Catherine Ryan Hyde does it again. She takes these flawed characters and tells the story of their lives - the good, the bad and the ugly. She once again did an amazing job with the character development and storyline, hooking the reader in and making them a part of the story.

This is a story of two individuals, one at the beginning of his life and one at the end. Lewis Madigan just thought he was going to have the best day of his life. He is expecting a promotion and a pay raise but what he ends up with is his last paycheck and a pink slip - yes, it really was pink. To make matters worse, he comes home to find his boyfriend leaving him and he just can't figure out what is wrong. Chester Wheeler, Lewis' homophobic, grumpy neighbor sees the boyfriend leaving and doesn't miss his chance to get his negative two cents in.

Lewis is concerned about rent (he just lost his roommate), expenses and his next job. This is when the most bizarre opportunity is presented to him - a job taking care of Chester. Lewis is desperate and needs the money, but can this really be worth it? Lewis decides to do it and Chester does not disappoint - he is rude, defiant and continues his negative comments about Lewis being gay. However, Chester is close to the end of his life with cancer and asks Lewis to take him to Arizona to visit his ex-wife. Lewis just doesn't have the heart to deny Chester's dying wish.

The road trip provides great insight into Chester and Lewis, and we learn so much about their life experiences. Their stories will touch you heart, make you laugh, frustrate you and maybe make you reflect on your own life and the lives of your loved ones. It also makes you think about how our life experiences impact who we are and what we become.

I loved this book and feel it deserves 5+ stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a quirky, fun, insightful story of an irascible, cranky, (homophobic), dying old man, and a young gay guy, who reluctantly agrees to take care of him for a while. On some level, it reminds me of a A Man called Ove, which is one of my favorite books. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the way it made me think about life and interactions with other people. I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has done a wonderful job with this book. She has managed to tell a story about a dying man and his unlikely new caretaker. Chester and Lewis meet because they live next door to each other. This is the most unlikely pair of companions you can expect. A VERY unhappy and nasty old man and a young vibrant Gay man. The pairing begins when Lewis comes upon some hard times and is offered a job taking care of this dying man who is in a wheelchair. No one near or far (including his family) wants the job...but Lewis is desperate to make his rent as he has lost his roommates as well as his partner. So the story begins. The "road" they take and encounter will change both their lives and the direction Lewis' will go in the future. An endearing tale that will leave you with a good feeling as you read about the journey of these two men...both with their own stories and life-wishes. I am a fan of Ms. Hyde and this book just cements my feelings about her work....

Wonderful read! This story shows the heart of humanity! As a health care worker , I like the growth that Lewis has while caring for Chester, it takes all kinds of people in this world,

This novel hit home for me for so many very different reasons. I currently live in a 55+ community. There are some Chester’s living here for sure, but also many delightful people who are similar to Chester health wise and are unable to drive but would love to revisit those from their past. The world has changed so much during their lifespan and some have adjusted to the changes easier than others. So loved the premise of this book. There are so many lessons to be learned about interacting with those we perceive as different within these amazing pages.
Lewis and Chester both learned to respect each other as they developed tolerance for a different point of view. I laughed and cried, cheering both of them on. Loved the times that Lewis stood firm and didn’t tolerate Chester’s comments and actions. Felt so heartbroken that Chester had no connection with anyone in his life, most especially his children. So appreciated the inclusion of the bumper sticker saga…symbolism for so many more issues.
There were some sticking points for me however. One was that Lewis seemed so dependent on others and had no interest in working, seemingly in any capacity. Another was where the money Ellie was spending on Chester was coming from. She mentioned several times that she could not afford a full time caregiver, yet paid for the cameras, etc. installation, money seemed no object during their trip, and then sent a check for schooling for Lewis.
Catherine Ryan Hyde creates characters that linger in your mind and heart long after you finish savoring the pages. Both Chester and Lewis will linger in mine.
Many many thanks to Catherine Ryan Hyde, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this just published gem.

Bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde hails from Buffalo, New York, the setting of her latest book, So Long, Chester Wheeler. She describes her family as “full of well-meaning individuals,” as well as “heartache and chaos.” She says hers was an “unhappy childhood. Everybody seemed quite busy with the problems at hand (I was the third of three), so I became the disappearing child. I amused myself by making up stories in my head, and tried not to need anything from the people around me.” Which, of course, did not work out very well.

