In my opinion, there is nothing better than a Catherine Ryan Hyde book! She truly is a fabulous writer and I think she’s one of my very favorite authors. Every book I’ve read of hers leaves me feeling both emotional and like I’ve come away learning something good about the human spirit. So Long, Chester Wheeler does just that. It’s the story of Lewis, a 24 year old gay man that starts off down on his luck. He looses his job at a software company where he worked as a developer only to go home and find out that his boyfriend is leaving him all while taking all of their savings with him. Because Lewis has no income and no way to pay his bills, he accepts the job of taking care of his elderly, miserable and crotchety dying neighbor Chester Wheeler. The two of them end up going on a trip taking Chesters Winnebago from Buffalo, New York to Arizona to see Chester’s ex-wife. It’s Chesters dying wish to make amends and find out why she left him and why she took his kids. From dealing with all of Chesters issues, Lewis soon realizes, along with being told by others, that his true calling is to be a caretaker to those in need. And from there, a new way of life and career come about. This was a great story, there were parts of it that caused me to have tears running down my face but that’s pretty normal for me when I read one of Catherine’s books. They always seem to bring the emotions out of me and I think that’s proof of the quality of her work. I always feel like I learn something from reading them too. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I found on the Read Now section. This is another great story, it’s one I really enjoyed and highly recommend. I’m giving this a 5 star rating and look forward to reading more of this authors work very soon!

This was a wonderful book. It involves life lessons but not in a preachy way. It's infused with humor and the characters are delightful.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read this book. This is my honest review.

So Long, Chester Wheeler took me on an adventure with a dying man and his caregiver. This book is filled with anger, frustration, regret and compassion. Catherine Ryan Hyde never disappoints.

I read this book in one evening and it was fantastic! It's every movie with a terminal patient/curmudgeon and their reluctant caregiver, all rolled I to one. Think along the lines of As Good As It Gets, The Fundamentals of Caring, even a bit of Me Before You.

It's about tying up loose ends in life and second chances and relationships and ending in a better place than expected.

This one left me feeling so grateful for all the end-of-life caregivers that help families and individuals in their most difficult time.

So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde

So Long, Chester Wheeler is an absolutely amazing book. I laughed till I had tears rolling down my face at the dialogue between Lewis and Chester, an unlikely pair of opposites. The banter is witty and hilarious. Someone special in your life will appreciate this book as a heartwarming Christmas gift. Don't miss it!

Sometimes, we just never know what that difficult person has lived through. Lewis had one hell of a day, he lost his job and his boyfriend left him.

Then to top it off, he gets an offer to take care of the extremely obnoxious old man next door. He is currently low on funds and will continue to be due to the job market, so he accepts the position.

The story moves on to cover life, death, the possibility of regret and the need for closure.

This is a great story - I laughed out loud and cried.


Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Every Catherine Ryan Hyde book i have read has always had lessons to be taken away by the reader.

This novel is no exception. Similar to A Man Called Ove but unlike that book i loved this book.

I loved everything about this beautifully crafted story. The writing, the theme, the characters. Everything!!

Oh.. how i loved Lewis and then eventually Chester. A definite recommend

Thank you Netgalley and publisher

All thoughts and opinions are my own and aren't influenced by anyone else.

Great “coming into oneself”, “life lessons learned” book! A sweet, poignant story about different people growing into themselves - some early in life and some very late. Is a good story about perceptions and mis-perceptions, giving others a chance and discovering what is important along the way.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this delightful ARC.

So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde

So Long, Chester Wheeler is an absolutely amazing book. I laughed till I had tears rolling down my face at the dialogue between Lewis and Chester, an unlikely pair of opposites. The banter is witty and hilarious. Someone special in your life will appreciate this book as a heartwarming Christmas gift. Don't miss it!

Synopsis:
Lewis Madigan, age twenty-four is a gay man seeking a new job. He reluctantly agrees to provide care for his terminal neighbor Chester Wheeler. Chester is an insufferable homophobe who never misses an opportunity to voice his opinions. Lewis reluctantly agrees to help Chester fulfill his last wish. The duo set off cross-county in a rust bucket Winnebago to see Chester's ex-wife whom he has not seen in thirty-two years. During the trip, the two develop an unexpected friendship that will leave a lasting imprint on the hearts of readers.

Everyone would love to have a Lewis Madigan in their lives. Smart, sensitive and loving, the main character is a joy to read about. Although Catherine Ryan Hyde is not a fan of writing sequels, I would adore reading one about Lewis. I highly recommend this delightful book. It is a joy from start to finish.

So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde is available on December 6th. (5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for sharing this outstanding book with me. I love every page of it!

#SoLongChesterWheeler

A young man has lost his job, his partner, and now gets talked into becoming his dying neighbor’s caregiver because he needs the money. The dying man is a mean to the core curmudgeon, but Lewis sees something more. He agrees to take Chester across the country to see his ex wife and his war buddy and once best friend. Lewis is a caring and wise young man, he just doesn’t know it. This trip leads to self revelations that change his life. Well written with humility, humor, and wisdom.

