflicted wounds, which she can’t forgive or forget. She feels threatened too, by Dev’s best friend Chris, who sees Cathy and Dev and himself, as bound in a kind of mystical triangle. Cathy’s struggle to overcome the stresses of her new life and her attempts to find herself and regain her lost freedom makes an unusual and compelling love story that leads to a moving climax. Set in the vivid worlds of rock music and art, Easy Freedom is a gripping story about redemption and forgiveness, and also has much to say about the real problems faced by a girl with a vocation.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Fiction, Dark Romance, Childrens

Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Liz Berry was born and lives in London. She worked in offices, magazines, politics and for a well-known examination body, before becoming a careers guidance advisor, helping young people plan their futures and finding employment opportunities for them. Then, for twenty-two years, she was Head of Art in an East London Comprehensive school.

At the same time she started and ran the East London Gallery for four years

Liz Berry is an artist in oils and mixed media. She also makes experimental embroidered textiles. She exhibits her work mainly in London and southeast England and sells her paintings through Gallery 41.

Reviews

[Melluvsbooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. This book was TERRIBLE. I really liked book 1. I haven’t been that engrossed in a story in a WHILE… but man this book really ruined it. So much bitterness and depression. The characters that I was enjoying in book 1 were just awful in this book. I could no longer relate to the h. Neither dudes were likable anymore. The H abandons the 17 yr old h to have a baby on her own and continues to gallavant around with no explanation. The friend is just sleazy. At 57% it’s dropped that the 2 dudes who had both sworn to love the h are likely involved in their own secret sexual relationship. Mind you, until over halfway in BOOK TWO, all the sexual energy was directed at the h, not at each other… so that was weird thing to throw in. Then the h ABANDONS her infant and runs off because all she really cares about is working. And she wants freedom from her baby. 😵‍💫😵‍💫 Then months later the H overdoses - and the h rushes to the hospital. It all comes out that he hasn’t cheated on her and she tells him she loves him and is coming back to him cuz she doesn’t want to die alone. Then they joke about him almost killing himself. The End.


I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a worse ending.

By the way. The only sex in this duet was their first sexual scene in book 1 when the hero forces himself on her. We never get resolution on that. We also never see her reunited with that baby she was so conflicted over. And the situation with the other dude is left ambiguous and unresolved.

It’s categorized as a romance but I would not call the ending an HEA.

Blech. What a SLOG.

I wish I’d stopped at book 1. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the weirdest things I've done (in a fairly crowded field) but I tracked down the 90 year old author and spoke to her on Sunday. Can't say I got the answers I was hoping for though... still RTC

[Clarice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great ending to a great story, the only reason it's 4 instead of 5 stars is that you almost need to read the author's Janey series in order to truly appreciate the ending of this book. However, the Janey books are not available on any platform to read, and I can't find the old paperbacks anywhere either. The resolution felt a little rushed too, even if it was a good ending. I was kind of hoping that Chris, Dev, and Cathy all ended up together in a reverse harem relationship or an MMF, but I can see why a book marketed as "young adult" written in the early 1990s might have steered away form that. Too bad Liz Berry wasn't still writing, or I would be screaming for a third book with this threesome about how they figured out how to love each other (le sigh). It was great none the less.

Also the irony of the title with it's not easy or almost impossible to feel free when Cathy, Dev, and Chris are locked down by their obsessive love for one another or their art was ***just chef's kiss**.

[Jai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read book 1 - Easy Connections before you read this. This review contains spoilers for the first book.

Cathy Harlowe is a young artist, only 17 and just out of high school, staying with her brother in the country before going into art school. She doesn't realize she is trespassing on the property of Paul Devlin (Dev), from the band Easy Connections. Apparently he's beautiful, like some kind of elven god, and throughout the book he and his bandmate Chris seem to put everyone into a spell with how dangerous and alive they are. Cathy is "attracted and repelled in equal measure". When they meet Dev is high on alcohol and lack of sleep from a tour and eventually forces her to have sex with him. Throughout book 1, he manipulates her and all her friends and eventually gets her to marry him and have his baby. In book 2 even more occurs when we have the manipulations of Chris, the lead singer of Easy Connections, trying to get Cathy himself. Cathy goes through a lot where she feels like a doll and wants to be "free" (thus the name of the book), but freedom ends up being a complicated thing. She is also eaten up with anger and resentment at what has happened to her because of Dev. She is physically ill and full of terror when he tries to touch her. We also see the reaction of Dev who sees things and Cathy's actions in a very different way. Everything seems like this big complex, crazy mess. It was really addictive to read because I was wondering where the author was going! I'm not sure I could even say what the message from these books are. Maybe it's about how difficult it can be to be a young woman, without any means to support yourself? Or is it about rape and it's consequences? Or fame and power? Or what freedom is? Or forgiveness? Or all of the above and more? I wonder if the author *wanted* the reader to be shocked and frustrated, or angry at the main characters - in her website, she posted reviews of her books which say things like 'Easy Connections shocked and angered me more than anything I've read for a long time.' ILEA English Magazine (l985).

