I have been a fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde since the very first CRH book I ever read. In fact, I had been a fan of hers since I watched the movie "Pay It Forward" except that at the time, I didn't know the movie was based on a book. I have loved every one of the 16 or so CRH books I've read. Each gives unique insight into the human condition and human nature.

While "My Name is Anton" wasn't my favorite or even in my top five CRH books, it was still an excellent book: 100% good; 100% Catherine Ryan Hyde. It was well-written and the characters were sympathetic and well-developed. The only place it fell a LITTLE short was that it didn't have a huge climax. Even so, it was good. The pace was steady and the plot credible.

As always, I look forward to reading more of her work.

Anton has had a troubled past, physically and emotionally. Left alone for the Christmas holidays he catches a glimpse of a neighbour across the street and realises that she needs his help. He helps Edith leave her abusive husband, they stay together over the Christmas holidays forming a friendship. Anton falls hopelessly in love with her but he is just fifteen and she is in her thirties. Anton has to let her go and move on with her life while he has to try and rebuild his. One day though, their paths cross again.

My goodness, I’m an emotional wreck. This book consumed my thoughts for three days, I was waking in the night thinking about Anton and Edith!! It is written beautifully with lovely characters throughout the story (apart from Anton’s parents). I absolutely loved reading Anton and Edith’s story and was sorry when it ended. This is going in my favourites list to re-read again at some point.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author Catherine Ryan Hyde and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was beautiful. I could not put it down. The writing style was wonderful. Would highly recommend.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Dec. 1, 2020
In 1965, 18 year old Anton is coming to terms with a terribly tragedy that cost him his right hand, and his brother’s life. When he accidentally observes a neighbour being abused by her husband, he immediately feels the need to help so he offers her what he can- a safe place. While Edith shelters with Anton, the pair learn about each other, and Anton immediately knows she is the woman he wants to share his life with. Edith, however, is fifteen years his senior and fleeing a bad relationship, and she disappears out of Anton’s life, in hopes of starting over. When they reconnect many years later, completely accidentally, Anton is once again flooded with the same feelings for Edith. After overcoming tragedy, loss and grief over their many years apart, is there anything left of their former connection worth salvaging?
I have read three other novels by Catherine Ryan Hyde, and “My Name is Anton” is just as compelling and heart-wrenching as her previous ones. Hyde’s characters are endearing and innocent, and provide light and positivity into a world so desperately in need of both. I immediately connected with Anton, and admired his bravery and his strength, after dealing with so many tragic losses.
“My Name is Anton” is about romance, sure, but it’s also about mental illness, suicide, disability, parental neglect and spousal abuse. There are so many difficult subjects in this novel, yet Hyde still manages to tie them all together in an emotionally uplifting way. The relationship between Anton and Edith is uncomfortable and awkward, as Anton’s family (and the reader) come to terms with just how genuine the feelings are. There are many life lessons to be learned within Hyde’s pages.
I am not a romance reader in general, so the sappy, endearing, lovey-dovey parts were slower moving than I would’ve liked, but the beginning and the end were so charming that I couldn’t help but enjoy it.
Hyde manages to take a novel full of heavy subjects, and make it a light, yet entertaining and powerful read. Although I am very far behind (Hyde has more than thirty novels to her name, and I am only on my fourth), I will definitely read anything Hyde releases (and hopefully I’ll get the chance to catch up on some of her others as well!). “My Name is Anton” is the perfect dose of positivity and hopefulness, which is desperately lacking in the world around us.

This story made me feel all the emotions! I read it almost straight through until I finally had to sleep. It showed the different ways people deal with grief and how that can change a family dynamic. At the heart of the story is Anton and the completely unselfish love he feels for Edith. I can't say much more without giving anything away, but this is a book I'll be recommending to all.

