In ‘Pathways’, as in her debut novel, ‘Girl Reading’, East Anglian writer, Katie Ward, showcases the elegance of her prose, her wry humour and originality of thought. The plot, a nexus of a love story and the world of neuroscience, will keep readers turning the page while the universality of its themes, including the links between people and the difficulties we have communicating with each other, cannot fail to resonate. Katie Ward’s skill as a storyteller and her expansiveness of mind shines through on every page. Those who loved ‘Girl Reading’ as well as those new to her work cannot fail to be moved by this fascinating and important second novel.

Katie Ward’s second novel (after Girl Reading) has been a revelation. It is just as intriguing and innovative, in style and subject, but incredibly good to read and, of course, to think about. Her writing is so precise, elegant, often extremely comic, but above all rewarding to read and savour. I loved Girl Reading, but I love Pathways just as much, but for a stack of different reasons. I can’t wait to see what she creates next, and hope she is working hard on her third novel – or even short stories… I will take what I can get!

Instead of choosing my typical read – WW2 – I opted to read Katie Ward’s 'Pathways' for my summer reading. I was not disappointed. It’s intelligent, well written, with every word and sentence fashioned with care. Indeed, the book is an outstanding lesson on writing. Told from two conflicting points of view, Katie explores the complicated relationships between Cara, a neuroscientist and her (almost) step-daughter Heather, who is on the cusp of adulthood. As with numerous families, the relationship is often fraught, with Cara questioning her responsibilities as a pseudo mother. Body image, life struggles, illness and heartfelt thinking fill the pages, along with many contradictory points of view. But there are also comedic moments. Indeed, it’s easy to visualise the content as a sitcom/drama. I thought this is an area the author could explore further. In summary, Katie’s writing oozes elegance throughout. It’s well written, thought provoking, yet comedic. Recommended.