Ketchup Clouds

Goodreads Synopsis:    Dear Mr. S. Harris, 

Ignore the blob of red in the top left corner. It's jam, not blood, though I don't think I need to tell you the difference. It wasn't your wife's jam the police found on your shoe. . . . 

I know what it's like. 

Mine wasn't a woman. Mine was a boy. And I killed him exactly three months ago. 
Zoe has an unconventional pen pal--Mr. Stuart Harris, a Texas Death Row inmate and convicted murderer. But then again, Zoe has an unconventional story to tell. A story about how she fell for two boys, betrayed one of them, and killed the other. 

Hidden away in her backyard shed in the middle of the night with a jam sandwich in one hand and a pen in the other, Zoe gives a voice to her heart and her fears after months of silence. Mr. Harris may never respond to Zoe's letters, but at least somebody will know her story--somebody who knows what it's like to kill a person you love. Only through her unusual confession can Zoe hope to atone for her mistakes that have torn lives apart, and work to put her own life back together again.

Rising literary star Annabel Pitcher pens a captivating second novel, rich with her distinctive balance between humor and heart. Annabel explores the themes of first love, guilt, and grief, introducing a character with a witty voice and true emotional resonance. 

My Thoughts:

-    I enjoyed this sad and somber story. It had some funny and heart felt moments, but it was pretty darn sad.

-    I didn't like how the story ended. I wanted a different resolution, but I can understand how "Zoe" couldn't be with a certain someone.

-    "Zoe" had a lot on her plate, almost too much in my opinion. Her home life is unstable, her younger sister is deaf, plus all the crap with the boys! I'm surprised she wasn't bogged down from everything. She kept going, and even after the horrible incident, she still kept going. I admire that.

-    There were some sensual moments. A couple were a bit too descriptive for my taste, and why would you write stuff like that to a guy on death row that you've never met? I don't buy it.

-    I like how the story was written with letters. "Zoe" was pouring her heart out to a complete stranger. That would be nice to do sometimes.

-    I love the title of this book, and I'm going to call red clouds ketchup clouds from now on.