There are two intertwined stories in this book that come together in an unexpected way leading to a redemption of sorts for both parties. Abby and her mom live under the thumb of a controlling man that makes their lives miserable. Elliott has just lost his wife to cancer and is in the process of dealing and finding a way to manage his grief to move forward. They all meet at a cabin in the middle of nowhere and are brought together by the needs of seven puppies that Abby saved from being thrown into the river from an overpass. I found this book to be endearing, however very obvious as to what was going to happen. I wish there would have been more focus on making there appear to be more danger for the mother and daughter. Without this, the book seemed to miss out on authenticity and the drama element that this would bring to the book. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Author Catherine Ryan Hyde says that in her writing, she returns to a single question: “What is our responsibility to each other?” because she is “fascinated by people who help not because they have to but because they can.” In Seven Perfect Things, Hyde returns to that theme, telling a story about joy, where it can be found, how to recognize it, and, most importantly, having the courage to hang onto it once you find it.

Thirteen-year-old Abby's home is an unhappy one. Her father is boorish, overbearing, and perpetually unhappy. Her mother, Mary, lacks self-esteem and tiptoes around Stan, fearful of raising his ire. She ensures that she is home when he expects to find her there and his dinner is on the table when he gets home from work. She has to sneak off for lunches with her friend Viv, who supports her unconditionally and encourages her to leave and make a better life for herself and Abby, telling Stan she is at a quilting bee. Mary has saved up a small escape fund that hides away in her sock drawer.

Abby and her friend, Jamie, discovered a few months ago that the locks had been sheared off an old hunting cabin and shed situated in the woods above her house. The paved road leading to them turns into a rutted, twisting four-wheel-drive track arcing up a steep hill, nearly obscured by encroaching trees. The girls only entered the cabin once because it felt wrong to enter someone else's home without invitation. When Jamie runs away to the cabin, Abby convinces her to go back home. Walking back down the hill to her house, Abby approaches the bridge and watches a middle-aged man emerge from a car, holding a burlap sack, swing it hard, and toss it over the railing into the river below. For just a split second, the bag seems to hesitate on the surface of the water. And in that split second, Abby sees the sack moving, not with the river's current, but in a jerking fashion. She realizes that something inside the bag is alive.

In that split second, the trajectory of Abby's life changes.

Abby is a strong swimmer -- a member of her school's swim team -- but she risks her own life to navigate the river's strong current and reach the heavy bag. She manages to retrieve it and navigate it onto the muddy bank, relieved to see that whatever is inside it is still moving. Using her penknife to cautiously slash the bag open -- apprehensive that she may have just rescued "something you wouldn't want to save" -- she is shocked when a puppy comes tumbling out. Gradually, six more puppies emerge from the bag! They are adorable and instantly swarm her, leaving muddy paw prints all over her clothing. "Now what the heck am I supposed to do with all of you?" Abby asks them.

Hyde is an expert at creating young characters who spring to life in reader's minds, their voices perfectly believable and endearing. Abby is no exception. She is resourceful, resilient, and wise beyond her years. She knows she can't bring seven puppies home but cannot bear to surrender them at the pound after being informed of their likely fate in a county where dumping animals is not unusual, but adopting them is. So she decides that since the cabin has been abandoned for some time, she will keep the puppies in the shed until she can find loving homes for them. As Abby considers the puppies' perfect faces, she knows that there is nobody to help her, and she must rely on her own instincts and ingenuity . . . because seven tiny lives depend on her. She has been reluctantly "thrust into a world where such perfect little beings could be treated as worthless. She knew she had been living in that world all along, but she resented having been forced awake. Forced to recognize it."

Abby doesn't count on Elliott, the owner of the cabin, returning after an extended absence. A handsome fifty-two-year old engineer who is exhausted and bereft following the death of his wife, Elliott only wants peace and quiet in a place where he might feel a bit better. He has just endured the funeral where well-meaning friends and acquaintances have insufferably offered platitudes like "such a terrible disease. Thank goodness she was gone before all that awful stuff happened, . . . It's a blessing." Elliott loudly responds, "It's not a blessing. It's a damn tragedy," causing all conversations around him to suddenly stop. "Don't try to tell me the worst time of my entire life is a blessing."

