An insightful, moving, and thought-provoking read.

I loved it!

39-year-old, Brooke Hollister is finding it hard living with her mother again. However, since her divorce, money has been tight leaving her with very few options. Brooke is tired after work, but she doesn't want to hear her mother harp at her all night so she decides to take her two-year-old daughter, Etta to the movies. They are on their way home after the movie, stopped at a red light when it happens.

“A whole life changed in six or seven seconds.”

Brooke sees the shadow of someone’s arm just before her window shatters. The person pulls Brooke out of the car, jumps in, and drives away.  Brooke is in shock and it takes a moment for her to realize...

She jumps up and runs after the Mercedes screaming her daughter’s name.

Sixteen-year-old, Molly spent the day collecting bottles and cans. All she has to show for her hard work is $1.42. She's walking to the place she'll sleep that night when she sees a child's car seat on the sidewalk. It's not empty. A little girl with puffy eyes quietly stares at Molly. When Molly asks where her mommy is, the little girl looks like she’s going to start crying. Molly tells her that they’ll find her mommy. However,  there are no payphones around to call the police, and it’s getting late. They head to the wooden shipping crate where Molly and her friend, Bodhi hide at night. A while later, Bodhi shows up and Molly tells him that he needs to find a phone to tell the police about the little girl. Half an hour later Bodhi comes back. He tells Molly that they need to move…now. Some guys overheard Bodhi talking about the little girl. These guys are very bad news. Molly is terrified. They find a place to hide and Bodhi leaves again to see if he can find help. He says he’ll be right back...

Time passes and Bodhi doesn't return. Molly doesn't know what to do. However, there's one thing she knows for sure... She will do whatever she needs to do to protect this little girl.

Will Molly be able to keep the little girl safe until she finds help?

What an INCREDIBLE read! Once again I have fallen in love with Catherine Ryan Hyde’s wonderful story and amazing characters!


I love the way Catherine Ryan Hyde writes. I often feel like I'm right in the room with her characters, many that I can't help but fall in love with almost instantly.

This was a heartfelt story that packed an emotional punch. I think it would be a great buddy or book club read. It deals with many important and relevant issues.

Definitely one of my favorite novels this year!!


I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

Typical Catherine Ryan Hyde book.
I tear jerker, and I loved it !
Catherine once again urges the reader to believe in the good of all people.
Can a homeless girl be the salvation she needs ?
I can see this as a movie already !

This novel left me with so many emotions. It was beautifully written! The struggles of Molly's story, with her being homeless, and the bond between Molly and Brooke certainly tugged at my heartstrings! This book should be made into a mini-series or a movie. This was my first book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I look forward to reading more by her!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

This book is about complicated relationships in time of near tragedy. It’s about the reality of life on the streets in LA for disenfranchised youth. It’s also the story of hope love and redemption.

The book is written from two perspectives Brook the mother and Molly the “ street kid“. The author captures each style in their own words. Both main characters have their own set of problems and are brought together by the love of Brook’s child . 5 stars

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl, like many of Hyde's books, explores the themes of family, belonging and finding yourself. At first, I thought the writing - in style and mechanics - did not live up to the expectations that I have for the author. But as I made progress, and really began to know the characters, it became clear that this was intentional. The characters - both Molly and Brooke - are written so authentically.

I appreciated the light that Hyde sheds on the issue of teen homelessness in the setting of this book.

Catherine Ryan Hyde writes with raw emotion and hope. She is one of my favorite authors and this book is at the top of my list of favorites from her.

I received a dARC of the book from the publisher via Netgalley. This was my honest review.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has become one of my go-to authors over the last few years, and this was yet another of her books that didn't disappoint. As with most of her books, this one is about family - both the one we're born to and the one we develop over the course of our lives. At the center of this story is Etta, a two-year-old who's torn away from her mother, Brooke, during a carjacking. She's found and protected by a homeless teen, Molly. We watch Brooke's desperate wait for her daughter's return, and Molly's difficult journey to try to return Etta. There's a nice balance of the tension of the situation and the tension between characters, with a little humor thrown in here and there to keep it from being unbearable. The characters are well-drawn and Hyde gives us enough information to want to keep reading to learn the "why" of their attitudes and actions. All in all, another read I can highly recommend from this author.
My thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is another book that follows Catherine Ryan Hyde’s signature style. A chance encounter between a mother named Brooke, and Molly, a 16-year-old homeless girl, connects the two young women and will change both their lives forever.

