I am always intrigued by Catherine Ryan Hyde's premises and storytelling. The characters she creates always feel so real to me and I find myself caring deeply for them. So Long, Chester Wheeler is no exception. If you love a story about generation gaps being filled and common ground being found, pease read this, you will not be disappointed.

Everyone knows an unpleasant person who they just don’t want to be around or someone that complains about everything and this book put into perspective that there’s a reason behind why people are the way they are. This was touching and shows a new side to humanity and the reason behind people’s behaviors. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

A caregivers job is a hard profession and it absolutely takes a special person. Lewis found himself thrust into the position of caring for his neighbor by the name of, you guessed it Chester wheeler.
Chester wasn’t easy to care for by any means but Lewis took the job and embraced it, caring for Chester in his final days. Lewis found his calling, found love and a new outlook on life, all of which happened by accident. Great book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I couldn’t put it down maybe me being a caregiver myself for 30 years or so or maybe just because CRH knows how to tell a good story, pulling at the heart strings. Not my first CRH boo, and it won’t be my last. Thanks netgalley and thank you to the author and publisher lake union publishing for the opportunity to read this one early for my honest review. . Great book, five stars

So Long, Chester Wheeler is a heart warming and uplifting story of the unexpected bond that evolves between Lewis Madigan, a young gay man, and his crotchety and homophobic 70 yr old neighbour, Chester Wheeler.
A story full of life lessons that made me laugh and cry.
Highly Recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book was such a surprise to me! It is the first book I have read by this author (and definitely won't be the last) so I really didn't know what to expect at all.
The main character in the book is Lewis Madigan and the book opens with his life falling apart, in his twenties, Lewis finds out on the same day that he is made redundant that his partner is leaving him. No income and no one to share the rent. On arriving home he is abused by his cantankerous neighbour Chester, who is wheel chair bound and going through carers at the rate of knots.
It is not long after this that the very disparate worlds of Lewis and Chester collide and they are forced to spend time together. It is through this that they not only get to know each other, but come to understand themselves.
I really enjoyed the dynamics of this book and its observations of human relationships. Told with humour and great empathy, this was a wonderful book.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Press for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

Chester Wheeler is a cantankerous old man, dying from cancer of the everything. Lewis, his next door neighbor, is a young gay man who is out of work when he gets roped into taking care of Chester's end of life needs for "a couple days," which turns into a life changing experience for the both of them.

I loved this book. I am a long time fan of CRH's, but this one is probably my second favorite following Allie and Bea. I loved everything about it. Sometimes people can change for the better, no matter how set in their ways they appear. And sometimes doing things you don't really want to do can be life changing. Another 5 star read from Hyde.

Poor Lewis Madigan begins his day in Buffalo N.Y. by being let go from his job as a software developer and comes home to find that his partner and live in boyfriend has moved out and taken all of their money. Can life get worse? Oh yes. His next door neighbor, Chester Wheeler, a mean, crotchety homophobic elderly man has just been abandoned by the latest of a string of in home care givers. Chester’s daughter has currently taken over that very difficult job. She needs to head back home asap and offers employment to Lewis at a salary he can’t afford to turn town.
No love is lost between Chester and Lewis who muddle together through an adversarial relationship. When Chester asks Lewis to drive an old beater of a Winnebago to Arizona for a final trip to visit his ex wife of over thirty years, and find out why she left, Lewis must make a life altering decision.
What ensues is a blend of comedy and drama with a handful of heartbreak as Lewis and Chester learn a lot about friendship, tolerance, love and communication. The results are bittersweet as well as heartwarming as Lewis finds meaning in his life and Chester has his final wish realized.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a master of her craft. Her writing is clear, beautiful, easy to read and filled with emotion. I loved this book and read it in two days , feeling both sorry and very much fulfilled when it ended. I thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of this extraordinary work of fiction.

This is another touching novel from Hyde. She has the ability to draw the reader into the touching story very quickly. She has drawn the characters well. I think we all know a Chester, a grouchy man so angry at life. Lewis is a reluctant hero. His care for Chester is a lesson in tolerance and perseverance.

There are several issues Hyde explores in this novel, including accepting others when they have a different lifestyle. We also see how events in a person's life can result in frustration and anger. There is an encouragement to understand the hurt behind a grouchy personality and exercise compassion.

Hyde's writing style is clear and easy to read. This is a heart warming novel where lives are changed through relationship.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This author never disappoints me. Her books are also so warm and filled with emotion.