The only thing a bit off about the book was that it did feel slightly dated - I don't know if people would react the same way today as they did then (ug, well not EVERYONE), and the descriptions of the pop rockers seem very much like they belong in the 70s and 80s - skin tight pants, flowing collared shirts, longish hair.. sounds like big hair bands, not quite what's in fashion today.

A very absorbing read, but also a disturbing read. Only read it if the review above intruiged you rather than made you want to run screaming. If you think you may throw these books at the wall - it is quite possible. Yet you may pick it up and still want to see what the eff is going to happen next.

More of this review (reviewed with Easy Connections) at my book blog -http://janicu.livejournal.com/39145.html

[Princessjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read Dec 2015:

EASY CONNECTION and EASY FREEDOM must be read together.

It amazes me how, when much younger, I was so moved by Cathy and Dev's relationship in EASY CONNECTION. It seemed unbearably romantic. A beautiful, talented, all-powerful man driven crazy by love for a young ingenue. *sigh*

This round, the relationship seemed UNBEARABLY UNFAIR, a nightmare: a young and very naive girl in an emotionally-volatile relationship with a powerful /predatory /charismatic stalker bent on having her in his life willy-nilly, who casually trample over her boundaries whenever he felt the need, and who has little to no skill in mature communication.

And I realize, this story was always what Liz Berry had always meant to write.

Gods, what strange romanticism young girls have!

EASY CONNECTION seem to end up a triumphant note for Dev, who believed he has finally gotten what he craved -- an acquiescent Cathy, who in turn has given up on all attempts to fight and stand up for herself.

If that was where their story ended, this novel would have been UNBEARABLY HORRIBLE and ought to fall into obscurity for having a horrific, outdated message.

However, EASY CONNECTION and EASY FREEDOM were always meant to be a single novel, and EASY FREEDOM recounts all the pitfalls of their relationship, written in wretched realism. The tension, the lack of mutual understanding, the misery, the talking at cross-purposes, and their eventual and inevitable separation as each move forward inexorably on their own course, into extremes of their personality, toward ultimate self-destruction. They have to hit bottom, and learn from their mistakes, before they could move toward change and freedom.

This is no rosy story of fair tale love, but the harrowing account of one kind of "love" relationship that exist way too often in real life. So much pain. So many opportunities to change course, to be vulnerable with one another, to empathize, all missed out, by-passed, because people were not paying attention to one another, too wrapped up in their own individual interests -- when, so easily, things could have changed for the better.

I highly recommend these two books, to be read TOGETHER!

[Andrea Maxand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read "Easy Freedom" because I liked "Easy Connections" so much.

I love this sequel. I was bugged by some of the adverbs at first, but I've re-read the book now several times and the prose seems more seamless each time. (I must have been in an irritable mood the first time I read it.) And there are pages and pages of "wow, I can't believe the story just went THERE, that's SO AWESOME". So my one criticism remains that the "happy ending" still feels a bit forced. (That could be a matter of personal taste, of course. Plus: I kept wondering what would have happened if the Cathy/Chris connection had been developed even more.) I love most books with dynamic characters who seem like real people; books that stay in my mind long after I am done reading. This book does that.

When "Easy Freedom" is working best, it explores the connection between art, sex, freedom, individuality, and social convention. There is also the weird mythical/mystical dimension to both of these books, the idea of being connected to people on a deeper and more mysterious level than the social level. Too much of this mystery would get silly, but in both "Easy Connections" and "Easy Freedom" the idea of the mythical/mystical is suggested just enough to keep it in front of the reader. The reader can believe it, or not believe it; but, it is also difficult to ignore the suggestion.