Lewis and Chester are neighbors living near Buffalo. When Lewis suddenly finds himself without a job, he must find work. Then to his surprise, Lewis begins to help his older neighbor Chester. Lewis learns Chester has cancer
Chester wants t do some things while h still has time. He wants to see his ex-wife and old friends.

Suddenly Lewis finds himself agreeing to drive Chester across the Country so he can have closure. Lewis packs Chester’s Winnebago. Lewis and Chester head off on a trip searching for closure. Their journey is full of adventures, self-discovery, and friendship.

This is a story about being human; It’s about being flawed and taking a chance to make things right. It is a story of forgiveness.

Catherine Ryan Hyde weaves a beautiful story.Told from Lewis's point of view, the reader learns about each character through Lewis's voice.

This beautiful story is about being human, self-discovery, forgiveness, and love.

WOW....another raving 5 Star review from me! This story touched me and on so many levels that it kept me reading even when I felt crossed eyed tired! I could not put it down! It goes to show us all that we never really know why some people seem so miserable and grouchy! Some people handle hurt in a way that has them in turn behave in hurtful ways! This book was so touching! Thank you, Catherine Ryan Hyde, I absolutely loved it and thank you NetGalley for allowing me this early copy for my review!
I highly recommend this book to all!
5 FULL Stars

This was such a beautifully written poignant read. Thoroughly enjoyed every page. The journey that the characters take you on is so inspiring and thought provoking. It was so easy to fall into the storyline and feel as though you was actually there. Beautiful.

Highly recommended and thoroughly deserves the 5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley.

Thanks to netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is an easy read, thanks to a great writing style and a likeable protagonist, Lewis. The pages flew by as I got to know the characters, and there was enough plot for this to never become stagnant. There was also enough nuance to the story that it wasn't completely predictable--something that I had been concerned about at the start.

A downside was that I never felt enough of a connection to the story. Lewis experiences an epiphany that changes not only his occupational choice but also his outlook on life. Those are huge changes, but they came across to me as rather abrupt. I didn't perceive enough emotion from Lewis along the course of the story to warrant his reactions toward the end.

A second downside was that the character Ellie was too good to be true. She is an angel who swoops in to help ease her father's end-of-life, even though her father hadn't be there for her. I don't doubt that there are people who would do this, but I have to think that there are major underlying issues and emotions there, yet these were only brushed by, and at a very superficial level. As a result, she comes across as an unflawed person who has endless resources to give, both emotionally and financially.

I still think many will love this book for the easy writing and its overall positive message. I enjoyed it, but it's just not the kind of story that will stick with me, for the reasons above.

Lewis is currently out of work, so he can’t refuse the opportunity to earn money by caring for a 70 year old neighbor dying from cancer. There is only one problem, Chester Wheeler is against homosexuals, and Lewis is a young, gay man. Lewis grudgingly takes the job to take care of Chester. The experience doesn’t start off on a good note as Chester is demanding, caustic, and difficult. One day, Chester is kind to Lewis, but he has an ulterior motive. He wants Lewis to drive him to Arizona so that he can visit with his ex-wife prior to his death. Lewis embarks with wheelchair bound Chester in a Winnebago on a two thousand mile trip across country. This trip is a trip of self-discovery for both Chester and Lewis. At the end of the story, it’s hard to determine who has received the greater benefit from the relationship between Chester and Lewis. This was a heartwarming, tear provoking novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I recommend every book by Catherine Ryan Hyde and was excited to read the early release of this book. Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for this advance review copy in exchange for my honest review. If I could give this book 6 stars, I would.

Catherine Ryan Hyde writes such beautiful, relevant novels and So Long, Chester Wheeler is no exception. The main character, Lewis Madigan, is interesting, likeable and relatable. You can't help but route for him. All the other characters, love them or not, keep you engaged, as well.
Lewis has been asked, begged really, to provide care for his hateful, dying neighbor, Chester Wheeler. Who needs this stress?! But since Lewis just lost his job, he sure could use the generous salary that Chester's daughter is offering. All he has to do is a few chores, be available and deal with the most cantankerous man, ever.
Next thing Lewis knows, Chester's begging him to help him fulfill his last wish. He wants to go across several states in order to face his ex-wife in hopes of getting some much needed answers.
Lewis will come to find out some surprising things about Chester, as well as about himself.

So long Chester wheeler.
Really enjoyed this book and have recommended it to people when it will be released.
Great characters and a different kind of story.. well developed storyline and you come to care for the characters, nasty and nice personalities.