Ryan Hyde again delivers with strong, likeable characters you can root for whilst sensitively handling difficult subject matter with hope, heart and a happy ending. Recommended.

Although I liked the thought of this story line it was a bit disappointing for me. It went too slow. I finished it although not very quickly.

Things have gone from bad to worse for Brooke, she’s divorced, back living with her awful mother and struggling to make ends meet. Her two-year-old daughter Etta is amazing, and Brooke is trying to get ahead to make a better world for them. One night on the way back from a movie, Brooke’s car is carjacked with Etta in the backseat! I think every parent has worried about this at some point.

Brooke’s whole world is turned upside down as time goes by with no word on Etta’s whereabouts. I loved the LA cop who is helping Brooke. She’s down to earth and would be the sort of person I would want helping me!

The other storyline features a homeless teen, Molly, who happens to find Etta on the street, still strapped into her car seat. There are a series of dangerous events and Molly is forced to hide with Etta. Molly takes great care with the child and forms a strong bond with her. The unlikely friendship that forms later between Molly and Brooke takes some time to develop as both women have some issues to work through. I thought this one had a terrific ending.

I really enjoy this author’s writing style and the fact that she’s not afraid to tackle some tough subjects in her books. They are very relatable characters and the damaged relationships seem very real. This is my second book of hers with more to come!

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is the second book I have read by Catherine Ryan Hyde after Stay and I know now for certain that she is staying on my 'go to' authors list for a satisfying reading experience.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl deals with relationships and how two persons, not blood related and complete strangers to each other, can gradually build a bond of love and respect with each other that turns out to be more stronger and accepting than they ever shared with their own blood family and in the process create their own, better version of family . The author also touches on the issue of homelessness among teenagers and youth and how they are normally misjudged and written off by people and the system in general. The writing and pace was smooth, and all the characters were relatable . It was an emotional and satisfying read.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Lake Union Publishing and author for providing me with an e-Arc of the book.

I had read "Pay It Forward" by the same author, a book I absolutely loved, so was keen to read this. Its not as memorable as PIF however, don't let that put you off. This is a lovely, easy read telling the story of Brooke and Molly who are thrown together by the most bizarre of circumstances. Both are lost and trying to find their way in the world, but for very different reasons.

I have to praise how Hyde navigates between the teenage and adult voices of her characters. All too often, we are given a two dimensional character who is nothing more than a collection of tropes with a name. She gives a depth to Molly that is rarely seen in teenage girls in novels like this.

Overall it is a lovely book with a nice flow, not too taxing, inspiring and believable.

What a stunning, poignant read!

Brooke lost her daughter, Etta, in a carjacking. A homeless teen, Molly, found Etta. Molly then struggled to care for the toddler as she also sought to reunite her with her parents. Sounds simple enough but its not like that all. Living in the streets, with no food or shelter and surrounded with all kinds of dangers, Molly is faced with the huge challenge of keeping Etta safe.

This story gave me all the feels. The two narrators, Molly and Brooke, are relatable, likable and easy to root for. I struggled not to cry as I read their stories. Brooke’s situation with a failed marriage, losing her daughter and moving back home with her mom broke my heart.

Molly’s story was heartbreaking but also quite enlightening. I don’t think that I have ever read any other story narrated by a homeless person. It made me think about why people end up on the streets. It also opened my eyes to the dangers that they face. Imagine not having the security of a home, sleeping in crates or under bridges and battling the weather elements and the dangers posed by fellow human beings.  Needless to say, Molly’s story is one that I will be think about for a long time.

