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Ungrateful
Can you ever escape your past?
Cat knows she should be more grateful for her partner James. As a young woman struggling to care for her alcoholic mother, he whisked her away from the violence and addiction of her council estate home and offered her a taste of middle-class comfort.
But twenty years later, the escape he offered has begun to feel stifling. Surrounded by immaculate white carpets and scented candles, everything has its place in James's house, except it seems, Cat. She had a place to study at university after finishing school, but her mother was too unwell for Cat to take it. She begins to dream of the opportunities education could offer her.
At a university open day, Cat finds herself standing before teenage boyfriend, Daniel, now a lecturer. As the spark that drew them together returns, Cat hopes that he can in some way help her reconnect with the drive and optimism of her younger self. Or perhaps she is simply hurtling back towards a past that can only hurt her further...
Can Cat let go of her demons to become the person she always hoped to be, or is it too late?
Cat knows she should be more grateful for her partner James. As a young woman struggling to care for her alcoholic mother, he whisked her away from the violence and addiction of her council estate home and offered her a taste of middle-class comfort.
But twenty years later, the escape he offered has begun to feel stifling. Surrounded by immaculate white carpets and scented candles, everything has its place in James's house, except it seems, Cat. She had a place to study at university after finishing school, but her mother was too unwell for Cat to take it. She begins to dream of the opportunities education could offer her.
At a university open day, Cat finds herself standing before teenage boyfriend, Daniel, now a lecturer. As the spark that drew them together returns, Cat hopes that he can in some way help her reconnect with the drive and optimism of her younger self. Or perhaps she is simply hurtling back towards a past that can only hurt her further...
Can Cat let go of her demons to become the person she always hoped to be, or is it too late?
- GenresFiction
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 9, 2022
2.5 ⭐️
I’m not going to lie, I was absolutely sold on this book based on the cover. It is stunning in its simplicity and bold use of colour. Did I love the book as much as the cover? No, but it wasn’t a bad read.
Pitched as an emotional novel about a woman trying to escape her past and get the education she always wanted, it veered too much into Eastenders territory for me.
Cat is on the brink of turning 40 and is in a loveless relationship with controlling boyfriend James when an opportunity presents itself for her to study as a mature student at university.
Having spent her formative years as her alcoholic mother’s carer, Cat grabs the chance with both hands. However, a reunion with an ex-boyfriend who is now her lecturer threatens to destabilise the new future Cat wants to build for herself.
With a cast of characters straight out of Eastenders (right down to the gritty pub where many of scenes take place), this book was an easy read but not a light read.
While I can see it reflects the real struggle someone from a disadvantaged background faces, there was no levity or humour in the book whatsoever; it was relentlessly grim. There’s a lot of smoking in it too. Ashtrays, fag butts, cigarettes 🚬.
Because I read to the end and because I wanted the best for Cat and for her friend Laura, 2.5 ⭐️. I can’t say I’d recommend this one readily though. CW for coercive control, domestic abuse, rape.
*Ungrateful was published on 2 June 2022 by @littlebrownbooks @dialoguebooks. Many thanks to the publishers for a digital ARC of the book via @netgalley. As always, this is an honest review.*
I’m not going to lie, I was absolutely sold on this book based on the cover. It is stunning in its simplicity and bold use of colour. Did I love the book as much as the cover? No, but it wasn’t a bad read.
Pitched as an emotional novel about a woman trying to escape her past and get the education she always wanted, it veered too much into Eastenders territory for me.
Cat is on the brink of turning 40 and is in a loveless relationship with controlling boyfriend James when an opportunity presents itself for her to study as a mature student at university.
Having spent her formative years as her alcoholic mother’s carer, Cat grabs the chance with both hands. However, a reunion with an ex-boyfriend who is now her lecturer threatens to destabilise the new future Cat wants to build for herself.
With a cast of characters straight out of Eastenders (right down to the gritty pub where many of scenes take place), this book was an easy read but not a light read.
While I can see it reflects the real struggle someone from a disadvantaged background faces, there was no levity or humour in the book whatsoever; it was relentlessly grim. There’s a lot of smoking in it too. Ashtrays, fag butts, cigarettes 🚬.
Because I read to the end and because I wanted the best for Cat and for her friend Laura, 2.5 ⭐️. I can’t say I’d recommend this one readily though. CW for coercive control, domestic abuse, rape.
