Catherine Ryan Hyde is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in contemporary fiction. I have read several of hers, but this one touched me in ways I wasn’t expecting, drawing me in from the opening chapter. Although difficult emotionally at times, it was worth sharing the experience of these multi-faceted characters as they learned about themselves and what they were capable of feeling and doing in uncontrollable circumstances. I couldn't put this one down for the first 30%, it just captivated me.

The first 30% of the novel is about the accidental abduction of a 2-yr old child in a carjacking that went awry. Brooke, the mother of the child, Etta, is pulled out of the drivers seat at a stop light by the carjacker who is unaware of the toddler in the carseat in back. When it’s discovered, he drops the baby off, seat and all, in a dark industrial part of L.A. where he won’t be seen but is totally unsafe for anyone, much less a helpless baby. A homeless teen, Molly, who has her own story in this novel, discovers her and takes her to the only place she has, a crate under a cardboard until she can figure out what to do with her. She has no phone and danger is lurking right outside her hiding place. My heart was in my throat during all this. Aptly titled because this was the only thing Molly could think to do to calm the crying toddler. She quietly sang to her “brave girl, quiet girl” and put a finger across her lips until Etta understood and tiredly cuddled close to her rescuer in the cold crate.

Etta wasn’t missing long but what happens in the interim is the catalyst for the plot line. How it affects those who love her, and how this profound moment will alter the lives of those involved in getting her back safely. The story is told in two POV’s, Brooke, the mom, and Molly, the 16-yr-old homeless teen with a big heart. It has us questioning ourselves as to how we perceive others, with prejudices or attitudes in our reactions. We wonder if we had been approached by a filthy street person in a bad area, would we have stopped to help, or scurried away like those Molly approached in this novel. This also touches on other current topics giving us food for thought about how fragile relationships can be, and yet how easily they could be mended with tolerance and unconditional love, as it should be between a parent and child.

This is sad at times, yes, but there are redeeming moments as well… moments of joy from the smile of a child, a mother, a homeless teen with no self worth but with a beautiful soul. Brilliantly written it will tug at your heartstrings but renew your faith in the goodness of most people. It sure opened my eyes to how the homeless live, I never imagined how bad it could get from my privileged little corner of the world. Or maybe I just didn’t want to think about it.

I won’t easily forget this one. Readers, get your copy at your favorite retailer on May 19, 2020.

My sincerest thanks for the complimentary pre-release digital ARC to the following:
#netgalley #lakeunionpublishing #catherineryanhyde #bravegirlquietgirl

Mothers and daughters...relationships explored on so many levels....another excellent read by C R Hyde...always pertininent to social issues! Thanks to #NetGalley for the e-Arc of #BraveGirl, Quiet Girl

Thank You Netgalley for an early copy.
When I get in a reading funk I just reach for novels by Catherine Ryan Hyde, she always writes beautifully stories of characters bonding through forgiveness and love. Such great characters.

Thank you net galley for an advanced copy of BRAVE GIRL, QUIET GIRL. This is the first book I read by Catherine Ryan Hyde, I enjoyed it and will be reading more of her books. This book told the story of a homeless girl and a single mother, the circumstances of their meeting and how their relationship grew. .It also dealt with the mother/daughter relationship.. I could identify with the mother/daughter relationship from both perspectives, and while I got annoyed with the mother's character a lot, I could see her point. This is the first book that I read where a homeless person was a main character and it really put it into perspective.

I have read and loved other books by this author in the past. I don't know if it's just the wrong time (this strange new world where my attention span is so fleeting) or if the pacing is just too slow. After snaring my interest early, the pace seemed to slow and I found it hard to motivate myself to return to the story. Ultimately, it's a DNF for now. I may circle back and try this one again once life goes back to normal.

Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde has provided her readers with a thought provoking tale populated by very human and relatable characters that literally step off the page as she examines how the ripples from one act brings together two women - - one a single mother named Brooke and the other Molly, a homeless 16 year old.

Writing with empathy and rich detail, Hyde once again delivers a narrative of realism, moral complexity and emotional resonance as she examines feelings that most of us can barely acknowledge to ourselves in this tale of what constitutes the nature of family as well as each human being’s need for love and approval.

This is a cautionary tale as well as a lesson in forgiveness, adaptability and acceptance and love of others as well as ourselves. Hyde teaches but never preaches.

A contemporary novel about how a dramatic 24 hours bring a single mother and a homeless teenager together.

Single mother, Brooke watches in horror as her mother's car is hijacked with her two-year-old daughter, Etta, trapped inside. When teen runaway, Molly finds Etta abandoned in a LA alley, she takes the little girl under her protection. Soon Molly is able to make contact with police, but Brooke finds herself unexpectedly taking interest in her daughter's rescuer. It's a tale filled with a focus on mother/daughter relationships and what constitutes a family.