Two people who could not possibly be any different. One an old, dying, grumpy, mean, man. The other a young out of work gay young man. One needs a favor and one needs the money. Together they seem to work. They will work on your emotions in a way that will leave you weeping in places. Even laughing in others.

I love this author's books. They always leave me wanting more by her. The heartfelt way she has of drawing different people together makes me think maybe there is hope for this crazy world. This one will have you reading until you finish. At least it did for me.

Thank you #NetGalley, #CatherineRyanHyde, #LakeUnion, for this ARC. This is my thoughts about this wonderful book.

5 huge stars and the highest recommend. Grab it and lots of tissues.

Before I even start writing my review, I have a confession. I love Catherine Ryan Hyde. Yes, I do! I read Boy Underground in 2021. It was so heart-tugging and memorable that I fell in love with the author’s style of writing. Okay, now that it’s out, I can start with my review… So Long, Chester Wheeler is a redeeming story of two characters, as opposite as they can be, on a road trip covering two thousand miles.

I dived into this book expecting a lot and by the end was a little dismayed, but not totally unhappy. In her exemplary style, Hyde left a mark as I travelled with the characters.

Illness, death, friendship, love, caregiving, and forgiveness are a few of the broader themes in this story.
Lewis Madigan, the narrator, is a young man who has recently lost his job. To make matters worse, his boyfriend has walked out on him, leaving him with enormous bills and rent to take care of. While he is still grappling with the situation, an unexpected job opportunity is presented to him — to be Chester Wheeler’s caregiver. Wheeler is Lewis’s 70-year-old neighbour. Homophobic, rude, and sarcastic, there is hardly anyone available to attend to him, except for his daughter, and she too needs to leave because of a personal emergency.

As expected, Lewis is not fond of Wheeler, but takes up the offer only because of the remuneration. His attitude towards Wheeler changes once he comes to know of his illness and decides to help fulfill his last wish—a road trip of over 2000 miles in Wheeler’s RV to meet someone.

Initially, the road trip is bumpy, but as it proceeds, both Lewis and Wheeler develop an understanding and mutual respect for each other. The road trip is not just a physical journey, but also a philosophical and psychological one.

I loved the storyline, even though it lacks enough conflict or surprise. The drama, hope, humour, and emotions make up for the missing elements.
Lewis and Chester’s conversations are quite adorable and realistic.

Wheeler’s character is well sketched and I could visualise the grumpy old man. His homophobia is brutal and hard to accept, but then, this is who he is, and Hyde’s portrayal suits the man to his bones. He is not a very likable character and remains so until the very end.

Lewis’s character, however, left me craving for more. On one hand, he is trusting, kind, and helpful, while on the other, he comes off as too soft and unable to say no quite often. The youngster grabs the first opportunity that is presented to him without putting in the effort to find a job more suited to his experience and qualifications. I am glad things work out for him, and he finds this shift to be rewarding.

I didn’t like the epilogue and felt it was unnecessary and didn’t add any value to the story.

Secrets from the past, revelations lending a new light, and the forging of new bonds make So Long, Chester Wheeler an interesting read.
Even though I didn’t enjoy this as much as her previous work, I remain a true Hyde fan!

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite authors. Her books are thoughtful and beautifully written. This gem is no exception. I loved her interesting characters, their challenges and transformation. An uplifting and relatable story.

Catherine never disappoints me with her novels! I always know to expect the elderly person/young person dynamic duo in every single book, but it never gets old because the situations and plotlines are all so different from each other, I can't wait to hear about this new set of people that were made to be in each other's lives in such a special way.

Louis (our young adult) is surprised to find out that he is a natural born caregiver. This book is about his journey of self discovery and his two very different, separate relationships with two elderly people - one male, and then later on, one female. He helps them both with their end of life tasks and even their "bucket list" of sorts. Each person has their own background trauma and different storylines that we get to explore right alongside Louis, and things turn out for the best in the end. I'd recommend this book to fiction lovers that also enjoy lifetime movies.

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced pdf so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 💛

What a wonderfully uplifting book!

Lewis Madigan is a gay software designer; and one day he loses both his job and his lover and his life spirals down. Then, because he was desperate for the rent money, he agrees to mind his neighbour, who is dying of cancer, and who is also a miserable old bigot. Chester is a curmudgeonly old man in the vein of Ove and Harold Fry, although possibly with less redeeming qualities, and through his final days he affects Lewis in a profound way. The story of their time together, and how it changes the path of Lewis' life is really lovely.