I feel as if both "Easy Connections" and "Easy Freedom" got labeled "Young Adult Fiction" because the main female character is seventeen at the start of the story. But she's a an independent seventeen year old, already going to art college, and she is launched immediately into the world of adults. It IS a coming of age story, but a coming of age story can simply be a novel. It doesn't have to be a teen romance. These books are their own thing.

[Ferio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Después de la tempestad viene una cierta calma: este libro no ha logrado provocarme tanto como su primera parte. Sigo opinando que, probablemente, necesitase una versión integral revisada en edición y traducción, probablemente acompañada de un ensayo explicando todo lo que está mal a las generaciones actuales antes de que asimilen el mensaje equivocado, pero supongo que el primero ya me provocó todo lo que tenía que provocarme y este me deja un poco frío. También me sorprende el tono general de la obra a pesar de que en ella se hacen un par de referencias a Los desposeídos.

Todos los ingredientes del anterior siguen en este (que empieza unas pocas horas tras la finalización del primero): machismo y misoginia a espuertas, homofobia camuflada de escándalo público, violencia sexual que intenta justificarse mediante sentimientos a posteriori desarrollados por juguetes rotos... Y, aunque en este la protagonista se hace reflexiones que parecen más válidas y menos alienígenas, opino que el final de la historia no encaja bien con el espíritu de los tiempos. Bueno, sí, probablemente con el espíritu de parte de la sociedad de estos tiempos sí, pero no quiero mentar a la bicha en la casa del cura.

Así que sí, admito que son obras legítimas y con derecho a existir, y que incluso he disfrutado por motivos oscuros a ratos (particularmente los sueños más chungos de Cathy y sus plasmaciones plásticas) pero no, creo que en la forma en la que están editadas necesitan de algo más. Por suerte se leen rápido.

[Daisy Jenel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel - or rather the second half - to Liz Berry's YA novel 'Easy Connection' which I first read in 1991. Although I enjoyed reading the second part of the story, the whole premise is ridiculously far-fetched: the story would have worked just as well set in the 'real world', rather than in the 'glamorous' world of rock stars. Additionally, readers would probably identify more with Cathy, the protagonist, if she were more normal instead of being this incredible painter who, at the age of eighteen or nineteen, has sell-out art shows, is commissioned to paint the rich and famous, and is compared to David Hockney - oh, and she just happens to be breathtakingly beautiful as well. The feelings and emotions rang true; however, for me, the setting didn't. For a storyline with similar themes (relationship soured by sexual pressure/forced sex, unwanted pregnancy, struggling with feeling attracted to several people at the same time, etc) but one that is more believable, I would choose the 'Sarah and Steve' trilogy, set in the 1990s and dealing with many of the issues faced by Cathy but without anyone being a rock star or an artistic genius. The Cathy books are good for a bit of escapism - and they effectively show the darker side of love and relationships - but I found it hard to connect with characters who were so removed from real life.

[Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never knew this existed until years after I'd read easy connections! I loved that the chatacters had lived on and there was more to come & I thankfully I was not disappointed :-)

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to Easy Connection where Cathy finally comes to terms with what happened between her and Dev. This novel explores what freedom means and inparticular what it means to Cathy who so desperately feels she has none. It makes us constantly look anew at events and blame, questioning the actions of the three main characters, Cathy, Dev and Chris, who are, in some mystical, spell binding way, irrevocably connected to each other. Things are not always what they seem and sometimes blame is not always enough, sometimes forgiveness an understanding play a part.
New readers will find it a dated book as it was written in the early eighties but the events and feelings therein are still relevant today and the writing still hard hitting and mesmirising, Liz Berry draws you into the world of music and art until it had its grip on you and it's no wonder that so many fans wrote asking for more of the story because it leaves such an impact on the reader.

[Nenia Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Updated note: I'm realizing that 99% of my issues with this book would have been fixed by making it a "why choose," but since this was published as a 80s YA/NA, that probably wasn't on the table

Towards the end of the book, one of the characters describes Cathy's situation as being like a bad soap opera and that is literally the perfect way to describe this duology. It has the kind of toxic, relationship-fueled drama that you normally don't see outside of shoujo manga or old school Harlequin Presents novels. The previous book, EASY CONNECTIONS, is literally about a young woman who is raped by a rock star who uses his fame and connections to manipulate all of her friends and family into gaslighting her into being with him and having his baby-- oh, and did I mention that this is a book... for teens?

