Louis was expecting a raise and instead he got a pink slip. To make it even worse when he got home his boyfriend Tim was packing his car. As if Louis’s day couldn’t get any worse his neighbor Chester wheeler was on the porch and had to prove how homophobic and how truly vial of an old man he was. Louis had always felt bad for Chester‘s caregivers but they never stayed long before Louis knew it he was being asked if he would take the job. At first he said a hard hell no and a thank you but I’ll pass then his daughter Ellie came over with a figure written on a piece of paper that Luis found hard to pass up after all his rent was going to be due and now he was desperate. His daughter was so relieved that she even set up an intercom system in case her dad needed Lewis in the middle of the night this is how Louis slowly began to see Chester as a person and part of the reason he agreed to go on a road trip from New York to Arizona with him.. I don’t want to give too much away but OMG I loved this book. It was very long but I was so happy it was because I couldn’t get enough of it. I love the lessons that Louis learned and so much of what he learned would be so helpful for a lot of people to have as a mantra today. This is a truly uplifting inspirational book that’s also very funny. I received it from Net galley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

As the story starts to unfold Lewis is not having a good day, his boyfriend decides to move to California by himself, takes all the money out of their joint bank account, the California fund and he lost his job and to top things off his homophobic, obnoxious neighbor is taking it all in. Chester Wheeler is terminally Ill and needs a caretaker, he’s also mean as a snake, his family is estranged , he has driven everyone away and his daughter Ellie is desperate. Lewis is desperate., Against his better judgement he agrees to become caretaker for Chester. Chester decides he wants to take a road trip in his Winebago from Buffalo to Arizona to make amends to his ex wife and Mike who used to be his best friend in California. Chester learns that he has to be nice to people in order to seek forgiveness. Lewis learns that he doesn’t have to take Chesters slurs personally since he’s nasty to everyone, the road trip and putting someone else’s needs ahead of his own has Lewis thinking he has to change his profession to one of caring and helping terminally I’ll people more comfortable both physically and mentally in the time they have left. Catherine Ryan Hyde is the queen of character studies, she knows the correct reaction to sticky situations and you can see her characters learn and grow.

Sitting down with a new book from Catherine Ryan Hyde is just blissful, and what a beautiful story this is, so heartfelt.
As always the characters come to life, Chester is awkward and cantankerous and terminally ill. His daughter Ellie, ropes Lewis, the unemployed neighbour into being his sole carer for a week. Lewis is able to manage Chester and even agrees , with some reservations to drive him 2000 miles in Chester’s old Winnebago to Arizona to make peace with his ex wife.
On the journey as Chester’s health deteriorates, there are subtle changes in his behaviour. Lewis is patient and determined that Chester can be civil to him, so words like sorry, please and thank you which Chester obviously hasn’t used in many years, are now heard in the Winnebago.
Lewis also comes to understand a lot about Chester’s life in the past and who he is. He is patient, kind and goes way beyond the role of carer. Both men make movements towards change.
The relationship that builds between Chester and Lewis, two men from different generations, different prospectives is truly awesome, it’s heartwarming, A truly awesome read.
Thanks to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
A 6th star is needed for this book.

While this had a slightly different feel than some other Catherine Ryan Hyde novels, it’s like her other work in that it’s beautifully written and filled with uplifting messages that seem organic (as opposed to feeling like I’m being bonked over the head with you-should-take-away-this-meaning-from-this-part-of-the-book).

Lewis Morgan is a 24-year-old computer programmer who has been told he’s about to get a significant raise but instead gets a pink slip. Losing his job couldn’t come at a worse time because when he gets home, his boyfriend is packing up his car and leaving him, meaning not only does Lewis have to deal with the loss of a relationship, he no longer has a roommate to help with rent.

His homophobic neighbor Chester Wheeler is constantly throwing insults his way, often using the term “fruit.” But Chester, who uses a wheelchair, has burned through so many home healthcare aides, the only child he has who is still talking to him has taken over, but desperately trying to get home to her daughter, who’s about to go into labor and make her a grandmother for the first time. She offers Lewis a significant amount of money to watch Chester, just for the week, while she goes home to her daughter in labor and then can try to find anyone else willing to come in to help. Desperate for the money, he figures he can survive anything for the week.

