Just a Regular Boy is my first ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 star read of 2023!! Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite authors and once again, she writes a masterpiece. Heartwarming, raw, engaging … such a wonderful story that will stay with me for awhile. Remy is a 5 year old boy whose dad is a recent widow and is a survivalist and he forces him to leave their home and live like that. My heart ached for Remy in this emotional story! I could not put this book down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. This is sure to be a winner when it’s published in May 2023.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC.
This was a heartwarming read about a 5-year old boy who was taking into the wilderness by his father, who was expecting a societal collapse. When he dies, the boy has to navigate life by himself in dire circumstances until he finds his forever family.
A very sweet and uplifting story that I definitely recommend.

Very good story, definitely keep your tissues close by because this story definitely pulls at your heartstrings. Would recommend

I knew nothing about this book going into it but it had caught my eye on Netgalley so I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did because it ended up being a 5 star read for me! It was a very emotional story and I really felt bad for the young boy and the way he was forced to live, but there was also a lot of hope that he would be found and get help. I loved watching him navigate the “real world” and and his new family. The ONLY issue I had with the story, which still didn’t deter me from giving it a 5 star rating, was the fact that this book isn’t out until May but it mentions COVID quite often, as if we’re still in the height of the pandemic. It’s fine to mention it if it comes up organically but there were a lot of random mentions of someone making sure they have their mask, or having their vaccination card with them, etc which seemed unnecessary to the plot. Especially because it almost felt like it dated the book - like it took place in 2020- not that we’re far off from that but I feel like it’s not like that as much in our day to day lives now. However, that was just a small pet peeve of mine but I still loved it overall!

The latest 5-star read from Catherine Ryan Hyde! Just a Regular Boy is a heart-wrenching, heartwarming story of family, love, fear, and forgiveness in the modern age. From surviving in the wilderness to surviving in society, Remy's story will bring the reader a perspective they might otherwise never realize. Another worthy recommendation from one of my favorite authors!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy. Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite authors.. What I love about her is the way her character's and their relationships build and flourish throughout her novels. I carry these characters and their friendships with me long after I have finished the novel. While, 'Just a Regular Boy' had a great bond between the family, especially Anne, the foster Mom and Remy, it didn't feel as warm and full to me as CRH has made me feel with her other characters. The concept was great, but it wasn't my favorite book of hers. The added instances of COVID also felt very unnecessary to me.

I absolutely loved this book! You can relate to how the main character, Remy feel throughout the book, and understand how the mom feels throughout the novel as well. I felt the story line, was a little far fetched in todays times, but there is always that little possibility that things can really happen like this. I enjoyed seeing all aspects of family life, and seeing how a new additional can fit within the family.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have read and loved several of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books and this one was no different. I devoured this book! I felt so bad for Remy, a 5 year old boy who was forced by his survivalist father to live off the grid in the middle of nowhere. A year or so after they arrived, his father (Roy) died and Remy was all alone miles from any sort of civilization. That is a lot for an adult to deal with, much less a small child! Remy did the best he could on his own, but eventually he had to surrender himself to the authorities (whom he was convinced by his father would kill him).
Remy's story is one of trauma, survival, healing, and hope. He is very fortunate to be given a chance at a normal life by Anne, a foster parent that does not shy away from the "wild" child.
This story will pull on your heartstrings and possibly shed a few tears. Absolutely recommend!

Just a Regular Boy
A Novel
by Catherine Ryan Hyde
First off the cover is beyond beautiful.
Second, I was over the new moon to spend my first day of the new year reading this book by Catherine Ryan Hyde!! (The Queen of twisting your heart and wringing you dry).
I cried and cried some more. Out there is chaos, the collapse of society, and so much to be afraid of. All that matters is freedom. That’s what Remy Blake has been taught by his survivalist father at the age of five years old. This book felt as if it was nonfiction/and fiction. The total feeling of growing older than a child should ever feel, all due to Roy and his fear and distrust . He remained broken physically and emotionally for 3 more years.
He is found—near feral, silent, and terrified—in the small rural town of Blaire believing the world is not to be trusted by anyone or anything.
Then Anne and her family work to show Remy there is good and bad, yet, the world can be a trusting being taught all the lies, and fear. What he loves is watching the news, it assured him what is real and what is not. The world is changed for us all, yet like Remy, he sees the good as well as the ugly.
I want to thank Ms. Catherine Ryan Hyde I took what she gave, heartbroken for the truth, but to be as trusting and strong as Remy.