Hyde published her first book when she was in her mid-thirties. She held many jobs over the years, but at that juncture was working as a baker and pastry chef in a restaurant situated in a tourist town. The business closed in January, and she knew that the cliché about writing a novel when she had the time “was either true in that moment or it never would be.” Her goal was to simply make enough money to keep writing. She has never looked back. So Long, Chester Wheeler is her forty-third published book.

In her writing, Hyde often explores what she refers to as “found families.” She explains, “When I was thirty-three, I got involved in twelve-step recovery, and now that’s my found family. I think the reason I like to write about redemption is because of my background as a practicing addict and alcoholic. In a society of throw-away people, I would have been thrown away.” Leading a clean and sober life in the ensuring years has inspired her to “tirelessly defend the idea that no one is beyond redemption.”

And redemption is yet another theme that she examines frequently in her novels, including So Long, Chester Wheeler. The story opens with Lewis having the worst day of his life. A twenty-four-year-old software developer in Buffalo, Lewis has been promised a significant raise that will take his income into the six-figure range. And when he opens the envelope containing his first paycheck reflecting his new salary, he is initially pleased. Then he notices something pink inside the envelope. It is the proverbial "pink slip." Economic conditions have forced the company to lay off Lewis, as well as several of his colleagues. And those economic conditions make it a very bad time to re-enter the job market.

Making matters worse, when Lewis gets home, he finds his live-in boyfriend, Tim, loading boxes into his car. Tim has decided to move to California alone, instead of with Lewis, as they had planned. Lewis is flabbergasted -- he had no idea Tim was unhappy in their relationship. He soon also learns that Tim emptied the jointly titled bank account in which they were pooling their savings to make the move. 

Chester Wheeler, Lewis’s next-door neighbor, watches the break-up play out from his front porch. And can’t resist commenting. Chester is about 70 years old and in poor health, although Lewis does not yet know the extent of Chester’s medical issues. His home health aid announces it is her last day on the job. “The agency has no one left to send. He drove every last one of us away. . . . They can’t pay me enough to make it worth it. I’d rather starve.”

Chester’s daughter, Ellie, arrives when another health-care worker cannot be enlisted. She learns that Lewis has just become unemployed and tries to convince him to take the job. She assures Lewis that experience is not necessary. “At this point any sentient human being will do,” she sighs. Although Lewis’s proximity is a distinct advantage, he is adamant that “life is too short for Chester Wheeler.” But Ellie needs to get back home to be present for the birth of her first grandchild. And her two brothers refuse to help in any way. By generously offering Lewis nearly the same amount of money he was making as a software developer, she convinces him to fill in for just a week. He reluctantly agrees so that he will be able to pay his rent while he continues looking for suitable employment. And because agreeing makes him feel that he has Ellie very happy, even if he has made himself quite miserable in the bargain.

So Chester and Lewis begin settling into a tenuous, never-wanted partnership. Lewis learns that Chester is suffering from cancer that began in his lungs but has metastasized. Chester has refused further treatment and will be lucky to live another three months. He is largely immobile and dependent upon Lewis to assist him with his needs, including toileting, which causes them both consternation and embarrassment. The situation is only made worse when Chester flings crude and hurtful homophobic remarks at Lewis, who quickly realizes that he must set boundaries in order to survive a week of caring for Chester.

Ellie has an intercom installed that functions like a baby monitor. At night, both men can sleep in their own home, but Lewis can hear if Chester needs assistance and respond. As he adjusts to the new arrangement, Lewis is shocked to hear Chester talking in his sleep. But he doesn’t sound like Chester. Rather, his voice exudes kindness and concern, as though he is talking with his wife about their child. At one point, he hears Chester say, “I found the letters he wrote you,” which stirs Lewis's curiosity.

One morning Chester announces that he wants Lewis to do him a favor. He wants him to drive him somewhere. Arizona, to be exact. He owns an old Winnebago into which he had a new engine installed just before being diagnosed with cancer. Lewis initially dismisses the idea, but Chester knows exactly which buttons to push with Lewis, announcing, “It sucks that I don’t even get a last wish.” It seems he wants to surprise his ex-wife, Sue, and have a final conversation with her. One they should have had thirty-two years earlier. When Ellie agrees to cover the cost of the trip, Lewis relents because he fears that when Chester is gone, he will feel guilty for having denied a dying man his last wish.

As Lewis and Chester embark on their journey to Arizona, they must find inventive ways to tolerate each other and co-exist in the motor home. Lewis has to devise safe ways to transport Lewis in and out of the Winnebago, and take care of his hygiene requirements. All without losing his own sanity. Not to mention the matter of how they will approach Sue once they arrive, unannounced, at her home.