Chester asks Lewis to fulfill his dying wish, which involves getting the Winnebago out of storage and traveling from Buffalo, NY, to Phoenix, AZ. As you can imagine, the trip changes both of them.

I really enjoyed this novel, and I wish I had Lewis’s patience dealing with difficult people. This is up there with my favorite CRH books, and I’ve read many.

NetGalley provided an advance reader copy of this book, which RELEASES DECEMEBER 6, 2022.

I received a digital ARC from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley.

I saw this with every novel I read by Catherine Ryan Hyde: her stories and characters are relatable, and honest. Her new novel, SO LONG, CHESTER WHEELER, is no exception. I loved Lewis and Chester. I loved the happy ending. I loved everything about this book.

Out of need, Lewis agrees to take care of his neighbor who has terminal cancer, and only 3 months to live. Chester is a hard man to deal with, but Lewis seems to be up to the challenge, and things between then begin to change.
When Lewis agrees to take him to Arizona in his Winnebago, he realizes it isn't about Chester, it is about himself, and instead of allowing Chester to bait him, he is going to keep being himself.
There is so much to this story that will keep you reading, but Lewis was surprised that when he got back home, he wasn't the same person who left to take Chester to see his exwife, he had found his calling. He also found his confidence, and saw the things he was capable of, instead of always holding back and seeing the negative things in his life. Life has a way of changing someone, and it changed him, and his life looked a lot brighter.
I received an ARC from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley.

Every time I read a Catherine Ryan Hyde book, it becomes my new favorite. I don’t know if it’s because she keeps getting better or if they’re all wonderful so the one that’s freshest in my mind becomes my favorite. All I know is that she has become one of my favorite authors. I do know that Chester, Estelle, and most especially, Lewis are all great characters and it is well worth spending time in their world. The Winnebago is a pretty good character too!

Not really a book that flowed and I struggled to connect with Lewis or Chester, and for that reason i did not finish the book.

Oh, I just can't get enough of Catherine Ryan Hyde's novels. Loved "So Long, Chester Wheeler"!! The master of depicting empathy, humanity, harmony and caring. An excellent book. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the early review copy. All opinions are my own.

The book blurb for this story tells you what you need to know to make you want to read this book, but like most blurbs, it doesn't tell you how you'll feel when you finish reading it.

Most of Hyde's characters turn out to be helpers, albeit sometimes reluctant helpers. Lewis Madigan is one of these reluctant helpers. He knows enough about Chester Wheeler to know that he doesn't want to spend one more moment around him than he has to. Circumstances make that nearly impossible, though.

This book is about decisions and the results of decisions. Lewis hasn't always been good at decisions, but he finds he will learn to roll with the good and bad results, and the bad include taking care of crotchety old homophobic Chester Wheeler. Lewis Madigan needs the money.

Lewis also begins to realize - because of too many circumstances beyond his control - a change in his life is necessary, and what could be a bigger change than taking care of Chester?

Each chapter flowed into the next without effort. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next and the plot flowed like a gentle stream.

This book blew me away. The changes in Lewis and Chester went right to my heart. I think Ms. Hyde must be really good at observing people, how they speak, how their facial expressions change, how they react during conversations. The reason this must be true is because the people in this book are so genuine that the reader feels like we've known these people and had conversations with them. Each and every one of them.

I loved this book. Loved it!

Author Catherine Ryan Hyde has become a favorite author of mine. My usual genres are biographies and historical fiction, but Hyde's emotive fiction novels have become a reliable and welcome palate cleanser. At one point while reading this the tears started falling and I thought, "She's done it again!"

Twenty-Four year old Lewis had one of those bad luck days when he lost his software developer job, then came home to his boyfriend suddenly moving out. His next door neighbor was a wheelchair bound carmudgeon in his late sixties named Chester Wheeler. Whenever Lewis had the misfortune to encounter Chester he would be subjected to homophobic verbal abuse such as being called "fruity". Also, Lewis would always notice a different hired caretaker because they would always quit.