I have read most of this Authors books. I find her books to be thought Provoking while getting to the heart of the matter.
Anton is a young man left along for the Holidays by his uncaring parents. By mistakenly viewing a women across the street getting beaten by her husband he Sets out to help her. Acton suggests she leave her husband and spend the holiday with him. Their friendship blossoms into love And separation finally meeting years later to build a life together.

When Anton’s parents leave on an unexpected vacation over Christmas holidays, they give him a new telescope. Peering into the lens, he sees something happen in another apartment building and goes to the rescue. Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite authors (she also wrote Pay it Forward, which was adapted into a major motion picture). In this wonderful underdog story, she gives us fleshed out details of the main character’s internal life and struggles with his family. I really liked Anton and his feisty grandmother. I recommend this thoughtful novel that offers a touching ending but don’t expect a fast, action-packed read. This is one to savor slowly and dig in deep with characters, following them through the years. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Name is Anton by Catherine Ryan Hyde

This book is powerful and mesmerizing! I couldn’t wait to see what developed next! This book leaves such an impact because of what the characters are having to suffer through emotionally. One suffers a painful loss, and the other physical abuse. Both of these can be traumatic enough, but throw burgeoning feelings of love in the mix! The author handles all of this with perfect aplomb which makes you want to further into the novel. I couldn’t wait to see how Anton.s life would come of age. I wondered if Edith would ever marry or if they would ever meet like star-crossed lovers like two ships sailing across the seas and never connecting!

I think that the other thing was that blew me away is my sons name is Anton Emil and we always called him Tony, but from the time he entered the military R.O.T.C. , he went by Anton. He now prefers to be called by Anton! He was also named after his Great-Great-Grandfather who was a Royal Guard for the German Czar in Germany in 1905-1907!
When Edith says this after he claims he doesn’t really like his name. I just had to snapshot this section to my son & his wife who also refuses to call him Anton! Now my son is never going to let me forget this now!
“Anton” is such a beautiful name”, she said. It has a dignity to it. It’s unusual. It’s distinctive. It sounds like a soldier in the Great War who served with honor, but I have no idea why I say that. I just love the sound of it. “

The characters of Anton & Edith are so complex and grow and selfless throughout their lives that one can only hope to measure up!
Thank you to the author & Publisher this was a remarkable story!
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and I willingly give my thoughts and opinions!

It's 1965 and saying that Anton "Anthony" Addison-Rice has had a rough year is a gross understatement. His brother died and Anton is still recovering from that loss and the loss of his hand. Emotionally numb and denying what he is going through, he assures his parents that it is okay for them to leave him alone for the Christmas holidays. Opening his Christmas gift before his parents leave helps because it is the telescope and tripod that he wanted. While attempting to set up the telescope, Anton sees into the apartment across the street and realizes that the woman who lives there is in danger. Anton is determined to help Edith leave her abusive husband even though she has no place to go. Anton questions her, "Is there ever a line...like...of hurting you ...that he could cross?" A friendship develops between the two in spite of their 15-year age difference and the holidays turn out differently than anything Anton could have expected. He falls helplessly in love with Edith and realizes that he has to let her go in order for her to be safe. His unselfish act changes his life forever in ways that seem hopeless at the time.

Whenever I receive a Hyde book for a review, I know that I have to designate a whole day to read it, because once started I will want to finish it. Grandma Marion advises Anton, "I'll tell you what love is...when you can make the following statement and mean it: 'What's best for her, even if it doesn't include me." What a powerful message! In her writing, Hyde always nudges her reader to be a better person. She shows us the good in humanity and hope for the future. This is not a Pollyannaish type book, Anton's parents are horribly selfish and his mother thinks only of herself and how things will look to others. I am so sorry to see this book end and can't stop thinking about how unpredictable life is and so wonderful at the same time. What's next for Hyde? Her plots and characters are so unique; it's going to be hard to top her last three books.