This was a little bit different to previous books by this author as it covers some topics that I haven't seen in her previous works. Nevertheless, this didn't distract from this latest book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Two very different main characters - Chester Wheeler, a 69-year-old very grumpy man and his next-door neighbour, 24-year-old Lewis recently out of work and dumped by his boyfriend. When Chester's daughter asks Lewis if he would take on the chore of caring for her father on a temporary basis whilst she visits her daughter who has recently had a baby, Lewis turns it down. However, being jobless and broke he eventually relents and agrees to take on the short-term job. The tension and dislike between the two men is very strong at first but then Chester, who is terminally ill, announces that he has an old Winnebago and wants Lewis to take him on a cross country trip to meet his ex-wife before he dies. Cue a variety of experiences many of which made me laugh out loud and some that were very poignant and sad. Both men begin to develop a love/hate relationship as Chester needs care and Lewis needs money but - most of all both need to discover things about their own lives past and present. I really liked Lewis who was patient and kind and a really lovely man, and I even felt some sympathy with Chester whose life could have been so different had he only opened up and let people into his life and shown and accepted love. As the road trip progresses, Lewis learns much about himself and where his future calling lies. Similarly, Chester begins to form a different opinion of his young caring companion. All in all, a lovely book that further establishes my respect and admiration for Catherine Ryan Hyde as an author. There isn't a single book of hers that I haven't loved. I gladly award another bright and beautiful five stars for this latest one. My thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

After thoroughly enjoying about 10 of Hyde’s books, this one was a bust for me. In all her previous books that I’ve read, the focus was on the characters and on the character development. Chester Wheeler certainly included those factors, but seemed more focused on current social issues than on the personhood of the characters. The overwhelming two issues that were prominent were the dysfunctional family and homosexuality. And of course, along with those were mistrust, distrust, lack of purpose in life, hatred, seeking fulfilment in the wrong places, etc.

Compared with her previous novels, there was no clear theme or purpose to the plot. And the problem for me in the above was that there was no uplifting and heartwarming conclusion. Yes, Lewis did seem to find his “passion” in the book, but I finished the story not sure whether his “passion” for healthcare was actually his passion or whether it was just the fact that he was passionate about getting a job where he probably wouldn’t be laid off and/or whether he was passionate about it as it was the same area of employment of his “love at first sight” boyfriend he met at the end.

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

Twenty-four- year-old Lewis Madigan has had a promotion in his high tech job. He and his partner are saving like mad to enable them to move to California from their current home in Buffalo, so when he picks up his payroll he is baffled that the promised escalation in money is not there. When he asks about why the money is his usual amount and not higher, he knows straight away that it is bad news. The company are not doing well and sadly his job is no longer viable. When Lewis gets home to splash the news, his partner is packing his own belongings. Lewis knows straight away that for him the romance is dead. What he doesn’t know as he sees his boyfriend drive away is that he has taken all of their savings with him. Lewis is devastated. He had imagined them in a long-lived loving relationship. He couldn’t even afford to pay the rent with no job or anyone to help him out.
When Lewis next sees his homophobic, grumpy and obnoxious neighbour, sixty- year-old Chester Wheeler sitting outside in his wheelchair, Chester is delighted and cannot stop himself being horrible and mean. Lewis is at breaking point. He must find a job before he is made homeless. He will search for a new job and initially take anything he is offered until he can find another high wage position. Meanwhile Chester’s daughter has a dilemma. Her father has been so vile to his end of life carers that she has to do the job herself. It is a really bad time for her because her daughter is very near her baby’s birth date. She desperately wants to be there, but she certainly cannot let her father down, despite the fact that his predicament is his own fault. She asks Lewis if he could help out as a temporary carer, but he doesn’t want the hassle even though he so definitely wants the money. Eventually he reluctantly accepts the fact that it will only be for a short period and so the deal is done. Chester is horrified. He definitely doesn’t want to be looked after by some youth who bats for the wrong side. But he has no other options, and at last Lewis knows he can handle Chester.
Lewis has unwittingly made a decision that will change his life forever. He could never guess in a month of Sundays what this short time employment would see him doing or even where he was going, and certainly not how he would feel about it. Chester has a big surprise for Lewis. He waits his time and then he asks Lewis if he will honour a dying man’s last wish….
What a cracking read. I loved everything about this beautifully crafted story. I loved the skilled personalisation of the characters, all who added to this poignant, riveting story and made it so wonderfully compassionate and full of love and hope. I loved the themes: homophobia, lingering anger, relationships, respect and companionship. Catherine Ryan Hyde is a fantastic and prolific author with many accolades to her name and even more heart-warming stories. Her stories are always authentic with meticulous research and modern-day, relatable issues. This novel oozes with charisma and is definitely amongst her very best.
Thank you for my copy of this novel received through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Lake Union Publishing, sent to me in return for an honest unbiased review. I thoroughly enjoyed it and my review reflects this. I recommend this novel as an uplifting and heart-warming read with a really lovely, satisfying ending. It is a 4.5* review from me.