But when Elliott arrives at the cabin, he discovers that his locks have been cut off, his possessions stolen, the cabin is filthy because the door was left open . . . and a precocious thirteen-year-old is sheltering seven puppies in his shed. Elliott is not a man who wallows in self-pity or asks "Why me?" when confronted with challenges. Rather, he faces "life on its own terms." But Elliott's realization that he has been been denied the refuge he sought pushes him toward his breaking point, as though the universe is "picking on him. It was more than he was able to dismiss as fair." He has no intention of being Abby's savior, especially at a time in his life when he is incapable of saving himself.

Hyde compassionately and compellingly relates how Abby and Elliott encounter each other and establish a tenuous friendship. Abby discovers and teaches Elliott that it is literally "impossible to not be happy with seven puppies climbing all over you. It literally can't be done." Her instincts immediately tell her that Elliott, unlike her father, is trustworthy. They work out an arrangement that will temporarily allow Abby to keep the puppies on Elliott's property, and he convinces her that she must tell her mother the truth about her activities . . . and those delightful puppies.

The story moves at a steadily engrossing pace as the seven perfect puppies and Abby's unwavering devotion to them serve as the impetus for Elliott to do what fascinates Hyde: he agrees to help Abby and Mary not because he has to -- after all, he just met them and has no responsibility for them -- but because he has the means and desire to do so. Like Abby, he becomes devoted to the puppies, and learns that, although he must journey through mourning his wife, his grief does not have to define the remainder of his life. He knows, in fact, that was not what she wanted for him. She told him "loudly and clearly" that after her death, she expected Elliott to "get out there and live. Or else" she would "come back and haunt" him.

But danger lurks and devastating developments threaten the chance for Abby, Mary, and Elliott to find happiness. For Mary, it is a reckoning as she must either recognize her own worth and inherent power, or forever surrender herself to an unhappy, dysfunctional marriage with a man who is angry and unhappy all the time. If Mary, who loves poetry, allows, in the words of Emily Dickinson, her prison to become her friend, she will also consign Abby to life with a father who has no real interest in her or her future. To Stan, Mary and Abby are possessions he feels entitled to dominate and control.

As always, Hyde's characters are empathetic and endearing, their experiences believable. She explores how each of them learns a new way to relate to the world and the people around them. For Abby, it's a critical time in her young life when she gives voice to her feelings and undertakes the awesome responsibility of caring for and protecting the puppies. Mary must face down her fears -- of Stan, resignation, and failing her daughter -- and find out if she can create a happy, secure life for herself and her daughter. And Elliott must decide if he can honor his late wife's wish that he, in time, will be happy again despite losing her and the beautiful marital relationship they shared. None of the three main characters is without flaws, but all deserve a better life than they are living as the story opens, and Hyde tests their resilience, strength, and resolve in an entertaining and engrossing story that illustrates once again why Hyde is a master at crafting emotionally satisfying tales that leave readers feeling better about the human condition for having read them.

Thank you Netgalley and Catherine Ryan Hyde for a copy of this title.
This is the second book from Catherine Ryan Hyde that I have read and I have to say she is becoming a firm favourite of mine. This lady writes like we live our lives, I love it.
Thank you

First off, I love the cover! Puppies! The cover alone was the reason why I requested to read this book. Plus I heard great things about this author. This was a fast, easy read even though it had some heavy subjects: animal abuse, domestic abuse and cancer. Your emotions will run wild with this story: grief, anger, happiness, fear. My only issue with this book was that I found it unbelievable. What adult will allow a 13 yr old to keep SEVEN dogs??

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Catherine Ryan Hyde for a copy of "Seven Perfect Things" in exchange of an honest review.

Catherine Ryan Hyde writes books that I NEED to read. I find them to be comfort reads and in this day in age, that's exactly what my reading life needs.

Seven Perfect Things is a really lovely, uplifting read.
I enjoyed the plot and connected straight away with the realistic and relatable characters. I like how the storyline brings the main characters and their struggles together. And of course. Puppies! Who doesn’t love puppies.
Whilst I could guess where the book was going it is a thoroughly enjoyable and heartwarming read.

This was a warm fuzzy story about puppies getting rescued along with their rescuer getting rescued! Lotsa rescuing going on.

It was a nice, enjoyable read: a very light-weight and predictable tale of good vs. evil. The ending was totally implausible with no real conclusion to the problem, just an ending with lots of issues still in play.

Good book for the YA section.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.

This review of Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde is courtesy of Netgalley. #SevenPerfectThings #NetGalley
Rating: 4/5

I'm not often a reader of women's fiction compared to other more favored genres, though I have read some of Catherine Ryan Hyde's other books. The description including puppies pulled me in to add it to my review list.