The tale is related through Lewis’s first-person narrative and entirely from his perspective. It is at times hilarious, and often heartbreakingly thought-provoking, as Lewis relates cringe-worthy but realistic details of how he figures out the best ways to provide Chester the care he needs while compassionately protecting the older man’s remaining dignity. He candidly admits there are moments when he finds it “disturbing to be so completely in tune with the likes of Chester Wheeler.”

Hyde is a master at creating believable, credible dialogue and the story is given life and meaning through the men’s conversations, as well as the things they do not say to each other. She employs her deceptively straight-forward storytelling style to relate the deep emotional issues with which Lewis grapples and, through his observations and perceptions of Chester, pulls readers along into his consideration of the older man’s internal life and the disappointments, disillusionments, and pain that have resulted in his current predicament. He is facing certain death but, over the years, has somehow managed to push away the very people who should be surrounding him and easing his transition. Tragically, those people aren’t just absent. They don’t care about Chester or his impending demise.

With Chester unabashedly mean-spirited and surly, Lewis finds his own strength and voice as he works to balance his self-respect and dedication to the job he has promised to perform against his need to be treated respectfully by Chester. He concludes that he cannot be a monster who hates an embittered old man who is dying, but must confront Chester's cruelty, harsh criticisms, and homophobia. Chester insists that he and Lewis are very much the same – hateful – which strikes a nerve with Lewis. “Even if we do both hate, you hate me for what I am. I hate you for the things you say and do. Huge difference.” Hyde challenges readers to ponder if that is true as they come to know both Lewis and Chester better, and understand their fears and motivations.

As in many of her other novels, Hyde explores both the fragility and strength of familial bonds, as well as the importance of communication. She illustrates how unexpected revelations disrupt long-held assumptions and create emotional disequilibrium. And there’s that matter of redemption, and whether Chester will find it. Hyde keeps the character-drive story interesting with Lewis’s discovery of shocking details about Chester’s relationships not just with his children and ex-wife, but also his beloved friend, Mike, with whom he served in Vietnam. Chester has also been estranged for more than thirty years from the man that everybody loved. Will bringing closure to their fractured friendship also help Chester find peace? Hyde’s restrained approach to that aspect of the saga, particularly with respect to the choices Lewis makes, enhance its poignancy and emotional resonance, again revealing her to be one of America’s most gifted contemporary storytellers.

So Long, Chester Wheeler is about two men who journey together toward different destinations. Chester’s final days are spent with Lewis in pursuit of resolution of old hurts and resentments that will lead, hopefully, to a peaceful death for him and lessen the regrets and, perhaps, guilt felt by those he leaves behind.

But Lewis is on the brink of new beginnings and wondering why he is so committed to helping Chester find closure when he barely understands his own past or why his relationship with Tim failed. As he heads home, he recognizes that he is not “exactly the same person I’d been when I first drove that land boat out of Buffalo.” Spending time in the presence of Chester Wheeler turns out to be a profoundly life-changing experience for him, and reading about what he learns is a moving experience for readers.

Once again, Hyde delivers a slyly insightful and wise meditation on finding human connection in the most unexpected places and ways, and how we carry the spirits of those we encounter with us, in various ways and degrees, for the rest of our lives.

How on earth does Catherine Ryan Hyde do it? How can she continue to publish two books a year, year after year and each one thoughtful and focused on self-examination and the goodness within even the worst kind of human beings.

I used to joke that she either had a roomful of educated monkeys with word processors or a team of young idea producers she paid minimum wage to come up with ideas.. But all that aside, I can't help being lost in admiration for her unique style and easy readability. In the years since she wrote Pay it Forward, Hyde has published over 40 books and 50 short stories. She writes often about children's unique ways of looking at the world, about curmudgeonly older people who find they can change with the proper stimulation of their empathy, with horses, chickens, dogs and other animals and with Gay people.

I learn something in every one of her books. In this one, it's how to deal with difficult people by understanding that it is not you they are trying to hurt, but only projecting their own problems on others.

Lewis is a Gay man who's lost his job and his boyfriend at the same time and has no money. He attempts a pilgrimage to nis neighbor Chester's past to offer him closure before Chester's imminent death.
In the process, you will experience the terrors and delights of traveling cross-country in an ancient Winnebago while dealing with the problems inherent with the situation. (Medications, toileting, putting up with verbal abuse) And those are only a few of the challenges.