*Ungrateful was published on 2 June 2022 by @littlebrownbooks @dialoguebooks. Many thanks to the publishers for a digital ARC of the book via @netgalley. As always, this is an honest review.*
February 16, 2025
I'd probably give this a 3.5. It was a quick read that managed to cover a lot and which includes some brilliant, complex characters. It feels very grounded even whilst a lot happens, and it avoids giving easy answers. I think the central character of Cat, and her relationship with James in particular, took a while to fall into place - the glimpses we see of her with James feel quite dramatic and removed from the way they talk about each other to the narrator, but it's an interesting, and very plausible, relationship to focus on. Despite it's grittiness, there's also a lot of hope and friendship in the novel, which keep it well balanced.
October 15, 2022
Luckily I've never watched Eastenders so the characters and premises are brand-new to me.
This book is the perfect read for a midlife crisis, when we trudge through life only to pause and take stock and wonder wtf happened. It takes some life experience, disappointments, disillusionment and acceptance to relate to this story.
It's a book about prejudice, redemptions, second chances, intergenerational trauma and flawed individuals trying to get through life the best way they can. This book did a perfect job portraying the many shades of grey in life, the tension between the systemic and the individual, and the complexity in human character. There are no villains in this story (well, except one), just full of imperfect people making imperfect choices. This story avoided the victim-of-fate trope by exploring the character's empowerment and sometimes undoing. Not all seemingly good intentions lead to good outcomes, and that's what I like about this book; it's real, it's not a fairy tale full of stock characters (again, not having watched Eastenders probably helped) and a formulaic plot.
My only complaint would be that the ending seemed very rushed, as if the author was obligated to provide a happy ending and a glimmer of hope for the readers. It fast-forwarded a few years with no notice and skipped the gritty, get-back-on-your-feet stuff, which in fairness, probably warrants a separate book on its own. The author gave us a realistic portrayal of life, then decided to whisk us into a Disney world where all is well.
This book is the perfect read for a midlife crisis, when we trudge through life only to pause and take stock and wonder wtf happened. It takes some life experience, disappointments, disillusionment and acceptance to relate to this story.
It's a book about prejudice, redemptions, second chances, intergenerational trauma and flawed individuals trying to get through life the best way they can. This book did a perfect job portraying the many shades of grey in life, the tension between the systemic and the individual, and the complexity in human character. There are no villains in this story (well, except one), just full of imperfect people making imperfect choices. This story avoided the victim-of-fate trope by exploring the character's empowerment and sometimes undoing. Not all seemingly good intentions lead to good outcomes, and that's what I like about this book; it's real, it's not a fairy tale full of stock characters (again, not having watched Eastenders probably helped) and a formulaic plot.
My only complaint would be that the ending seemed very rushed, as if the author was obligated to provide a happy ending and a glimmer of hope for the readers. It fast-forwarded a few years with no notice and skipped the gritty, get-back-on-your-feet stuff, which in fairness, probably warrants a separate book on its own. The author gave us a realistic portrayal of life, then decided to whisk us into a Disney world where all is well.
August 19, 2022
Ungrateful follows Cat who grew up as a young woman on a council estate facing abuse and addiction. Then she meets James, who offers her a taste of middle-class comfort. Until 20 years later, she finds herself suppressed, suffocated and entirely dependent, never speaking out for fear of appearing ‘ungrateful’
this story covers soo many important themes and articulates them so well! it really shows how much negative perceptions of working class families are embedded into society, noticeable in even the slightest subtleties of body language. It shows society believes a university education makes you more worthy, how gratitude can be manipulated into currency
this is also the first book I’ve read that weaves in the pandemic which when I first read it I immediately went ughh no but I was so wrong as it’s the perfect story for it. Chadwick shows the vast inequalities in the experience of lockdown for those who were alone, living in poor housing and facing addiction and abuse compared to those who were financially comfortable enough so see it as a ‘break’ - and their ignorance to the opposite experience
aside from Cat, there are so many other well-thought characters completely in their own experience of inequality. tbh none of the characters I felt were particularly likeable but I was invested in how life would turn out for each of them
Thankyou so much to @dialoguebooks for sending me a copy!!
this story covers soo many important themes and articulates them so well! it really shows how much negative perceptions of working class families are embedded into society, noticeable in even the slightest subtleties of body language. It shows society believes a university education makes you more worthy, how gratitude can be manipulated into currency
this is also the first book I’ve read that weaves in the pandemic which when I first read it I immediately went ughh no but I was so wrong as it’s the perfect story for it. Chadwick shows the vast inequalities in the experience of lockdown for those who were alone, living in poor housing and facing addiction and abuse compared to those who were financially comfortable enough so see it as a ‘break’ - and their ignorance to the opposite experience
aside from Cat, there are so many other well-thought characters completely in their own experience of inequality. tbh none of the characters I felt were particularly likeable but I was invested in how life would turn out for each of them
Thankyou so much to @dialoguebooks for sending me a copy!!