Such an emotional read l couldn't put it down from the start, can't stop reading this book. Would recommend to family and friends, loved it.

I can honestly say that I've never met a Catherine Ryan Hyde book that I didn't like, and believe me, I've read just about every one. This new novel of hers does not disappoint. It is compulsively readable and I finished it in two sittings (unusual for me). My heart felt all the feelings of both Remy and Anne, and the assorted supporting characters who are ALL clearly and emotionally drawn. Several times I felt tears of recognition welling up in my eyes. I will not soon forget Remy, Anne, and Remy's new siblings.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this beautiful, touching, relevant story!

This was absolutely gut-wrenching to read. This book, with its captivating storyline, will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. We follow Anne and Remy, who is a child left alone to survive by his father. They’re two wounded souls, just trying to heal their trauma.

The alternative POVs really make this a page-turner. This book tackles a range of important topics with such delicacy and grace. Although this is a novel about fears and hopes, it’s also about love and happiness. The writing was phenomenal and really captured these themes!

The characters weren’t one-dimensional. In fact, their traits really jump off the page. The dynamics and world were also well-written.

Overall, this was a beautifully written story that will capture your heart from the very first page. I can’t recommend this enough!

After the death of his mother, Remy's father takes his five year old son to an ill equipped cabin in the middle of nowhere. His father is a survivalist who believes society is on the brink of collapse and decides that they are going to live off grid. When his father unexpectedly died, eight year old Remy tries to survive on his own with a deep seated mistrust of humans. I thought this book was incredible, I was gripped throughout and it will definitely be one of my top recommendations for 2023!

A deeply moving and satisfying novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde!

Storytelling at its best!

"Out there is chaos, the collapse of society, and so much to be afraid of. All that matters is freedom."

These are just some of the things five year old, Remy Blake's survivalist father preaches to him. Now he's being raised off the grid by his father in the middle of nowhere.

The story is told from Remy as well as another character, Anne's point of view. Anne is a nurturing mother of two who is dealing with the recent loss of a foster child her family loved who is no longer in their care. Anne also has some childhood issues she hasn't yet dealt with.

Just a Regular Boy was a heartwarming and at times heart wrenching read. Catherine Ryan Hyde is skilled at getting readers to empathize, sympathize, and understand her characters. She writes with such emotional honesty and appears to have a great understanding of people. She creates characters you can't help but cheer for. Many I wish I knew in real life. Her animal characters always brighten my day too.

I picked this up with the intention of just reading a few pages. About 10 pages in I realized I didn't want to stop reading as I really wanted to see how things worked out.

This moving story takes place during the height of the Covid pandemic and deals with relevant issues in a sensitive way.

A story about grief, loss, love, friendship, and the different kinds of family. A hopeful and inspiring read.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than forty books. It has been a while since I've read one of her novels. I read quite a few of them a few years ago and loved them all. Many of the stories have stayed with me.

After thoroughly enjoying this novel, I can't wait to catch up on any that I may have missed!


Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

Remy lives with his survivalist father in an isolated cabin in the woods. His father has warned him of the collapse of society and that he should never trust other people. Remy has been told that if anything ever happens to his father he must head North to Canada where he will be safe from civilization.

So when he finds himself alone, eight year old Remy does just what he has been told. But his plan doesn't work and he is faced with starvation or civilization. Will they hurt him, or worse?? Can Remy ever be just a regular boy again?