It's a heart tugging book with good reflections of different moods (grief after death for instance) and nuggets of wisdom (like taking bits of happiness where you can). Heartwarming overall with happy ending though parts of the middle are a bit heart wrenching.

I just wish there was a bit more scenes with the puppies. As for which puppy I identify with the most, that would be Tippy.

Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde was such a great read! Just look at that cover! Just drew me in! Abby who is only 13 rescues an abandoned litter of puppies. She can't take them home because that would never be allowed so she hides them in an cabin which has been empty for some time. When Elliot returns to his cabin he is in for quite a surprise. Such a touching story of friendship, hope and standing up for yourself. And the puppies just make everything that much better! Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this great novel!

<b>Seven Perfect Things</b> may not rate as my favourite ever novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde but I've read several of her titles and have loved each one.     This was no exception and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy a book where social issues are front and centre whilst still having a feel good vibe.    Oh, and if you're a puppy person, well, this is not to be missed.

The story alternates between three different perspectives.   Elliot,   Abby and Mary.    Elliot has recently lost his beloved wife and is grieving.   He can't stand to be alone in the home they shared and heads out to spend some time in his rural cabin.

Abby is a thirteen year old girl who happens upon a stranger tossing a sack into the swift flowing waters of the river.   In an instant she realises there's something alive in the bag and she launches herself into the river to rescue whatever it may be. 
The contents turn out to be seven puppies and having rescued them her conscience wont allow her to let any harm come to them but this is not easy and places her into a difficult situation.

Mary is Abby's mother and it doesn't take long for readers to realise she's in an unhealthy marriage.    Her husband may not be physically violent but he definitely psychologically abuses her.   He bullies her, intimidates and controls her and completely ignores Abby.    Though she's not happy she tells herself she stays in the marriage fortye sake of Abby.

The beauty of Ryan Hyde's writing is that she seems able to construct scenes that challenge me to think upon how I might behave if I found myself in a particular situation. In this case, some would say, in an abusive marriage.     She's excellent at creating young marginal characters (think Luis Veliz and the injustices and the issue of racism he faced,  or Molly the young homeless girl in Brave Girl, Quite Girl).  In this case Abby feared her father and desperately wished she and her mother could escape his clutches.    I also enjoy the way she uses chance encounters and unexpected friendships with goodhearted adults to help guide her young protagonists through tricky and often terrifying situations.   In this case Elliot was that person for Abby and he provided moral and practical support to enable Mary to change their circumstances. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and appreciated the difficult situations all three characters found themselves in.    Perhaps it was slightly predictable and perhaps the denoument may have been too good to be true but personally I like the feel good element and will certainly pick up future titles Catherine Ryan Hyde may decide to write.

My thanks to the author, to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

I JUST LOVED Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde. A heartfelt story of a strong, brave girl, setting in motion events and inspiration for the adults in her life. Full of healing, making changes, embracing happiness, finding courage, and most of all the magical powers of puppies. Ah, a most lovable novel. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the e-reader for review. All opinions are my own.

I found this to be a very sweet story with some darker elements.

Abby lives with her parents but their marriage is troubled. One day, she dives in to rescue 7 puppies who were thrown into the river in a bag. She knows she can't keep them at home so she takes them to an abandoned cabin.

Elliott has lost his wife and he finds himself unable to really function without her.

Somehow, these two very different people come into contact with each other and both of their hearts are healing thanks to the puppies, because, well, puppies!

This is a book which sensitively tackles subjects like grief and loss, domestic abuse and the healing power of love.

I thought it ended a little bit abruptly, could have done with a more rounding off at the end, but to be honest, I could have kept on reading about Abby and her puppies for pages and pages longer.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde
What is more perfect, more innocent than puppies? How can you look into puppy eyes and not be affected? They are perfect, right? Life is just better with a puppy.
Mary was in an abusive relationship. She thinks she has hidden it well. But her daughter, Abby, is not fooled. She knows her father is someone who is best avoided. Things are just easier that way.
Elliott is still reeling from the death of his wife. He escapes to his cabin in the woods to think and reflect. This is where he discovers Abby and her seven puppies. He also meets Mary.
I believe God puts people in your path for a reason. Elliott is the voice of reason and hope that gives Mary the strength and courage to seek a better life for herself and Abby (and the seven puppies).
The characters are all dealing with various life struggles. Each is able to help the others reach their true potential. The characters are relatable.
Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde has told a story that draws the reader in quickly. Before you know it, one more page, becomes one more chapter and then one more hour. You have stayed up way past your bed time to ensure these characters are okay.
Catherine Ryan Hyde never disappoints!