September 14, 2024
From the jaws of DNF
When I first began this novel, I really struggled with it. I found it too gritty, too bleak and didn't like any of the characters. About to abandon it (which I hate doing), I thought, I'll just give it another 20 pages or so, and see if it gets any better.
It is therefore testament to the author, that she gradually pulled me in and kept me there until the end. I don't know if I'm imagining it - but the writing seemed to flow a bit more freely the further I went, and although I still didn't overly care about protagonist, Cat, I did find myself cheering on her mother from the sidelines.
And as a working class turd, myself, I found a lot of the depictions accurate and believable, and could almost see Martin's back street pub with its 'colourful' characters.
I'm really pleased I kept on with this novel; the pages kept turning and I was wholly engaged.
However...I did feel I needed a little respite from the grim themes that ran throughout - perhaps, just a sprinkling of joy or humour to break-up the onslaught of bleakness.
So, it's 4-stars. Not bad for a book I almost DNF'd!
When I first began this novel, I really struggled with it. I found it too gritty, too bleak and didn't like any of the characters. About to abandon it (which I hate doing), I thought, I'll just give it another 20 pages or so, and see if it gets any better.
It is therefore testament to the author, that she gradually pulled me in and kept me there until the end. I don't know if I'm imagining it - but the writing seemed to flow a bit more freely the further I went, and although I still didn't overly care about protagonist, Cat, I did find myself cheering on her mother from the sidelines.
And as a working class turd, myself, I found a lot of the depictions accurate and believable, and could almost see Martin's back street pub with its 'colourful' characters.
I'm really pleased I kept on with this novel; the pages kept turning and I was wholly engaged.
However...I did feel I needed a little respite from the grim themes that ran throughout - perhaps, just a sprinkling of joy or humour to break-up the onslaught of bleakness.
So, it's 4-stars. Not bad for a book I almost DNF'd!
October 19, 2022
There is nothing to commend this book - it's a very unpleasant read with vile male characters and unlikeable female ones. Some scenes are cringey, others just horrible. It's about as sensationalist as The Sun. Unrelenting misery from start to finish and about as far from the blurb as you could get. Don't bother - find a book with a point to make.
August 8, 2024
like 3.5???
is definitely unflinching portraying untypical journeys into higher education which I commend
I did not enjoy James perspectives and the articulation of how ‘dirty and whoreish’ the working classes are
I get the idea but it didn’t feel closed
is definitely unflinching portraying untypical journeys into higher education which I commend
I did not enjoy James perspectives and the articulation of how ‘dirty and whoreish’ the working classes are
I get the idea but it didn’t feel closed
February 9, 2026
A compelling read. So much gave me pause for thought.
I take my hat off to the author. Has Chadwick been following me for five decades?
Reading the scenes between Cat & her mum seemed to me a visitation of the ghost of Christmas past and present.
I take my hat off to the author. Has Chadwick been following me for five decades?
Reading the scenes between Cat & her mum seemed to me a visitation of the ghost of Christmas past and present.
May 29, 2024
This book was good. The plot wasn’t amazing but it also wasn’t boring. It was a nice read.
However, I absolutely HATED every man in this book!!
However, I absolutely HATED every man in this book!!
May 31, 2025
This was a book about women in bad situations making bad choices and it was hard to read. It did end with a note of hope and trust and connection, which was a small relief.
July 13, 2022
Ungrateful follows the lives of Cat and her friends and family, as they navigate life and the difficulties faced by the working class under a conservative government. But when Cat decides to go to university and her feelings for an old school friend are rekindles her life rapidly begins to spiral out of control.
I really wanted to like this book. I loved how fiesty Cat was and how she was always unapologetically herself and unafraid to stand up for herself and her friends and family. I also loved the way that each character felt very thought through and their personality and beliefs came across very clearly.
The reason why I didn’t enjoy this book overall though was that I found the tone of it very depressing. Although all the characters were flawed, some more than others, I was really rooting for some of them, especially Cat. And I just felt that the ending fell somewhat flat. Although in the epilogue we see Cat doing what she loves, I felt she had so much potential to do even more!