Oh this was a wonderful story! I can't say too much without giving spoilers so, just read it!

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Five year old Remy's dad is a survivalist with some extreme views. When Remy's mom passes away his dad's grip on reality slips and he decides that the world in on the brink of collapse and he takes Remy to a remote area in the woods in hopes of surviving. Remy and his father live off the land and Remy is taught how to survive and is taught that if he ventures into society he will die. A few years pass and Remy's dad suddenly dies and Remy is stuck trying to survive alone in the harsh winter without any food all while being injured. When things get bleak Remy decides that risking death by venturing back into society would be better than slowly dying of hunger.

When he finds other people Remy is scared and luckily he crosses paths with Anne who is a very compassionate woman who fosters and adopts children. The story winds through how they learn to trust each other and it is heartwarming how they both grow and learn about love and acceptance.

What a wonderful book! I love the characters and the storyline! Catherine Ryan Hyde is an amazing author! I love everything I have read by her!

Thanks so much NetGalley and Lake Union.

I'm a huge fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde. So Long Chester Weaver was among my favorite books of 2022!

Remy Blake is five when his mom dies. His dad is a survivalist and takes him into the woods to live away from people and civilization. When Remy's dad dies, he is forced back into the world for help. How will he adjust?

This book is told from two POVs - Remy's and Anne's. Anne is the woman who fosters him as he adjusts back to the world and learns how to trust people again. I really liked both of their stories as Anne has her own struggles. She has fostered other children and adopted two. I liked how kind she was and it was interesting to read how she dealt with her family's struggles with various topics. Remy's story is incredibly sad but it was a relief to read about the kindness of others. I also appreciated how Covid was in this book (masks and vaccines). Even if it wasn't center stage, I don't think I've read a book that talked about Covid in the background.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley. It comes out in May, 2023.

This book has all of the features expected when you pick up a CRH book: great characters, a thought-provoking storyline that touches a reader's emotions and, ultimately, an uplifting conclusion. Oh, and GREAT WRITING.

This story is about a 5-year-old boy. His mother passes away, leaving him as an only child with his father. The father is a survivalist, highly paranoid, believing that the only way to be around when the world comes to an end is to totally avoid people. So he sells the house and buys 175 acres in the wilderness and hides out. After a couple years, the boy is left on his own.

The first 15-20% of this book drags a little, as the author painstakingly describes the boy's solitary existence and the wild actions he takes to survive. But the book livens up when Anne, a married mother of two adopted children, hears about the boy and wants to take on the most difficult challenge of bringing him back into civilization. The boy is battered and bruised, both mentally and physically, but Anne does not back down from the challenge.

The theme of the book: If you need help, ask for it. People are (generally) good.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has such a way with words and creating characters you want in your life. I have read many books by her and have loved almost all of them. She is a master at writing heartwarming feel good books so when I saw this was on NetGalley I knew I had to read it.
Remy is 5 years old and his father, his sole caretaker, is a survivalist. He moves Remy to a remote area of the woods and teaches him how to survive on pretty much nothing but the trees and animals around him. 3 years later Remy is found by hurt and by himself and when everyone else is judging him, Anne, a perpetual Foster Mom, takes on the challenge of opening up her family, her home, and her heart to this “wild boy”. What happens next is nothing short of magical.
I truly loved that this was written in alternating viewpoints from both Remy and Anne because while it allows you into their heads, it also shows off Ms. Hyde’s depth when it comes to character development, both in the sense of plucking a character out of her imagination and watching that character grow through the pages of the book.
I actually really liked that Covid, masks, and vaccinations were included in this. It is not part of the main story, but it is mentioned in the background. I loved that it was done subtly and it really helped to bring the story to life. Please don’t let that dissuade you from reading this as it is such a minor part and I think it just adds depth.
If you’ve never read anything by Ms. Hyde before, make one of her books your next read. I promise you won’t be disappointed! Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review.