To say that I loved My Name Is Anton by Catherine Ryan Hyde is an understatement. This book is soooo amazingly good. Catherine Ryan Hyde writes the best books. Hyde introduces us to Anton, a boy who has struggled through some tough teen years. Now Christmas is upon him and his parents decide to take a trip to South America, leaving him home alone. Anton has the chance meeting with his neighbor across the street Edith and a friendship is born. Anton, while developing serious feelings for Edith, does the most self-less act and helps Edith escape her dangerous marriage. Flash forward many years and Anton runs into Edith and the old feelings come right back to the surface. Edith and Anton end up defying odds and end up writing quite the amazing love story.
My Name Is Anton brought all the feels out in me. I am a glutton for a good love story too. I will be recommending this to friends and family. I always enjoy Catherine Ryan Hyde books and will continue to look for her books. Special thanks to NetGalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde, and Lake Union Publishing for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
#MyNameisAnton #NetGalley

Catherine Ryan Hyde never ever disappoints.
Absolutely love all her books.
Can’t wait to see what Catherine comes out with next. So easy to connect with all the characters and feel what each one is experiencing.
Add to your reading list I promise you want regret it. Thank you Netgalley!!!

My Name Is Anton was, for lack of better words, simply lovely. I absolutely loved this book. The characters, the time period, and the action were just downright fantastic. I liked Catherine Ryan Hyde's previous book, Brave Girl, Quiet Girl, well enough, but this one was just in a world of its own and simply blew me away. I am usually not a fan of love stories in which the woman is older than the man--yeah, yeah, I know that that's kind of sexist and very cavewoman-y of me--but the age gap didn't really bother me too much in this book, which I found surprising because it usually does take away from my enjoyment of a book.

I will be purchasing this for my collection. Without a doubt, My Name Is Anton is a must-read.

This book takes you on the journey of Anton’s life starting at age 18. He has a selfish mother, a spineless father. Almost a year before the start of the book, Anton’s brother does by suicide, leaving Anton physically and emotionally wounded. His parents go on vacation over the Christmas holiday and Anton is left to fend for himself. He does have a couple of supporting relatives in Grandma Marion and Uncle Gregor. While adjusting his new telescope, Anton inadvertently witnesses his neighbor across the street (Edith) being abused by her husband. Anton injects himself into her life and is determined to help her leave her abusive marriage. Edith is fifteen years his senior and Anton falls in love with her. Grandma Marion recognizes Anton’s predicament and gives him advice about what love is and isn’t. Anton loves Edith enough to let her go, and so he does. Years later, their paths unexpectedly cross again. This is a story about love, first love, lasting love, and love that is, perhaps, simply meant to be.

I appreciated the characters in this book and felt the author did a wonderful job of developing them. I loved Grandma Marion most of all. She was a wise and loving grandmother, and a true ally. If I were a hopeless romantic, I might have loved the book. As someone much more pragmatic, I still found the book to be enjoyable and well written.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

A human life is a very different place when you can tell people what you need.

Great tragedy brings great growth, Anton. It wakes us up. It makes us into someone a little different from who we were before.

This is what people didn’t understand, he thought—it was the littlest, most insignificant losses that stung the most, and he didn’t even know why that should be.

Love is when you can make the following statement, and mean it: ‘What’s best for her, even if it doesn’t include me.’

“You don’t have to be sorry. You shouldn’t have to apologize for what you want. We just don’t always get what we want in this world. That’s the thing about life. That’s the way it is.”

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with this copy to read and review.

Once again, Ms. Hyde tackles difficult subjects in an accessible, non-depressing way. This time, it’s mental illness, bad parents, and domestic violence.

Anton has survived two life-changing, terrible things at the age of 17. Now he’s 18, and his parents leave him alone over the holidays just months after these awful events have happened. He sees a woman being abused by her husband in an apartment across the way, and this is the event that changes him forever.