Subject matter notwithstanding, every one of Ryan Hyde's books are a joy to read. And this one is no exception. Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherin Ryan Hyde is Lewis Madigan's story. I really didn't know how important that would be when I started this book, but it really is all about him. I loved so many things about this book -- but mostly it was all about Lewis and his journey.

Having hit a rough patch in his life, Lewis accepts a job offer to take care of his crusty old neighbor, Chester Wheeler. Chester is rough. He has many regrets which come out of him in degrading and just downright nasty language. No one would want this job, but Lewis has few options and decides to give it a try.

The job becomes a learning experience for Lewis and Chester when Lewis agrees to take Chester on a road trip to try to find closure on some of his "regrets". Saying it was a difficult ride is an understatement, but Lewis manages it ... maybe not perfectly, but he does it in a positive and uplifting manner. It was so easy to fall in love with this character. I liked that most about this book because I didn't love Lewis at the start. But I absolutely changed my mind about him as the story progressed. It was a good reading experience from that perspective and why I'm rating this five stars.

I liked pretty much everything about this story and Lewis's journey. It was heart-warming. I also appreciated this story included characters in the twilight of their lives. There were some subtle messages there, and some not so-subtle ones about how to spend your final days. And there is even a bit of romance that sweetened the story.

Lewis has just lost his job and broken up with his boyfriend. Desperate for money he reluctantly agrees to become caregiver to his dying neighbor from hell Chester Wheeler. Chester soon talks Lewis into taking a road trip. The trip turns out to be life changing for both of them. Good book.

Catherine Ryan Hyde never misses the mark. She has the uncanny ability to pull on the heart strings with each new novel. This book is definitely a winner.

This is a big, loud shoutout to all those caretakers who take care of the unfortunate, the unlovable, the unlikeable and those who have no one else. For all of the caretakers like Lewis Madigan who have found in themselves the ability to reach deep and help those on their last journey, regardless of their patient’s dispositions - applause, applause and more hand clapping.

Lewis is a matter of fact kind of person. He can parse a person’s situation and disposition and respond with that one sentence that will get to the core of the matter. Understanding that even the most ungrateful, homophobic, bully remains a person that requires assistance is what defines Lewis. With help and encouragement he is able to realize that the hardest case is his best case. Catherine Ryan Hyde has created a very thoughtful and sometimes humorous character in Lewis and has pitted him against the very unsympathetic Chester Wheeler. The road trip upon which they embark is at times as hilarious as it is frustrating and poignant. Hyde has thrown in just the right amount of need, necessity, humor and even love.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.

Oh yes yes yes yes !!!!! Catherine Ryan Hyde did it again!!!!!! Oh she did it!!!! I'm just amazed by the way this author creates the characters and their stories to make them so realistic that you can feel what they feel and all this powerful topics ans situations are just what make her books as amazing as they are!!!!! Her books are full of topics and things we should all be talking without making it heavy to read and I appreciate that because an important but light book is always a great read for me.

This book is full of love, in every format possible!!! Patience, forgiveness, friendship, destiny, hope... name any, it's in it. And it has lgbtqa+ representation and it is a big subject in it, and presented in such a good way.

I just highly recommend this book or any book by her and guess what?? You'll be able to find them on kindle unlimited!!!!!

Thank you netgalley, author and publisher for this arc!!!! 🩷 it's out now!!!!! And, available on KU!!!! Please if you decide to read her books based in my love for the author, please let me know!!!!! (PS I hope you actually go pick one of her books)

I am never disappointed with a book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Her books are always heart felt, rich with complex characters, and stories of transformation and growth. So Long, Chester Wheeler was no exception. As a reader you will go on an adventure where you will grow in compassion, discovery, and understanding.

This was a great and enlightening read. What recommend reading this book and all if Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books. You won’t be disappointed!

I’d like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to preview this book.

So long, Chester Wheeler, by the truly remarkable Catherine Ryan Hyde, focuses on two men. One is a terminally ill elderly man, who can best be described as irascible, only by someone very kind and generous. The other is his next-door neighbor, 24 years old, recently punched hard by the loss of both his job and his partner. Forced by circumstance to accept the temporary job of caretaker for the older man, this unlikely pair end up on an astounding journey of discovery, growth, closure, and redemption.

Extremely talented and productive, Catherine Ryan Hyde creates complex stories about characters who are so real they might live on your street. She does not describe them as much as allow them to present to the reader through their actions and reactions as the plot demands and as they grow. They very likely will claim a piece of your heart and mind. Welcome them as the author’s world is very positive where you can always grow into a better version of you. Luckily for readers, she has written over 40 books, often publishing two a year. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure.