Well, a really bad day got even worse when Lewis got a knock on the door from Chester's daughter, offering Lewis the job as his temporary caretaker until something else could be figured out. It was a desperate situation because her daughter was soon to give birth and she needed to fly home. Lewis certainly needed the money and felt compassion for Chester's daughter, so agreed to help. It was a bitter pill, though, because Chester had always been so vile and rude to him. The plot thickens when its revealed that Chester has a Winnebago and a fierce desire to travel to Arizona to see his ex-wife Sue who he hadn't seen in thirty-two years. It turns out that Chester has advanced cancer and not long to live. So of course this book has all the "feels" including end of life issues, conflicting personalities, finding one's purpose in life, resolving differences and saying goodbye.

I plowed through the book very quickly and effortlessly, carried away by this lovely story. Highly recommended, especially if you like poignant reads.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has done it again. She manages to write stories that tug at the heartstrings without being maudlin or corny about it.

Chester Wheeler is an old man who is extremely ornery and unlikeable. Lewis is the young man who lives next door to Chester. Chester has one dying wish, to drive from Buffalo to Arizona to settle unfinished business with his ex-wife Sue. Lewis reluctantly agrees to be the chauffeur who will drive Chester (in a 12 year old Winnebago).

I love the writing style in this book. Or, I probably should say that love Lewis's take on himself and the world around him, including Chester. It's very wry and stoic but there is a humerous edge to him. And, then there is Chester……just plain mean and grumpy. And, the owner of a soul that was full of pain,

The book is definitely character driven. It is so interesting to watch the relationship between the two men. The logistics of coping with Chester's health and care issues are mind-boggling. It was eye opening for Lewis. This opportunity had come along at a time when Lewis had just lost his job. The experience turned out to be an eye opener and a door opener for Lewis.

I really loved Lewis. He found his true calling in life. I loved his dry wit. Sometimes he would think something about the situation which might be interpreted as disrespectful. But, this quote explained his thought process:

And I really don't say that to make light of the situation. I say it to FIND light in the situation.

Having lived through my mother's journey with dementia, I know how true this statement is.

I think that this book goes into my Top Five list of the year. Truly an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advance Readers Copy.

5 big fat stars!!
What an absolutely beautiful story.
I loved Lewis. I very strongly disliked Chester Wheeler. But all in all I loved this book so much.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the honored privilege of reading an ARC of this wonderful book.

This is another emotional read by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The combination of a crotchety old man who is dying and a young man who is faced with losing his job and his significant other, you know you will be in for an amazing journey. There are moments of sadness but some lighthearted ones as well. This author does women’s fiction at its finest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Catherine Ryan Howard writes a delightful character driven novel with oodles of charm as it explores the surprising intergenerational relationship that develops between 24 year old gay software developer living in Buffalo, Lewis Madigan, and his unbearable hateful and homophobic neighbour, 70 year old Chester Wheeler, a man no-one can stand, including his own children, suffering from terminal cancer. Lewis's life has fallen apart, he has lost his job, and Tim, his partner has left him, taking their entire savings. Short of money, wondering how he is going to make his rent and pay his bills, he finally gives in to the desperate Ellie, Chester's daughter, at her wit's end, by agreeing to be Chester's carer, knowing it will be a stressful and demanding role. When Chester suddenly starts being nice, Lewis knows something is up, what is he after?

It turns out Chester wants to travel 2000 miles to Arizona in his Winnebago to see his ex-wife, Sue. Lewis doesn't want to be that guy, the man refusing to grant a dying man's last wish, even though he expects the trip to be an absolute nightmare. He is not wrong as his anxiety levels rise, it is exhausting, particularly as Chester's health visibly deteriorates and his grating personality saps and drains his energy levels. However, odd chinks of light appear, there is the beauty of the landscape, such as the red rock and cacti country, and Chester begins to use words like sorry, please, thanks, and friend. No, Chester has not radically changed, but there is movement, on both sides, as Lewis becomes aware of and starts to see how Chester came to be who he is, the breakdown of his marriage and how he lost touch with his children. What Lewis was not expecting is to be a different man than the one he used to be before the road trip.