I am a big fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books but this was just a good read, not a great read for me. With chapters alternating between the perspectives of Brooke and Molly, there is a lot of focus on the inner thoughts of the two women that often felt a little repetitive. Albeit, Molly's time on the streets gives her a stronger sense of maturity than Brooke. I felt empathetic to their individual journeys but they didn't connect to me like some of Hyde's other characters have in the past.


Goodreads review published 09/05/20
Expected Publication. 19/05/20

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this Author‘s last Book, and from
The description, this one sounded like such an interesting story. However, the main event described in the story happened and was resolved in the first few chapters, and I had the end completely predicted with 75% of the book remaining and then it was just chapters upon chapters of dialogue and some conflict that felt forced to get there. I’m not sure if this book was intended to be YA, but I especially found the POV from the teenager to be very inauthentic, like the author was purposely writing poorly to reflect a teenagers voice. That got old fast. Overall it was a light and easy read, but didn’t live up to my hopes.

“A slice of hot pizza almost sounded too good to be true. I didn’t want to look forward to it, because I thought she might be lying about it, because it felt like nothing as good as that could exist in the world anymore, or at least not anywhere near me and my rotten luck.”

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is a novel by American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. It happens in seconds. Brooke is driving home in her mother’s late-model BMW when a balaclava’d man drags her out of the car and drives off with Etta, her two-year-old daughter, in the car seat. Frantic hours follow. Her mother, usually an overflowing font of criticism and negativity, is marginally supportive.

Brooke offers up prayers to the sky: “Please be gentle with her. Please don’t hurt her. Please comfort her when she cries. Please don’t let her be too scared. She’s a good girl. She’s totally innocent. She doesn’t deserve anything bad from anybody. Please take good care of her and get her back to me.”

Sixteen-year-old Molly has been living on the street for some months. Tonight, she’s managed to pick up enough bottles to nett her $1.42, and is returning from a long walk to the twenty-four-hour market with a banana and an apple when she comes across a child’s car seat, there on the pavement. Thoughts of selling it evaporate, however, when she sees a tearful baby strapped into it. No parents appear when Molly shouts. She can’t leave the baby there.

Back at their make-shift shelter, Molly waits for her friend, Bodhi. They need to take the baby to the police, for sure, but subsequent events put them in danger and they go into hiding. Soon, Molly is alone with a baby and a bare minimum of food and drink, determined to protect this child despite the unasked-for responsibility.

These events play out in the first third of the book; from there on, it is the interaction between Molly and Brooke that takes centre stage. Amid misunderstandings, incorrect assumptions and unfair judgements, these two eventually find their way through several turns to the ending we are all hoping for.

Ryan Hyde has a talent for creating multi-faceted characters and this story is no exception. Molly understandably finds it difficult to trust, given her history, but is wise and perceptive, and often seems like the adult in the situation. And Ryan Hyde certainly knows how to tug at the heartstrings so have the tissues handy and maybe don’t read this in public.

As well as examining the bond between mothers and daughters, she explores societal attitudes to homelessness with insight and intelligence: “I know that people like to pretend you got yourself into the trouble you’re in by doing something that they would know better than to do. That way they can pretend that bad stuff like that happens for a reason and they can just stay out of the way of that reason.” Enormously moving and thought-provoking, this is another brilliant read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing

Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde, and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read Brave Girl, Quiet Girl for an honest review.

I love all of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books, always grasping a life lesson from her writing. This story is about Brooke, losing her baby, Etta, and eventually reuniting with her, with the aid of Molly, a runaway who is abandoned and living in a crate beside an LA freeway. Recently divorced, living with her unhappy mother, and wondering if life will ever become normal, Brooke has a lot of baggage to unload before she can trust Molly and realize how much they mean to each other and baby Etta. What they find is love, trust, and hope for the future. This is a heart-warming book.

Catherine Ryan Hyde never fails to provide a solid story that touches on at least one topic that is relevant to today's world. This book touches on several including a mother's love and acceptance, teenage homelessness and LGBTQ acceptance.

I felt like the author could have gone a little bit deeper with the topics. These are heavy topics and I felt like they were sometimes glossed over.

With that being said, this was a though-provoking read that I enjoyed. I will always happily read any books by this author.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is only my second Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, and I can now say that she will be a go-to author for me. This story, with the underlying theme of mother/ daughter relationships, made me feel so many different emotions. Brooke, a divorced single mom staying with her very angry and domineering mother, is trying to save enough to move on her own. This is so hard when child care is considered. So she is basically stuck in this unhappy situation. The other main character is Molly. A sixteen year old living on the street of LA after being thrown out of her home in Utah. She too had a not to good mother figure at home. A traumatic life changing event brings our two main characters together. Their subsequent journey is one I'll remember, especially being a mother myself. Well written and hard to put down, with insights on different social problems such as homelessness, I would highly recommend this heartwarming novel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book so much! It was so beautifully written. I was worried at first that it would drag out with Etta missing but it didn’t. It starts off with a bang and goes right into the story. It never once dragged on or got boring. It was such an emotional book. To read about Molly’s life and her struggles being homeless...but then how she felt so protective of Etta when she found her...it is sure to make you tear up at times. Then the bond that Brooke and Molly developed. Brooke was obviously torn at first and you couldn’t tell if it was a feeling of pity for Molly or love that kept drawing her back to her. I didn’t predict the reason Molly was homeless but I thought for sure it would end with a reunion with her parents but you will just have to read it to find out if I was correct or not. I highly recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a very emotional and touching novel. This is my first book by this author but will not be my last.