I liked that I genuinely had no idea where this novel was going to take me, and I liked the inspirational message about what love actually is—caring about the other person more than yourself. Several times Hyde writes what the character wants to say but didn’t. The only thing off for me in this novel was that sometimes I felt a little bit of distance from Anton. I didn’t fully feel I understood him because it felt like his emotions were being reported to me rather than me experiencing them for myself.

One of the many things I like about Hyde’s work is that it’s not difficult reading.

I teared up during this novel, and I appreciate what an uplifting author Hyde is. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES DECEMEBER 1, 2020.

What’s in a name?, in a family tradition?, and can a person you just met change your entire life? For Anton this is exactly the story his name, his family ,his meeting with Edith.
This book deals with depression and what happens to a person after a tragedy , personal relationships and most of all unselfishness!
Whenever I read a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde I always want to become a better human and this book is no exception, like all books written from the author, it will stay with me for a long time

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was underwhelmed by this book. The author is well-known, the premise sounded promising, but I struggled to ever really enjoy the story. It revolves around so many deep, hard subjects (suicide, mental illness, grief, guilt, abuse, neglect) but was told in a manner that came off as too light and superficial for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters or the story. I found myself grateful to be nearing the end, only to realize I was only 47% finished. Just a personal opinion, but this one was just ok to me.

Loved this story of Anton and Edith. Anton has experienced an extremely tragic event at 17 that scars him for life. He meets Edith, 15 years his senior with her own baggage, and falls in love with her. Anton carries on with his own unfulfilled life until... his character, perseverance, and resilience shoUld inspire all readers. Catherine Ryan Hyde is at her best, provoking the reader to think, “What would I do?” as they read about Anton’s life. Refreshing characterization of Anton...so wish there were more people like him in our world, especially during this surreal global pandemic. This book transported me to a heartwarming place, watching this beautiful story unfold. I highly recommend this read. Many many thanks to Catherine Ryan Hyde and NetGalley for affording me the pleasure of reading this phenomenal story, to be published on December 1st. You are going to want to read this one!

Catherine Ryan Hyde never fails to provide a touching story.
I was held captive from the very beginning. Loved the touching plot and the way the author handled depression and the result of mental illness. Loved the way the characters interacted with each other and the way each handled difficulties.
4 stars and a hankie warning!

Wow, this was such a powerful story of love and selflessness. I thought the author did a brilliant job with the characters - especially Anton, whom you cannot help but love. I found myself silently cheering him on and wishing for him to find happiness, especially after the lack of support that he received from his parents following a recent tragedy that (literally) scarred him for life. I was so glad that he had his (great) Uncle Gregor and his Grandma Marion to rally around him and offer support. Grandma Marion was also instrumental in offering wisdom and advice that guided not only his early relationship with Edith, but his later life as well.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

"My Name is Anton" follows Anton from a school leaver to an elderly man, from the 1960s to the present day. It focuses on the relationship he has with Edith, who is 15 years older than him, and how their friendship changes over the years. I liked this aspect of it, as I do in many books, seeing how life develops which is harder to do in real life. The book is easy to get into, there are hooks to intrigue you which gradually are revealed. At first I thought it was going to be a thriller concentrating on Edith and her difficult relationship with her husband, highlighting domestic abuse and coercive control. To an extent this is the case and although I'm not a fan of thrillers I was a bit disappointed when the direction of the book changes and it becomes tamer.

From early on it is obvious that Anton has mental health issues from a traumatic incident in his recent past (and his unbelievably terrible parents) and these are addressed well (although I'm no expert) and continue to be referred to throughout the book.

I have read about seven books by Catherine Ryan Hyde and I always find her books heartwarming, certainly I've enjoyed some more than others but I found this one too sugary sweet and aspects of the story line far far too convenient.. Anton verges on being obsessive about Edith which I felt was unhealthy but this isn't addressed in the book at all.

I will give this book 4 stars but its probably a 3.5 in reality. Thank you Netgalley for giving me a free digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.