After Abby watches a man toss a bag into the river, she knows she must pull the bag out especially, because the bag is moving. When she finds seven puppies, she knows she can’t bring them home. Her verbally abusive father will never let her keep them. What follows is a story of love and friendship.

Abby’s father, Stan, is a jerk, and not just to her. Her mother, Mary, wants to leave, but it’s hard for a non-working parent to save up to get out of a tough situation. Compiled with Abby’s desire to keep these puppies, they’re both low-key fighting for something good. I liked Elliot from the moment we meet him. He’s going through something incredibly hard, but his compassion shines through.

I love to read Ryan Hyde’s books because they make you feel good. There’s always the right amount of angst or problems that arise that have you cheering on the characters when good things happen. Seven Perfect Things is a touching read. Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, for sending this along.

I love the way that Catherine Ryan Hyde write's her stories grab your attention and keep it which for me is sometimes difficult !

My only criticism is that I wish the book were longer. I got so enveloped in the characters and the situations that I kept reading and then it was over. I always love Catherine Ryan Hyde’s work. There is never one formula or type of book. Her characters are always well developed and you become attached. This book really hooked into my love of animals and I loved the thought that you can’t be unhappy when puppies are scampering all over you. It is so true. I would definitely recommend this book.

This is another truly delightful novel from the pen of Catherine Ryan Hyde. With three wonderful characters, Elliot, Abby and Mary and seven adorable puppies it could hardly miss. Although it's not too hard to guess how it will end, the journey is worth taking as the characters meet, interact and support each other.

Thirteen year old Abby, growing up in an unhappy home with her miserable, controlling father, Stan and fearful, downbeat mother, Mary, finds herself the owner of seven beautiful puppies when she saves them from drowning. She can't take them home but knows of a seemingly abandoned cabin in the hills behind her house with an empty shed that would be perfect for housing them until she works out what to do with them. However, what she doesn't know is that new widower Elliot, who has nursed his wife through a long illness, will shortly be visiting his cabin seeking some peace and comfort in the mountains he loves.

The puppies are the cement which will bind Elliott, Abby and Mary together in friendship. As Abby says, "It’s impossible to not be happy with seven puppies climbing all over you." Elliott is kind and caring and gives Abby a glimpse of what life could be like with such a man instead of one who is mean and sarcastic and watches their every move. However, life is not all roses and puppies for Mary and Abby with Stan watching and plotting in the shadows and they will both soon have to dig deep into their inner wells of strength and endurance. Despite, some moments of suspense, overall this is a lovely, warm and tender read, with a light touch on some sensitive issues.

Warm, lovely story of sadness relieved by man's best friend(s)🐶🐕

I loved this story and especially brave, determined young Abby. The whole scenario, with a new widower dealing with loneliness and grief and Abby's unhappy home, made for a compelling tale and a page-turner. I certainly can understand why author Catherine Ryan Hyde has so many fans. I have a definite weakness for family dramas that tug at the heartstrings and Seven Perfect Things moved me.

And as to the lovely puppies that Abby rescues and adopts, they inject pure living-in-the-moment joy for Abby, Mary and Eliot, three characters in need of some spontaneous happiness.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Puppies! Being a dog lover, that’s what brought this book to my attention, along with the fact that Catherine Ryan Hyde has yet to deliver a book that I didn’t enjoy. This is a refreshing, quick, and easy read, although it does deal with some of the harsh realities of life, such as death, loneliness, and abuse. The characters are likable and relatable and this story will keep you both engaged and entertained. I would recommend this book to my friends and I thank NetGalley for the advance read copy.

I can't say enough about this book! If you love dogs, you'll be sucked in immediately by the adorable cover. This book is full of friendship, suspense, and everything in between. The bond the young girl immediately has with these puppies just melts my heart. This was a new to me author, and I've read several of her books, with each one even better than the last!

Puppies on the cover, along with the name Catherine Ryan Hyde, for me, was an absolute must-request!

We follow Abby, Abby's mom and Elliott, in this story about love, connection, healing. And all thanks to these cute pups.

This was so easy to get through, like gliding on ice or glass. I felt it was written to be one of those books you take with you to your porch and read in the evenings, while the sun is setting and you're cooling off, fighting off mosquitos at the same time, unable to get up and go inside, because you're enjoying so much.

This was a fun, light read, and whoever loves animals, and stories about animals and our connection to them will devour this one.

Thanks NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Catherine Ryan Hyde for an ARC to review.
I can't describe how much I loved this enchanting book. I would have given it more than 5 stars if I could!
I am on a mission to read the whole titles provided by Catherine Ryan Hyde after reading this heart touching excellent book.
loved it!