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

Reviews for other books I’ve read can be found on Goodreads and Instagram. You can find me at:
*Goodreads - Cherihy808
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on May 19, 2020

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl was a riveting read, heartbreaking at times. It is so well written, an this author has an amazing talent that she is able to pull your emotions from you. I read this book in about 3 hours it was amazing. I would recommend it to everyone.

I received and Advanced Readers Copy from NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Catherine Ryan Hyde, and this is my fair an honest review.

4.5 stars! This is another great book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, one that tackles sensitive subjects with grace and aplomb. It has fear, horror, grace, and above all, heart. My heart really broke for Brooke when her daughter was gone, and for Molly in basically every chapter. I really enjoyed this book, even when it was hard to read - certain parts of this book made me so angry I wanted to throw my Kindle. But I didn't, because I had to know how it ended. I think it ended the best way it possibly could. I cant wait for my next CRH book!

Oh my gosh! I absolutely loved this book. I loved Molly, Grace, and especially Etta. This book touched my heartstrings from page 1 until I finished the last page with a smile on my face. The back story of poor Molly is, unfortunately, happening throughout the world today. As more youth are coming out to their parents they are finding themselves with nowhere to live. This was a fabulous book that I will be recommending like crazy. Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde for writing this beautiful story. Thank you to Netgalley for the early read.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl, there couldn't be any better title for this story. When I read the blurb I thought the story was about Molly finding Etta and trying to protect her and making sure she goes backs to her mother. But I can assure you the story is deeper than what I expected before I read it. I'm sure anyone can find some part from themselves and love this story. While reading this story I felt all the feelings I could have. I was worried, sad, scared, happy, angry, bewildered, helpless, and clueless with Molly and Brooke. I liked Brooke too but I love Molly she is such a charming girl. :)) Just listen to me and read this firstly sad but heartwarming story.

This story and all the characters felt so real to me. Catherine Ryan Hyde can really make characters real with just a couple of sentences. They are all real clumsy, with all their flaws, with some bad and good side. I really like how some characters making some mess and trying to fix it, it was cute :)) This is the second book I read by Catherine Ryan Hyde. When I read Stay she became one of my favorite authors. But I didn't think I would love this much her other books, now I'm sure I should read her all the other books.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the Lake Union Publishing Group providing me a copy of #BraveGirlQuietGirl in exchange for an unbiased review and making this available!

P.s. At publishing time (19 May 2020), I will add this review in my Goodreads account and the retail sites in which this book will be available.

Wow what an emotional book this was! This is my first book by this Author and I was not disappointed. I will definitely check out her other books!

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Ryan Hyde is a simply fabulous read by an author who so rarely, if ever, disappoints. I devoured this one in a single session, so drawn in was I by the compelling storyline and richly drawn and empathetic characters. This is classic storytelling, and I would recommend this novel to anyone who has not previously enjoyed the writing of this true gem of an author.

Brooke is a single mother to two year old daughter Etta when she is violently carjacked, and must watch helplessly as her beloved child disappears into the LA night. At the end of baby Etta's terrifying journey, she is found by a homeless teen named Molly, who acts as a surrogate mother to Etta when she is at her most vulnerable. As Brooke frantically awaits news of her daughter's whereabouts, she must unknowingly rely on the kindness of a teenage stranger to safeguard her most precious treasure, her innocent baby daughter.

Brought together by horrific circumstances, the events unfold from the alternating perspectives of the two women, whose only connection appears to be their shared love of a little girl. This is a story that is told with understanding and compassion, and these are characters that will surely stay with you for a very long time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Hyde Reviewed on May 5
My first Catherine Hyde novel and she has 35 published. Where have I been?

This was such an emotion ride. Not sure what I was expecting when I started this novel.
Certainly was a pager-turner. Yet I feared what was going to be on the next page.

Story is about the complex relationships between Mothers and Daughters.
Can’t help but love Molly ~ her relationship with baby Etta was so precious. I was so sad for Brooke’s situation. As a mother of two daughters, I cannot believe that their mothers were so heartless. I was sure there had to be some reason behind Brooke’s mother’s bitterness.
Story kept me curious and I kept hoping for a happy ending.

Want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 19, 2020