Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC of “Michael Without Apology” by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a young boy who loses his confidence after a terrible injury that almost killed him. Not only was he physically changed he was also emotionally changed after his experience. As he goes to college he meets a very influential teacher in a film class where he feels led to film a documentary about his scars. The journey this documentary takes him on was so interesting. I loved so many aspects of this book. At the end of the novel there were book club discussion questions provided that were quite thought provoking.
This book comes out on May 6, 2025 and I think this would be a very intriguing book club choice and generate great conversation.

What an incredibly empowering and uplifting novel. Michael Without Apology conveys a strong, profound message about acceptance - both of ourselves and others.

How many of us struggle with or worry about our body and its appearance; perhaps due to scarring from burns or injury; aging; changes after childbirth; medical conditions; disfigurement or trauma. But when we accept our bodies and stop feeling ashamed; stop apologising for our appearance, then we can truly live a life of freedom.
Scars are a fact of life:
“It’s not a secret. It’s not a scandal. It’s not a moral failing on my part. It just is.”

Michael Without Apology is a book that made me ‘think’ and ‘feel’ and I loved its powerful, poignant message. All of humankind should read this book - perhaps there’d be a little more kindness in the world.

Thank you to the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, for an advance digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Ryan Hyde delivers again. I'm a super fan, so it's no surprise I enjoyed her latest novel. If you are in need of a "literary hug," pick up a CRH novel. I love how she unpacks difficult and traumatic situations. Her portrayal of foster care is the best I've seen in fiction, having been a foster care provider myself.

Michael is a compelling and complicated teenager, and I loved watching him grow into himself as the story progressed. I wish I had a little CRH in my head helping me find the words for difficult conversations. No one writes these better.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-book in exchange for a review.

When I read a book that really impacts me, I have a hard time reviewing it. This is one of those books. There is so much to absorb with this one.

In a nutshell, it is a book about scarred people—not just physically but also emotionally or both. It is about self-worth and acceptance.

As a young boy, Michael is critically injured in a fireworks accident. He carries scars for the rest of his life. While in college he decides to make a documentary about scarred people. He realizes (as does the reader) that almost everyone carries some kind of scars. And, everybody deals with them differently. With the help of an incredibly kind and intuitive instructor, Michael makes the impactful documentary.

This book really makes me think. Catherine Ryan Hyde has the ability to pull the reader right into the story. She picks intense subjects to write about. And, she writes about them in depth.

This book will stay with me for a very long time.

What I got out of the book: Live life without apologies, unless I actually owe one.
The book will explain.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

I received an ARC of the latest new novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde through NetGalley.

I have rated most of CRH’s novels 5 stars, but this might be the best of the best. The storytelling skill is always there. And the subject matter this time resonates with everyone. Who doesn’t feel uncomfortable with how they look?

Michael, this book’s subject, was nearly killed in a fireworks incident when he was 7 years old. He has been self-conscious about the scars on his body ever since. His story is picked up when he is a college student. His relationship with a film professor was instrumental in overcoming his feelings of negativity. His transformation is chronicled in this beautiful story. He comes to understand that everyone is scarred in some way and there is no need to apologize, as everyone has.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Michael Without Apology’ written by Catherine Ryan Hyde in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Following an accident with a firework, seven-year-old Michael ‘s body is so severely scarred that he’s always kept covered up. His parents hand him over for adoption where he has a happy life with the Woodbines and it isn’t until he’s nineteen that he signs up for the college film class and meets his tutor Robert Dunning who himself is badly scarred. Michael comes to rely on Robert for advice on the making of films and decides to make one himself that he calls “Here I Am” about people unhappy with their own bodies.

‘Michael Without Apology’ is the spellbinding story of Michael from the age of 7-and-a-half years to when he reaches twenty-five, who at nineteen makes a short film revealing not only his own body with its scars but those of people who are unhappy with their own bodies and have replied to his advert. Catherine Ryan Hyde is a wonderful storyteller who seamlessly blends her characters into an inspiring and thought-provoking novel, the characters so perfectly described that I didn’t want to put my Kindle down even for a minute. I’ve loved reading about Michael who hid his scars away for fear of them being seen and the people he met who wanted to tell their stories, especially Madeleine and Rex Aronfeld, and several times I had tears in my eyes. I’ve loved this novel and am disappointed it’s come to an end as I don’t feel ready to say goodbye to Michael just yet.

I always look forward to reading a book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde and was thrilled to get this one. Michael Without Apology is about a 19 year old college student who has been hiding his scars since his accident when he was 7 years old. He enters his college filmmaking class and his life changes when he meets the teacher who has burns all over his body. As usual I look forward to the message that is always in her books. This book does not disappoint. It is so thought provoking and is capable of offering the reader the opportunity to look inside and become aware of their own perceptions of body image and how it might influence life behaviors. It certainly gave me a lot to think about and I highly recommend reading this book!!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing | Amazon Publishing, and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, with the audio perfectly narrated by Michael Crouch. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Michael was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care and subsequent adoption by another family. Now a college freshman, he's taking a film class by Robert Dunning, himself scarred but with no apology. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. The reaction to his call for stories shows him that everyone struggles with these issues.