I always enjoy Catherine Ryan Hyde's book. They seem like such simple stories on the surface but reveal so much heart and courage in the characters.

Abby is a 13-year-old girl living with a cold and uncaring father and a mother who wants to leave but doesn't know how. Walking home from school she sees a man throw a bundle off a bridge and realizes something alive is in the bag so she jumps in the river to rescue what turns out to be seven puppies. She needs a place to hide them and goes to an abandoned cabin in the hills where a friend likes to hide. Elliott is the owner of the cabin and hasn't been there for three years but his wife just passed away and he goes there to heal only to find the cabin has been robbed and there are puppies in his shed.

The characters were all so well developed and I couldn't help but wish the best for all of them. Two questions were left lingering at the end though. Whatever happened to Abby's friend that used to hide in the cabin? She was mentioned early on as being Abby's closest friend but then not mentioned again. I'll leave the last question out as I don't want to give anything away.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union for providing me a copy of this wonderful story.

In Seven Perfect Things everyone’s problems are worked out as expected from the beginning. That being said, it was a good read with just enough tension and pulling on your heartstrings. I wanted to read a good women’s fiction and reading a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde did not disappoint,

This was my bedtime read over the last few days (I can't read thrillers too late, in case they give me nightmares!) and this was an adorable, fluffy read (pardon the pun) about a girl who rescues 7 puppies from the river. It was just gorgeous, and the fact I am obsessed with dogs definitely sold it to me!
I adored the characters, who were all likeable (apart from the man who ditched the puppies of course) and I loved the bonds they shared. I won't say it was fast paced, or perhaps gripping, but bedtime is when I shouldn't have too gripping a read anyway or I don't sleep!
Just what the doctor ordered.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I normally read psychological thrillers but do enjoy a nice woman's fiction book. I really enjoyed this book and loved reading about the many antics of the 7 puppies which at times had me laughing out loud.

What an uplifting book. Yes, there are very hard themes in this book, animal cruelty, domestic violence, death mourning, poverty, fear. But you also have puppies, love, commitment.

Characters are very relatable, you want to not stop reading until you find out what happens to them.

A very touching and heartfelt story that leaves you with a smile on your face.

I would say this is one of the best contemporary books I have read in a long time but that isn’t completely true. This is one of the best overall books I have read in a very long time!

Abby Hubble has had to deal with a difficult home life. She is thirteen and her dad does everything he can to make her life miserable. Her mom, Mary, tries to help Abby have a nice childhood, as much as she can. As Abby is walking home from school one day, she sees a man dump a bag full of puppies into the river. She doesn’t hesitate to jump in and save them, but she knows that there is no way she can take them home. Taking them to the pound isn’t much of an option either so she takes them to an abandoned cabin in the woods and a promise to return to them. What Abby doesn’t realize is the cabin isn’t abandoned, the owner, Elliot Colvin who just lost his wife decides to return to the cabin and spend some quiet time thinking about his future. When he arrives to find seven puppies and a young girl with a lot of spunk, his future becomes even more uncertain. Abby starts to imagine how great her life would be if her mom was married to Elliot instead of her dad. How long will Abby and her mom stay unhappy and what would happen if they set out to find true happiness?

Every time I pick up a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, I am reminded why she is one of my favorites. It is an odd thing for me to say because Contemporary is not my go-to genre, I am more of a suspense lover and will usually pick a suspense over contemporary any day, except when it comes to her. the way Hyde writes these stories pulls me in and has me turning the pages as if I am reading a thriller. Seven Perfect Things is by far my favorite of her novels, it didn’t take more than two pages to pull me into the story and keep me hooked the whole way through. It didn’t matter if I was in Abby’s or Elliot’s point of view, I enjoyed reading either storyline. Abby is a strong, capable young girl and uses everything she can think of to help her in the rescue of these innocent puppies. Her drive and determination are an example to her mother and actually helps her mother find strength. I loved the way the story unfolded and each character grew and melded into the perfect blend for the story to be what it was meant to be. This was a perfect blend of a great plot, wonderful characters, and puppies. Gotta love the puppies! I recommend this book to everyone, even if you don’t normally pick up contemporary novels give this one a try.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

I just finished this read and feel like I have the most comfy blanket covering me by a small fire. Just a cozy, quick, and easy read with a sweet storyline and PUPPIES! How can you go wrong with that ?

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.