A touching story! Always a well written story from Catherine Ryan Hyde. People helping others in tough times.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for making this book available to read.
This is a quick and uplifting story about the difficult choices people have to make in their lives. I was glad that the author highlighted some caring and generous men, not only villainous ones.
The addition of the puppies made this book all the sweeter, and I'm glad it ended like it did, being open to possibilities.
Kudos to the strong people that have to endure living that way everyday. Hopefully they get out like Mary did.
3.5 stars

Abby, a 13 year old girl finds seven puppies, dumped in a river. Her mum, Mary, is in an unhappy marriage and Elliott, a recent widower has a cabin in the woods. Weave a perfect story around this and it's sure to be a good one! I read this in one sitting and it left me feeling warm and fuzzy. A lovely simple tale of love, hope and happiness which I would recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of Seven Perfect Things. This is my personal review.
This is a so wonderfully written that connects and combines so many people together who can overcome so much in their lives.
Abby saving the seven puppies from the river will tug at your heart! These puppies are such a special part of the story.
You will feel so many emotions as you read this story.

This was such a riveting, emotional, and enlightening read. I have been a fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde for twenty plus years and she rarely disappoints. There is just something that draws me to dysfunctional family stories, especially with young girls coming of age as main characters. In Ms Hyde's's Seven Perfect Things you see a married woman not only struggling with the dysfunction of her abusive marriage but also the trials and tribulations of the child of that marriage.

This book, of course, has you cheering for Abby and her mother and it sets getting help in a positive light because the protagonist (and her mother) gets help as soon as she's able and reaches out to the community at large to do so. And as Abby works through dealing with her abusive father, it was enlightening to discover there are many forms of abuse and different ways to read every situation. It is a heart tug with emotional rollercoasters and twists and turns. It keeps you on the edge wondering if there will be a happy ending, which means you just can't put this one down. As always, I can't wait to see what Ms Hyde has in store next. I don't think you can go wrong reading any of her work, kudos again, Catherine.

Hyde nails it again! The characters, storyline all seemed real! It’s a story you can relate to and lose yourself in the process! The hint of domestic abuse and the need to love. I loved this book and I think it would start many conversations.

The discovery of seven abandoned puppies sets the stage for this incredibly heartwarming book. The main characters - aside from the adorable puppies - are a brave and tenacious teenager, her mom who is living in an emotionally abusive relationship, and a middle-aged man devastated by his wife's death. The puppies manage to bring all three of these struggling characters together. While this sounds like it could be sappy - it isn't. The author tells a poignant story that made me believe in the kindness of strangers, friendship and second chances.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I'm not a dog person - but this book made me want a puppy!

I love Catherine Ryan Hyde's books - this is the third book of her that I've read and loved them all. She has a great way of conveying feelings onto the page that just reach you deep down. I understand she has written 40 books so far, so I'm glad I have many more to look forward to!

This one was about a man who had lost his wife, a woman and her daughter who were in an abusive relationship, and seven adorable puppies that someone tried to drown. The story is sweet and heart-warming (not the abuse part - which wasn't dwelt on). Elliot is a dream man who is understanding, compassionate, and a problem-solver. Mary has issues with self-worth. Abbey, Mary's 13-year-old daughter, is smart, strong and kind. There are some difficult situations in the story that Hyde handles with sensitivity and caring.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has written another delightful, heart warming story. Its full of kindness and courage on the part of most of the characters.

Abby is one perfect person herself. When she sees a bag that seems to be alive thrown in the river she follows through, rescues them and then ensures that they are safe and cared for and that takes some doing for a thirteen year old. She can't take them home because she has a father who is controlling and lacking in anything to do with fatherhood. 

Elliot is a middle aged man, he has just lost his wife - it was a good marriage and he is so sad and lost. Spending a little time in the country at his cabin, his life and Abby's life and the puppies intersect. 

Mary - Abby's mother is in a very unhappy, controlling relationship. Her husband is mean and really is the pits. When Mary discovers Abby's puppies and Elliot she begins to see how things could be different. She gathers courage as time goes by. Plus Abby is so plucky, it must have come from somewhere, and there is a lovely relationship between mother and daughter.

The puppies of course provide a lot of joy and life, although seven puppies. I can't even imagine looking after them! But Abby is nothing but determined.

So great characters, the plot moves along and a good steady pace and it wasn't long before I was wishing for the very best for Abby, Mary, Elliot and the puppies.

This was a typical Catherine Ryan Hyde book. I love the way she writes. I was explaining to a friend, the book wasn’t profound, you knew basically how it would end, but because of her character development, etc., it just draws you in. A very enjoyable read. Thanks NetGalley for prerelease copy for honest review.

When we take on the role of marriage partner, we are never envisaging taking on a later role as carer - & possibly for an unresponsive patient. Such a possibility never occurs to us, & yet – should the relationship survive a lifetime – it is almost inevitable that this will be so, for one half of the couple. We take our vows “ ‘til death us do part”, but we do not anticipate this commitment being abruptly cut off within days of the marriage’s termination. Indeed, it is quite unthinkable – especially when the relationship has been a loving one. Surprisingly, this book turned into a most endearing story, with that issue being sympathetically & gently dealt with by the author. I was relieved that the ending was not rushed, just for the sake of ‘tying things up.’ All round this is a thoughtful book, with an immensely likeable young heroine - & of course her ‘Seven Perfect Things.’ Never underestimate the power of animals to awaken our hearts to love, at the lowest ebbs of life.