Every book that Catherine Ryan Hyde astounds me. She explores a different human issue in each book and makes you look hard at it. Typically, it will change your views and encourage you to be a better person. This one is a must read because we all deal with body image issues. It made me think how quickly we judge others by their looks. I loved these characters - of course, Michael and Robert, but all the film subjects, and his adoptive parents. An absolute must read!

𝖬𝗂𝖼𝗁𝖺𝖾𝗅, 𝖶𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖠𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗒 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗅𝗒 𝖺 𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝖺 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖺𝗇'𝗌 𝗃𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗇𝖾𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾, 𝖿𝗋𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗒, 𝗈𝗉𝖾𝗇𝗅𝗒, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗎𝗇𝖺𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝖾𝗍𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒, 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖺 𝗁𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗂𝖿𝗂𝖼 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗅𝖾𝖿𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗉𝗁𝗒𝗌𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗌𝖼𝖺𝗋𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝗈𝗅𝖽.

𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝗒 𝗌𝗈𝗎𝗅 𝗌𝗈 𝖽𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗅𝗒. 𝖢𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗇𝖾'𝗌 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝖿𝗎𝗅 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗌𝗂𝗍 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗑𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌.

𝖨𝗇 𝖬𝗂𝖼𝗁𝖺𝖾𝗅, 𝖶𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖠𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗒 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗃𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗇𝖾𝗒 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗉𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖾𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖽𝗈𝖼𝗎𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗒 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖻𝗈𝖽𝗒 𝗂𝗆𝖺𝗀𝖾.

𝖠𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾, 𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝖿, 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖬𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗁𝖾𝗅 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗎𝖾𝗌.

𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽. 𝖨𝗍'𝗌 𝗋𝖺𝗐 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗎𝗇𝖺𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗍𝗂𝖼.
𝖨 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗆𝗒 𝖿𝖺𝗏𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗁.

It’s only April, and I’ve already found a strong contender for my Book of the Year. Michael Without Apology is the latest emotional and thought-provoking coming of age story from one of my favourite authors, and once more it’s an easy Five Star read. This one explores the way people’s emotional scars can hold them back just as much as physical ones do.

“Need volunteers for a student documentary film. Do you have a lot of worry and stress about your body and your appearance? Call Michael.”
Michael is an introspective nineteen year old student, who sustained horrific burns as a child, leading him to be adopted. His worldview is transformed when his new professor of Film Studies challenges him to make a documentary - and he discovers he’s far from alone in feeling imprisoned by his scars.

Funnily enough though, I’ve had my Advance Review Copy for several months, but something about the blurb put me off starting it - maybe because I didn’t want to read about a child experiencing trauma. Don’t make my mistake - yes Michael’s accident is described, but not gratuitously, and this is all about how he not only recovers, but finds love, answers, acceptance and success. There’s a love story, but it’s not a romance, and it’s very sad in parts, but ultimately uplifting.

There are fabulous characters, like his forthright lecturer “My name is Robert Dunning, and I have scarring on my face and hands…You didn’t think we’d talk about it, did you? You’re all looking at it, but you all figured we wouldn’t speak of it. Why not? It’s not a secret. It’s not a scandal. It’s not a moral failing on my part. It just is.” Or his kind sensible adoptive father Charles “After a while you get to be just like those damned politicians. They try so hard to be all things to all people that they end up being nothing to anybody. You’re better off being you. Half the people you know’ll applaud you for it and the other half’ll be pissed off. If the people applauding you are the people you like and respect, then you’ll know you got it right.”

The only part I wasn’t completely sold on was the ending, which was a bit drawn out and unnecessary, but certainly didn’t spoil it. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Lake Union for the ARC. Michael Without Apology is available on May 6th.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favourite authors and I can't tell you how much I loved this story and without giving away anything people will absolutely love this story. I know I did. I surely recommend.

Thank you publisher and netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else

“Time only goes one way. What’s done can’t been undone. If only we could take that one second over.”…… since you can’t live that moment over, one needs to learn how to only look forward and accept what happened the second before.

Catherine Ryan Hyde always touches on themes people can relate to. Michael Without Apology is a book about learning to love yourself, living life without regret, without shame, without apology but with courage and self acceptance.

I loved Michael’s naive character. How can he be so handsome yet have such low self esteem. We never know what scars people are hiding inside and out. Michael grows so much from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. He was so lucky to meet his teacher and mentor Robert Dunning. Professor Dunning changed Michael’s life for the better. Everyone should have a person like Professor Dunning who they can look up to.

This was a tender, sweet story that can be read in one night. it will touch your heart and you might even shed a tear or two.