EASY FREEDOM takes off where the last book ends and Cathy finds out that it isn't so easy being Dev's wife. Not just because he's just as cruel and uncaring about what she wants out of the relationship, but also because of his best friend, Chris, who's decided he wants Cathy. Not only that, but it's also implied-- heavily in this book and in the subtext of the previous-- that Dev and Chris have or have had a sexual relationship in the past, so either way, she's got the two of them.

EASY CONNECTIONS made me really, really angry. EASY FREEDOM also made me angry, but it also made me really depressed, too. As with the previous books, I don't think you can really read these as a romance. It really is like a soap opera, and the drama is so over the top. I'm sure many a teen and their parents were scandalized by these books when they came out, as they read like many popular new adult books coming out these days do. That said, I was invested enough to find out what happened to the characters, even if I didn't particularly like either of them. Their story was so addicting.

If you're into manga like Hana Yori Dango, or like Harlequin Presents, I think you'll enjoy this book. If you're looking for something light and sweet, however, you aren't going to find it here.

3 stars

[Lesley Halliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant follow up to Easy Connections, Cathy meets famous rock Star Dev aka Paul Devlin from band easy connections whilst she is staying with family who live in a police house that ajoins Dev’s property. Dev rapes Cathy and following that one night Cathy gets pregnant and tries to bury her head in the sand and runs away. Dev pursues her relentlessly and at the end of the previous book she agrees to allow him to support her and the baby.

This book follows Cathy and Dev’s unusual relationship as they try to get past the violence of the night the baby was conceived. It’s well written and you don’t want the story to end. Such an amazing story and although it was controversial 30 years ago it’s still a fabulous and original book and one I will never get tired of reading.

It may be aimed at the teen market but still a superb read for adult audiences.

[Mas · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a train wreck this book was. I liked the first book better. I found that the heroine became unlikable to me in this book. I found her selfish, bitter, cold and unfeeling.

The whole book is about the toxicity between these three people. There is no romance really. As matter of fact, since the bad event that happened in book 1, Dev and Cathy were never intimate. The ending was abrupt and in the best case scenario, a HFN. The true victim in this book is their kid who is second or third best to everything and everyone else they have going on in their lives.

It was an interesting story to read but as far as romance, it sucked.

[Walter's Writing Emporium · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book I felt a lot more of a connection with Cathy. Her obsession with her art and needing to paint is really relatable and explored so well. We see that the life of a rock star's wife is more a claustrophobic nightmare than idyllic, lavish dream. The impact of the rape and Dev's attitude towards it are explored in a little more detail in the sequel. Is he punished enough for his actions? I'm not sure but I still felt for him at the end. I wish there was a third book.

[Leila Lallmahamood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

I first read this book as a teenager and instantly fell in love with the characters and story. So great to have this book back in print. Brought back so many memories and its still a great read now as it was back then

[Nikki Hopkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent sequel to Easy Connections. Wanted the story to continue and feel there is scope for a third book to make this a trilogy.....I want to know what happens to all the characters!

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book a good follow on from Easy Connections. Seems like happy ending for all

[Sophie Sheffield · Rating 3 out of 5]

amazing plot and well written. not as good as the first book but I still loved it

[Sphinx · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll never forget you, Cathy, Devlin and Chris.

[Nino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that's was refreshing...

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, so angsty; misery heaps on angst with a side of jealous love triangle.

And it’s easy to forget how life was so different without mobile phones and google.

I absolutely loved it and I’m so happy to finally have this on my kindle after an epic 35 year wait so I can dive back into Cathy, Dev and Chris’s world whenever I feel the urge. Odd as it will sound, I still find myself comparing current reads to this series as they were the first books ever to make any sort of impression on me.

This edition has been reformatted for kindle and there are, I’m afraid, a few errors in it. If you ever need a proofreader for this or future work I’d be happy to volunteer.

Still hoping for Chris’s story. And if you could also see your way to publishing the fantastic Janey series I would be forever grateful - I have the paperbacks but the font is now too small for me to read. Bummer.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok sequel to a teen novel. Again - not sure what the message was supposed to be.

[Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seemed slightly unnecessary, but it did change my opinion on the first book and Dev.

[Teinevi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story explained more on what Cathy was feeling about Dev and the consequences of that night.

[scarlettraces · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adult me is pretty effing impressed by this ending. (As in, I do not think it involves the number 2.)