I received this book "Brave Girl, Quiet Girl" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. This book was a little on the slower side for me, probably won't remember it in a few months.

I am a big fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde's writing. There were many of her books that I really liked and Brave Girl, Quiet Girl was no exception. As soon as I began reading this book I was hooked. It was so hard to put down. The characters were well developed and very believable. It was fast paced and kept me engaged from beginning to end.

The story took place in Los Angeles, California. Brooke, a thirty-nine year old divorced mother, and her two year old daughter, Etta, were living in Brooke's mother home. Brooke was down on her luck. She had married for love but her and husband turned out to have opposing opinions about having a child. Brooke's husband made it very clear that he never wanted to have a child. Brooke, on the other hand, always wanted a family. She always felt that her husband would change his mind but he never did. When Brooke discovered that she was indeed pregnant, her marriage fell apart and she found herself with no choice but to move back to her childhood home with her daughter. Brooke and her mother did not have a good relationship. Her mother was just not a warm, loving person. She was not a nice person. Brooke tolerated her only because she needed her at this time in her life.

One night, Brooke had had just about all she could stand from her negative mother and decided to take Etta and go to a movie. Brooke's mother insisted that Brooke take her car instead of Brooke's old, unreliable one. During the movie, Etta fell asleep. When the movie was over, Brooke carried sleeping Etta to the car and secured her in her car seat. When Brooke tried to fasten her own seat belt she had such difficulty that she gave up and started driving home. That was something Brooke would have done differently if she had a second chance. Her mother's car was expensive and stood out. On the way home, her mother's fancy car was carjacked. Brooke was literally pulled out of the car and the carjacker sped away. The shock of being pulled from her mother's car would have been traumatizing enough but Brooke suddenly realized that Etta was still strapped into her car seat asleep in the back seat of the car that was getting away from her.

That same night, a homeless, sixteen year old girl, Molly, was out collecting recyclables when she spotted something that looked out of place. As she walked closer, Molly, discovered a car seat with a child still in it. Molly decided that she could not leave this little girl on the street. In that instance, she knew that she had to protect this little girl. Molly took the child out of her car seat and carried her and the car seat to the crate where she and her friend were living. How was she going to let the police know that she found a little girl? Molly did not have a phone and it was not safe to be out on the streets at that hour. She would do everything in her power, though, to keep the little girl safe.

After a terrorizing night and part of a day, Molly was finally able to stop a police car and explain how she found the baby. The police officers brought Molly and the baby to a police station where Etta was finally reunited with Brooke. From that point on Molly's and Brooke's lives became intersected and woven together. In alternating chapters, Molly and Brooke shared their stories, worries, concerns, fears and intentions. Sometimes the most unlikely people are thrown together and come to understand, like, care and trust each other. This was a story about family dynamics, sexual preferences, trust, love, wealth, poverty, homelessness, and respect for others.

I really enjoyed reading Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Ryan Hyde and highly recommend it. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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.

This book was amazing!! I could not put down! Had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This book should be a movie! WOW!!!!!

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.

Absolutely LOVED this book.
Highly recommend...One of my favorite authors.
Never disappoints. Read in one sitting.

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.