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this fabulous ARC early for my honest review. Honestly, if I could give it more than 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, I certainly would. Catherine Ryan Hyde really wrote a great story. She has a very special gift of telling the perfect story..she certainly makes you feel all the emotions. This book is about the different scars in peoples lives and we certainly all have them. She shows you how take those scars and embrace them. Thank you for the heartfelt emotional story.

Wow, wow, and wow! Catherine Ryan Hyde does it again. I am a huge fan of her writing, but this topic really resonated with me. Catherine takes the issue of body image and weaves together a story with powerful characters. In most instances, no matter what we look like (on the inside or outside), we don’t like something about ourselves. The media has created an idea of a perfect image (not sure I know what THAT is), resulting in body shaming for not meeting the criteria. But in many instances, the way you look may be due to medical conditions, an accident, aging, etc. These perceptions can result in low self-esteem, feeling less than, personal insecurities, isolation, or as extreme as taking your life.

Our main character is Michael Woodbine, who has a near-fatal accident at age seven that leaves him scarred for life, but most of his scarring can be “hidden” behind his clothes. Michael meets Robert Dunning, his freshman college professor, in his film class. On the first day of class, Robert has visible scarring that he discusses with the class. For Michael, who has been hiding his scars his entire life, this approach is shocking and intriguing.

As part of a film class project, Michael decides to create a documentary on individuals who have felt challenged or rejected because of their physical appearance. These stories are going to tug at your heartstrings, make you question how you judge others, and evoke a whole host of other feelings and emotions.
Every book I have read by Catherine Ryan Hyde causes me to reflect, to think about things on a deeper level, and at the same time, she always gives me hope that there are good people in the world and we need to work hard to rise above the ugliness that exists in our world.

Five stars are not enough to express how much I love this book, and I highly recommend it to everyone!

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

#MichaelWithoutApology, #CatherineRyanHyde, #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. Catherine Ryan Hyde is an automatic read author for me. She is a great story teller and always has an important lesson in her story. This book gave you all the emotions. If you haven’t read any of her books you definitely should she does not disappoint!!!

This is a shorter read than I would normally pick up but oh wow is it a powerful one. I loved the message behind this, Michael is scarred, physically, emotionally and mentally from a traumatic childhood accident. As he makes a film about people being uncomfortable/unhappy in their own skin he realises there are many different stories out there. The stories really resonated with me, I found them emotional and thought-provoking. Everyone was different in its own way from accidents to genetics and the result of pregnancies. I read this extremely quickly as I was so immersed in the story and the lives of the people.
There is a secondary plot thread of Michael exploring his tragic past and reaching out to the parents that abandoned him. Again, this is emotional and incredibly powerful and holds a strong message about forgiveness and apologies.
I was enthralled by this powerful read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy.

This book is a masterpiece! I was immediately drawn into the story and cared about the characters immensely. The plot is unique, heartbreaking and uplifting.

Many lessons are interwoven throughout the book, but I think the most important thing is not judging someone by what you see. People are much more than what is presented as our physical form to the world. Also, to love yourself and not be so critical about your appearance. You are more than the way you look.

As in the other books I have read by this author, there is an older person as a mentor to a younger one. I love that feature. I have had many older friends that I have benefited from over the years.

I want to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Michael is a handsome young man with a secret he hides from the world. On his first day of college, he meets his mentor, the professor of an introductory film class. The two bond over a shared experience and Michael decides to produce his first film on the subject of body image.
Thirteen years earlier, young Michael is injured in a fireworks accident that lands him first in the hospital and then in foster care. The novel goes back and forth between past and present. Most of the story consists of interviews with people, each of whom will present his or her own truth, physical and emotional, on camera.
Although I soon became caught up in Michael's experiences, I did think the author took short cuts. Everyone Michael met seemed to be important to him, granting him some piece of wisdom that made him a better person. Without denying that everyone is special, I think so much significance can seem a bit much. Similarly, while Michael worked hard, I find it unrealistic that a complete novice would produce a student film that appeared to blow audiences away. The epilogue was nice, but, a bit rushed.
I enjoyed this book but wish it were less facile.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for granting me access to a free advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another great book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I just loved this story. This is such a wonderful story about loving yourself for who you are no matter if you have scars, body shamed by other people or just feel like you are different. This is all about not having to apologize for anything. I just loved Michael and loved watching him grow and learn that it doesn't matter how you look or feel. Just accepting you the way you are and no apology's for it. Just a wonderful written story. Thank you NetGalley and Lakeunion for the ARC and my honest opinion.

Like this author's previous novels, Michael Without Apology is a heartwarming story that is filled with conflict but that is ultimately uplifting. We initially meet Michael at age seven and learn of the tragic fireworks accident that left him scarred and placed in foster care. Now at age nineteen, Michael is in college in a film class with an instructor who provides Michael with the opportunity and the means to re-examine his life as he opts to make his film-project one that explores negative body image. Michael is surprised to learn that it's not just external scars that adversely affect how people view their bodies. Michael Without Apology is a fascinating study in human nature. Another feel-good novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, well-worth reading.