Chester Wheeler is a character you'll love to hate. Which is exactly how Lewis Madigan felt about his spiteful, mean next door neighbor from the very first time they exchanged words. So then, how did the two of them end up embarking on a 2000 mile road trip, in an RV, no less?

The journey they took was enlightening for both of them in so many way. And I loved every minute of it! What could be better than a crotchety, dying old man with nothing to lose pitted against a young gay man who has no other options? The predicament they found themselves in and the barbs they threw each other had me in stitches, while at the same time, had me seeing the world through both of their eyes.

As always, Catherine Ryan Hyde has taken a tough but very real situation and turning it into a heartwarming story that we can all learn from. She is one of my must-read authors, even if I don't know what the story is about, because I know after reading one of her books, I want to be a better person from the lessons I learned from the story. I highly recommend So Long, Chester Wheeler. I loved it!

4.5 stars.

Lewis’ has taken a few hits recently, he’s lost his job and his boyfriend has left him, with all of their joint savings leaving him penniless and lonely. To add to that, his neighbour is a bit of a homophobic nightmare and is going through care assistants like candy, which leads his daughter to ask Lewis to help.

This book was amazing, I loved the storyline and the growth and development of Chester’s character. I loved Lewis’ journey too, his realisation of what a career is and how he can handle anything was a pleasure to read.

The reason why it’s not a full 5 stars for me is I felt that it could have ended when Lewis had made his choice. I didn’t care for the epilogue at all. I also thought there were some loose ends that weren’t tied up.

If you are looking for a heart warming, contemporary read, I would highly recommend.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for allowing to read this delightful book. This was my first book by Catherine Ryan Hyde but, it will not be my last.
This book was about Lewis who becomes a caretaker for Chester. This was a whismical book and captured the scenic adventure across the country. While I enjoyed this book I did not like the epillogue I thought it was to long and not necessary.

So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde was a different kind of story. A very cranky old man named Chester Wheeler lived next door to Lewis. It didn’t really matter much to Lewis since he was at work all day. Until, one day he wasn’t. He thought he was getting a promotion, instead he got a pink slip. He returned home to see his boyfriend moving out. They had planned to move to California together. Now Tim had taken all their money and was going without him. What a day. As the days pass and no new job is on the horizon, Lewis notices yet another caregiver with Chester Wheeler. Turns out it is his daughter. They have tried every caregiver the agency has and Chester Wheeler has driven them all off. She begs him to help her out for a couple of days so she can go home and be at the birth of her grandchild. It is such an enormous amount of money that he goes for it. He is supposed to go home at night so she has an intercom installed in his bedroom so he can hear if anything goes wrong. It gets complicated after this. Let’s just say Lewis finds himself driving Chester Wheeler to Arizona to put things right with his ex-wife. Much more follows along with all the things Lewis learns.

This is a story about fate and figuring out what one should be doing in life, as opposed to what one thinks they should be doing. It’s about friendship, and finding the right significant other. It’s about seeing the person behind the facade. It is mostly about caring, even when one is fighting it. Hyde has done a wonderful job with both story-telling and infusing a very subtle moral into a story. It was fun to read, as well as enlightening. I loved it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of So Long, Chester Wheeler by Lake Union, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #LakeUnion #CatherineRyanHyde #SoLongChesterWheeler

A beautifully written story of a young man who has just lost his job and his partner, and an old man with a terminal cancer diagnosis. Lewis finds himself working as Chester’s care aid – no easy job with this cantankerous old man. Determined to stick to the job for at least a few weeks, he finds himself agreeing to drive Chester across the country in a Winnebago so that Chester can make peace with his ex-wife. Great characters, and a really lovely story, make this one of my favourite reads this year!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde - 5 stars!

Lewis just lost his job, his boyfriend, and roommate and is desperate for money when he is talked into providing end-of-life care for his homophobic, grumpy old neighbor, Chester - a situation that neither is happy about. But the two slowly come together and when Chester asks Lewis for his dying wish, the two set out on a road trip in Chester's old Winnebago.

You know exactly what you will get when you read one of Catherine Ryan Hyde's novels - a book that will make you think, touch all your emotions, and hopefully come out a little better person. This one was definitely no exception - the characters were amazing and as I am currently caring for my elderly mom, I found myself highlighting passages to keep in mind. Highly recommended!