Undone by Cat Clarke

Jem Halliday is in love with her next door neighbour and best friend, Kai. The only problem is – he’s gay.

Despite the fact she knows they will never be a couple, Jem & Kai are inseparable – spending every waking moment together and sharing the same interests – until they go to a high-school party which changes everything.

As someone who doesn’t socialise, Jem isn’t too thrilled to be going, but with Kai’s encouragement that they won’t stay long she manages to find someone to talk to until she’s had enough and decides to leave – without Kai.

The next day having not seen him since the party, Jem contacts Kai only to be told to look at her emails. Confused but curious, Jem logs on to find a video has been sent round to everyone at school of Kai exposing him as gay – a secret only a few people knew.

With his secret now public knowledge, Kai is subjected to online abuse to the point where he can’t take it anymore and commits suicide.

Devastated and angered by the actions of Kai and those who pushed him too far, Jem is determined to get revenge and although she is comforted by letters Kai left for her – one each month for the next year – she decides she only has one year in which to do it before she joins him.

I’m not afraid to admit that this book made me cry and would be surprised if anyone else can read Kai’s first letter without shedding a tear. Gently but honestly touching the subject of suicide and bullying, Undone is an excellent book which explores the impact of suicide on loved ones and gripped me from the start.

A much better novel from Cat Clarke than her first offering – Entangled which didn’t seem to have any real purpose.

A recommendation definitely worth exploring.