I loved everything about this story. The character development was masterfully done with the MCs being very realistically portrayed. The writing was beautiful with an easy flow that sucked me into the story and held my attention to the last page. I can’t recall the last time that I read a whole book in less than a day but I flew through this one. I was either reading it or thinking about it until I turned the last page.

This is a story of homelessness, love, loss, mother-daughter relationships, friendships and hope. It will make you smile, maybe shed a tear or two, laugh and think about what it really means to have a home and a good family. What an emotional, heartwarming read!

As a mum to a toddler girl, this storyline sent shivers through me, it took me longer to read than it would normally take because I was picking it up and putting it down frequently. Very few books have had that affect on me. The storyline was frighteningly realistic and very well written. Once I’ve managed to breath again I’ll recommend to all my friends.

I received this book "Brave Girl, Quiet Girl" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I enjoy reading stories by this author. Overall good read.

3.5 stars. I was very excited to read this novel after having read "Have You Seen Luis Velez?" Catherine Ryan Hyde has a way with storytelling and easily makes her characters very relatable. For me however, while I enjoyed the story line of this novel, it didn't capture me as her previous one did. I was interested in seeing how it played out, but the characters were really lacking to me. I feel that there was a whole part of the story that was missing, past experiences that could give them more depth. When their pasts were brought up I felt it was skimmed over and not explained with much detail. This story was good but not great. I do look forward to trying another Catherine Ryan Hyde book in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an advanced reader copy.

As a fan of Hyde's books, I was stunned by this beautifully gripping, emotional, and fast paced novel.
It's a story with strong characters that will stay with you. A story of being lost, then found in many ways. I was invested early on and stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish and I did not miss the sleep because this book reminds me of why I love reading. It fulfilled my heart and soul and that to me is gold! 5 stars.

As a parent this plot of this book is my absolute worst nightmare but I found the story to be gripping and couldn't put it down. I did have some reservations about the character of the mom in this story but overall found it a good read.

Beautiful writing where the very different lives but full of a void of love and compassion of the protagonists unites for the same cause, to save a girl. The story revolves around the shortages and emotional conflicts of two women but the affection, love and survival capacity of each one in their lives. Beautifully written and original.

4.5 stars, rounded up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde has knocked it out of the park! I have only read a handful of her books, but I’m obsessed with them. She never disappoints.

This story is about two women - strangers - who meet under scary circumstances with one thing in common: their love for a little girl named Etta. What transpires is an unlikely bond between these three people that you will not soon forget.

What I love about Hyde’s books are that they always relatable, always have heartbreaking moments and always have a positive, happy ending. You just can’t help but fall in love with all of her characters and are sad to see them go once the book ends. Whenever I see a new book with her name on it, it’s an automatic request because I know I’m in for a seriously wonderful story.

Keep up the great work, Ms. Hyde because you have a fan for life!

Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced copy to read and review.

Every time I start a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, I think, it seriously can’t be as good as the last one. I mean, how can an author consistently write brilliant, emotional, moving stories? Is it even possible? But you know what, I read them, and they turn out to be good one straight after the other. Brave Girl, Quiet Girl was no exception. I cried. Multiple times.

This book was just so touching. And it dealt with such big topics. Mostly prejudice, but also just plain human decency, empathy and the fear of opening up and being let down.

There is so much love in Brave Girl, Quiet Girl. But it’s a fearful love – it’s the love of people who have been burnt and are afraid to trust again. People who would rather suffer physically than open themselves up for the possibility of being abandoned and hurt again. It is heart-breaking to witness it, but it also shakes your world to see them learn to trust again.

These are all reasons I am recommending you this book. But I will try to go into more detail!

It's About...

Something terrible happens to a mother and her toddler is lost. This child is found – by another child, well, a teen – only marginally less helpless than the first one. And while the police look for the missing toddler, we get to see a lot of things happen.

The personal drama of a parent whose child is their whole world. The development of a frayed, broken relationship that happens when people are exposed to sudden emotional, world-shattering trauma. The strenght a person can have, when it comes to protecting someone weaker than themselves. And also the callousness, judgemental attitudes of the world – yet weirdly, alongside kindness and hope. But that is not all… Because the end of one story prompts the unraveling of another one…

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is written in typical Catherine Ryan Hyde fashion and it exposes the worst, as well as the best of humanity and human relationships. And that is why it’s an absolute must-read.