Well written, a great story and told really well. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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

Reading a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel is like receiving a hug from someone after a long time apart. I look forward to her May and December releases and I cannot get enough of her titles. Lucky for me, Kindle Unlimited has a number of her other books up for grabs! Guess what I will be doing during my school holidays?

So who is Chester Wheeler? Chester Wheeler happens to be the curmudgeonly neighbor of Lewis Madigan. To say that the two neighbors do not like each other would be an understatement. They cannot STAND each other. Chester never hesitates to make a comment about Lewis being gay or the friends that come over to his house. However, for some unexplainable reason, Lewis, currently out of work, finds himself hesitantly agreeing to be Chester's caregiver after a plea from the latter's grown daughter. Chester is dying of cancer, and Lewis needs to pay his rent. But somewhere along the way, the two find themselves in Chester's Winnebago flying down the highway so that Chester can make amends.

I cannot resist a curmudgeon literary trope. I loved the banter between the two protagonists and it really was a heartwarming story. My subtraction of a star is that I think the epilogue while purposeful in showing the future detracted a bit from the glow I was feeling as the regular chapters came to a conclusion.




Publication Date 06/12/22
Goodreads review 21/12/22

#SoLongChesterWheeler #NetGalley.

Classic Catharine Ryan Hyde with the dialogue and characters that are absolutely different than any other author writes. She is a masterful storyteller who makes me care about the most mundane details with her storytelling and language. This book wasn't my most favorite of hers, but I still enjoyed it very much.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-ARC of this book which I voluntarily reviewed.

A young man loses his job. He also loses his boyfriend and housemate, making a once difficult financial situation dire. Next door a man who harasses him with homophobic comments resides with a plethora of different caretakers. Chester Wheeler is not an easy man and his illness has made life even more difficult for him and those who care for him. His daughter makes an offer that the young man can't refuse and a journey for both Wheeler and his caregiver begins. It is not what either expects and is life-changing for both. This was one of the best books I read this year. The settings are unique, the plot heartfelt and life-affirming, and the characters are real and human. This is the second book I have read from this author and both have been great books. Many thanks to #NetGalley#SoLong,ChesterWheeler#CatherineRyanHyde for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is my first book by this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, I wish someone would have told me to have tissues at the ready, Ms. Hyde is a masterful storyteller, and having helped care for my Mom and then cared for my Dad before he passed, this story really tugged at my heart strings.
Looking forward to reading the rest of her catalog.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-ARC of this book which I voluntarily reviewed.

I love Catherine Ryan Hyde storylines, there is always someone who is there to help,(Lewis) and always someone that needs help (Chester), and in the process the one that helps learns more about themselves and what they want to do in life. The helper seems to be in a crossroad and lack self confidence and by doing the tasks that helps Chester, Lewis found that he like helping people and was able to find a new career and a new look on life. The story also says to stop waiting for life to start and just do it.
I love how the story just flows, it was always interesting and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next and if Chester was going to fulfill is dreams.

I want to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this story that says don't wait until its to late.

Insightful, thoughtful and quirky. Looking after people who are ill takes a very special person, doing it in a confined space tests your sanity!
I loved how well thought out this book was and how well it flowed while covering some difficult topics. The characters were brilliant and I loved the conclusion.

Catherine Ryan Hyde does it again! A masterpiece. She takes these incredibly flawed and broken characters and makes us love them. She also reminds us how much people are going through that we don’t know about behind closed doors.

In this case, Chester Wheeler is, to the outside world, a horribly grumpy, homophobic, and mean old man. Lewis Madigan is a 24 year old software developer who has had a bad go of things lately; he has just lost his job, his boyfriend broke up with him and moved to California without him, and his best friend Anna also moved out leaving him completely roommate-less.

Lewis is Chester’s neighbor. An opportunity arises for Lewis to care for Chester (as Chester has chased off all the other caregivers) and as Lewis is in need of money he takes it. So ensues a relationship that will alter both of their lives, for good and bad, as they take an RV trip 2000 miles across the country for Chester to try to make amends to his ex-wife.

CRH always comes through with these great relationships, especially with an older person teaching a younger person something. Here we have themes of growth and learning to believe in yourself.

This was a very moving and poignant novel. One that will stay with me for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the early review copy!