The author has a keen eye for the finer details of the poignant relationship of growth between two men from different generations and circumstances, capturing the grace, heartbreak, humanity, and the flaws of being human, whilst probing beneath the surface of people who might be deemed difficult characters, making me both laugh and cry. This is a beautifully written, beguiling and heartwarming story, of judgements, forgiveness, life, love, loss, grief, shot through with wisdom. It was wonderful to see Lewis re-evaluate his life and identity, consolidated further when he meets Brian Kennedy, illustrated in the epilogue with his trip with Estelle. I recommend this highly, and can see many readers loving this as much as I do. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

What an absolutely beautiful story.
I loved our main characters, Chester and Lewis. Initially it seemed that they where polar opposites, and yet as the story developed you realised that wasn’t the case. I thought their journey was utterly fantastic, and it absolutely broke my heart.
I also really liked the ending, and watching Lewis life turn around for the better almost.
It was beautifully written, with some really touching moments. The characters where very well written, and felt totally realistic.

An emotional page turner for sure!

It’s the worst day of Lewis Madigan’s life - he loses his job and comes home to find his boyfriend is moving to California without him, taking their savings with him. If that isn’t enough, his hate filled, homophobic neighbour Chester Wheeler heckles him about it.

With no way to make his rent, he finds himself agreeing to be Chester’s care. It’s a last resort for both of them. Chester had driven every other carer away and Lewis needs that money. After all, Chester is terminally ill so Lewis can grit his teeth and get through it. But what about when Chester declares his dying wish is for Lewis to drive him 1000 miles across America to see his ex wife?

I find this a hard book to review. It was very readable and I sank into the story right away. Lewis is a great character, I really warmed to him and loved his character development. I think the problem was Chester himself. Like all his previous carers, I found him in insufferable. The homophobia was particularly difficult to read and his character development was a bit underwhelming. There were these beautiful, poignant between the two men but they were few and far between. It ended well and I was sorry to say goodbye to Lewis but yes, so long Chester Wheeler! I have rated this three stars because though it was a quick, page turning read, it wasn’t the emotive, uplifting book I hoped for.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Boy did I love this book!! Uplifting and emotional story with the grumpiest of old men! I wanted to smack him, and then hug him! Don't miss this one!!

Lewis Madigan is young, gay, out of work, and just discovered that his boyfriend is moving on without him. Home all day living next door to Chester, his cranky, rude, homophobic neighbor convinces him that he needs a job now. Since Chester has offended and gone through all of the home health nursing agencies, his daughter is desperate and dangles a large sum of money in front of Lewis for him to step in. The only requirements: run errands, be on call, and put up with Chester. Can Lewis put aside his loathing and care for Chester? When asked to fulfill a dying man's last wish, will Lewis refuse or accept the mission?

I know when I read Hyde's novels, there will be tears, love, hope, and acceptance. It is so easy to dislike Chester and in the words of Lewis, "I'm always tempted to say hate, but I feel that 's a line I never want to cross." A doctor recently asked me why some older people are so miserable, unhappy, and mean, while others are pleasant, happy, and so nice? An answer requires knowledge of the person's health, finances, and family. Through Chester we get a look at how his past and choices made him who he is today and a glimpse at how Lewis grows with his experience. Given my age, I can relate to Lewis and Chester's struggles. I didn't want this heart-warming story to end and find myself wondering where Lewis is now and what is he doing, the true sign of a good book. Perfect for a Book Club choice, many topics to discuss and explore.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Catherine Ryan Hyde for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lewis has a pretty good life until one day when he wakes up with no job, his boyfriend leaving, and no money in savings. Destitute and heart-broken, he takes a job watching over his dying neighbor, Chester Wheeler-the crankiest man on the face of the earth. Taking the tough love approach to Chester, they establish boundaries and even understanding each other a little. It’s not the best life Lewis hopes for, and gets more complicated when Chester asks him to drive him across the country to have last words with his wife, who has left him. Imagine being cooped up in an old Winnebago with Chester! You will laugh. You will cry! Then, you will learn some good lessons about peoples lives and how we all handle situations in our own way. Lewis learns a lot about himself and the life he wants to lead.
Thank you, Catherine Ryan Hyde. I love all your books and learn something new in each adventure.