Real Problems Marginalized Young People Face That Need To Be Talked About More

Other than what I’ve already said in the blurb above, its really, really hard to tell you any more about this book without really spoiling it for you. And I mean, even one of the biggest topics, as it kind of comes as a twist later on in the book. Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books tend to be like that a lot. It’s a great thing when youre reading it, but its pretty hard to write a convincing review!

Just let me tell you that its about a lot of very big problems a very young, very vulnerable group of marginalized people face daily. Teens who are made homeless because of prejudice – teens who nobody will believe, because if you don’t have a home, you clearly had to do something to “deserve” it. The story deals with a lot of different prejudice, and the way people deal with it when they experience this prejudice. As always, Catherine Ryan Hyde tackles big, painful and very relevant problems.

What’s also interesting about Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is that you don’t really know what the book is about.

When you start reading, you think you know – it’s about a missing girl and the story of how she is found and saved. But… Then you find out that it’s not. Or rather, that that’s not all there is to it.

It’s kind of a little bit like two books? The first half is about a big event and its aftermath, but the second part turns the tables around – and the helper needs to be helped. We start looking at completely different problems than in the first half, and at least I totally didn’t see it coming. As always, Catherine Ryan Hyde keeps me on my toes when reading her books.

I believe I must’ve said this in another review of her book before, but this will have to be all I say on the large and important topics front. Because I seriously just don’t want to give you spoilers!

But anyway, you won’t have to wait long until you find out. Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is a very fast and riveting read!

It was an evening and a half read for me, and it was so tense, I just couldn’t pull myself away. I am not kidding, I even made salad while reading. With a knife. (I do not recommend this. Fingers suffered. Thankfully, not very badly.) If you’re like me at all, you won’t be able to unglue yourself from the book either.

Amazing, Realistic, Not-Sugar-Coated Human Relationships

And as usual, Catherine Ryan Hyde astonishes me with her ability to write amazing human relationships. Because in a book with people who need saving from their tough situation (not giving you any more for fear of spoilers), you would think it would be just a big heroic story of “hug and be happy”. Right? But it’s not.

We expect big problems to be solved in sweeping heroic gestures – an orphan child being taken into a new home, a missing child being found – things like that – we expect people in these stories to be heroic, because they always are. I expected it too, but I should have known better.

Because Catherine Ryan Hyde writes realistic, human characters – not archetypal heroes. Her characters hurt and fear, they fumble and they make mistakes.

They don’t “get saved and thank their savior profusely” – instead, they ask the real questions. They’re like real people would be – they’re not from a sweet Disney story. This is something I really loved about Brave Girl, Quiet Girl.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl Is All Women

And finally, I really loved all the ways women’s relationships were explored in Brave Girl, Quiet Girl. The book is mostly only about women – mothers, daughters, big sisters who are not actually your sisters, but more like role models or the hand that pulls you up when you’re down. The men are just a fleeting addition to the play – and we need books like that.

There are a few core relationships among the women in this book and their dynamics are so different – they open up different aspects of the way women give each other strength and define each other’s worlds. A frayed mother and daugher’s relationship and how it holds up in the wake of a tragedy, an older role-model, as a mentor or protector in a tough situation (this one is explored from a few angles in the book, actually.) A sister or companion who is caring for you not just because you need it, but because she needs to be caring for you at the moment for the sake of her own self just as much.

I could go on, but it’s pointless to try to put it into words, when Catherine Ryan Hyde already does it so much better. Like I said before, she is a master at writing realistic human relationships, and Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is a perfect example of this.

Overall...

What can I say, apart from that Catherine Ryan Hyde won my heart with Brave Girl, Quiet Girl again? I’m glad she’s written so many books. I know I still have a cache of guaranteed good reads like this one!

Triggers

Triggers are spoiler tagged, so please look up the review on my blog.

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my opinion.