To me this book felt like a very stark and unapologetic account of the lives of Cat and her family and friends but it didn’t feel like a story to me. There wasn’t a strong narrative that gripped me throughout and although it was an easy read that I did enjoy at times, I felt it needing something more to really invest me in the lives of the characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I really wanted to like this book. I loved how fiesty Cat was and how she was always unapologetically herself and unafraid to stand up for herself and her friends and family. I also loved the way that each character felt very thought through and their personality and beliefs came across very clearly.
The reason why I didn’t enjoy this book overall though was that I found the tone of it very depressing. Although all the characters were flawed, some more than others, I was really rooting for some of them, especially Cat. And I just felt that the ending fell somewhat flat. Although in the epilogue we see Cat doing what she loves, I felt she had so much potential to do even more!
To me this book felt like a very stark and unapologetic account of the lives of Cat and her family and friends but it didn’t feel like a story to me. There wasn’t a strong narrative that gripped me throughout and although it was an easy read that I did enjoy at times, I felt it needing something more to really invest me in the lives of the characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
August 20, 2022
Ungrateful follows Cat, a woman who grew up on a council estate with an alcoholic single mother she had to care for. She meets James, who is rich and comfortable and can offer her everything she’s ever wanted, but now 20 years have passed and she’s starting to feel trapped in a world she thinks she doesn’t belong in - she knows she should be more grateful but she can’t help but want more for herself.
On the hunt for more purpose she enrols as a mature student in university which finds her attending classes where the lecturer is her former teenage boyfriend.
Cat wants to badly to be able to move on, but deep down she’s stuck in the past.
This book is one of the best explorations of UK working class culture that I have ever read, it’s honest and raw without being patronising and looking down on people. It explores the idea that you never really escape your upbringing no matter how hard you try.
It’s also a big F U to the Tory government but in a clever and non preachy way. It also covers the pandemic and the effect it had on people in poorer communities and will be really eye opening for those who have never had to struggle.
Don’t read this expecting a happy ever after - it’s bleak and honest but it’s real. The characters in this book feel so real to me and although they all had their faults you couldn’t help but root for them.
*TRIGGER WARNING SPOILER BELOW*
Just wanted to include that this book contains a rape scene and explores sexual assault - so please be aware if that is triggering for you.
This book was utterly brilliant. Bravo Angela Chadwick, thank you for giving working class people the voice that they deserve. 👏
On the hunt for more purpose she enrols as a mature student in university which finds her attending classes where the lecturer is her former teenage boyfriend.
Cat wants to badly to be able to move on, but deep down she’s stuck in the past.
This book is one of the best explorations of UK working class culture that I have ever read, it’s honest and raw without being patronising and looking down on people. It explores the idea that you never really escape your upbringing no matter how hard you try.
It’s also a big F U to the Tory government but in a clever and non preachy way. It also covers the pandemic and the effect it had on people in poorer communities and will be really eye opening for those who have never had to struggle.
Don’t read this expecting a happy ever after - it’s bleak and honest but it’s real. The characters in this book feel so real to me and although they all had their faults you couldn’t help but root for them.
*TRIGGER WARNING SPOILER BELOW*
Just wanted to include that this book contains a rape scene and explores sexual assault - so please be aware if that is triggering for you.
This book was utterly brilliant. Bravo Angela Chadwick, thank you for giving working class people the voice that they deserve. 👏
April 13, 2023
This story follows Cat, her family and friends as they find their footing in life and the struggles they go through. When Cat finally decides what to do with her life, instead of finding what she was looking for, her life is about to be turned upside down.
I love Cat’s blunt character and how she remains true to herself all the time. She was not afraid to stand up for herself and her loved ones which made her character very endearing and relatable. All the other characters complement Cat’s well and I find myself rooting for all of them to do well in life.
As much as I love this story, I felt that the ending was a little flat and I had a higher expectation to how the story should end. Overall, this was still an easy and enjoyable read.
Thanks you Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the arc.
I love Cat’s blunt character and how she remains true to herself all the time. She was not afraid to stand up for herself and her loved ones which made her character very endearing and relatable. All the other characters complement Cat’s well and I find myself rooting for all of them to do well in life.
As much as I love this story, I felt that the ending was a little flat and I had a higher expectation to how the story should end. Overall, this was still an easy and enjoyable read.
Thanks you Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the arc.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews