This was my first book by Catherine Ryan Hyde but definitely will not be my last! The story of Michael Wood and his scars immediately drew me in and I literally read this book in one day! Michael Without Apology not only made me cry but made me think about how I feel about myself and those around me. I feel like it is a very thought-provoking book and I've already recommended it to my 93 year old mom who has read a previous book by this author. I really liked Michael's professor Mr. Dunning and the advice and support he gave Michael. There are definitely some hard topics but the ending was wonderful. I truly enjoyed it!

I read/listened to the audio and enjoyed the narrator, Michael Crouch, quite a bit.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 6 May 2025

A wonderfully motivating story that I can't stop thinking about. I've recommended this book to every one of my friends. It would make a terrific book club pick.

Michael was physically scared as a child, which leaves him with a lot of insecurity about his appearance. Then one day he enters his college flim class to find the professor is also scarred and even missing several fingers. The professor announces to the class that they should look at his scars, ask questions now, get it out of their system, and then move on. His unapologetic approach to his disfigurement encourages Michael to consider embracing his imperfections too. He decides to make a short film about people showing their scars. When he asks for volunteers to appear in the film, he's surprised to find that a lot of people have something they want to hide. Everyone views their scars as worse than the others, which makes Michael realize that he is the only person judging himself so harshly. Learning to accept his body allows him to look at other areas of his life, where maybe a different perspective would shed better light on how the world really exists.

Thank you to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the ALC copy in exchange for an honest review!

I wasn't entirely sure what I would be getting into when reading this book, but wow did I enjoy it. I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I loved how reflective and realistic it was, as well as how heartbreaking the story was. The author did a great job with the commentary on the human body and how many different feelings people can have about it. The way she displayed and commented on trauma was also very realistic, but honestly inspiring. I loved this.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has long been my go-to author for beautiful stories with a hefty dose of empathy, and she does it again with Michael Without Apology. Michael is a college student who suffered a traumatic childhood, but who makes connections and develops relationships that allow him to embrace rather than hide his physical and emotional scars. It’s impossible not to root for him along the way.

Michael Crouch does an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde, Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

“It’s good because it’s been alive. And I don’t mean been alive as in not been dead. Really alive. Most of the world is siting on the couch watching TV and trying to get to bed every night without h anything challenging happening. You are taking risks and you out are at the edge of the cliff and you are freaking alive. And you are scare because everything is real and you feel it all. Take it from someone who doesn’t have to get enough of the alive thing. Run with that feeling. Have a real life and take the risk. Live like living means something” A really great story about self acceptance and living unapologetically because is worth it and everyone deserves it. Michael and all the characters are really well developed. The audiobook with Michael Crouch as a narrator, makes the story even better. Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC. this is my honest review.

I loved each and every moment of this book. Michael was injured in a terrible accident when he was 7 and carried not only physical scars, but emotional ones that ran deep. When he meets Robert Dunning, a college professor his life changes in ways he couldn’t even begin to fathom. Professor Dunning is also scarred, but he cannot hide it and makes sure to let everyone of his students take a good look, ask any questions and then get along with the class. He is amazing. Their class assignment is to make a film with the subject of their own design. Inspired by Prof Dunning, he choses to make a film about people who are uncomfortable in their own bodies. He initially assumes it’ll be people like himself and the responses and subjects are surprising and illuminating. They each, in their own way change his life in unimaginable ways, He cones to recognize that almost everyone has body issues and tries to tell their stories in the most truthful way he can and honor them and their experiences. Through the experience he is finally able to let go of some of his past trauma, accept who he is, understand and fully accept the love of the people who became his parents and loved him with every fiber of their beings, allowing himself to experience love in ways he never imagined. The audiobook was narrated beautifully. If you want to treat yourself to a beautiful, emotional story that will leave you feeling good, this is that book. Now I just await what comes next from this wonderfully prolific author.

Wow! What an emotional ride. What an amazing male lead! What a powerful, gripping story!

Michael is now a college freshman, but he has a tough past. One that he can’t seem to escape…
When he was just a child, only 7 years old, he experienced a horrible fireworks accident…one that he wasn’t expected to live through… but, live he did.

The whole hospital experience is revisited…through a child’s eye… and it really just tugs at your heartstrings!

Michael was left with both emotional and physical scars…both which he can’t seem to move past…

He was adopted by a lovely couple, but always wonders why he didn’t go back to his parents…

While taking a film class in college, he meets Professor Dunning… who, like Michael, is scarred. BUT, his take on it is TOTALLY OPPOSITE Michael’s… and it definitely sparks something within him!

As he starts working on his first ever film project, he comes to learn a whole lot about multiple people… and grows close to them during their time interviewing and filming.
You see, his project revolves around other people who see themself with their own scars…whether they be visible or psychological… and, well that, just makes the whole thing worth it!!

You will find yourself laughing out loud, and then crying the next minute! Such a rollercoaster of emotions… and I adored every minute of it!!!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

#MichaelWithoutApology by #CatherineRyanHyde and narrated beautifully by #MichaelCrouch.

This one was just released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BrillianceAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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This book was a nice and quick easy and fast read. I read and listened to it. The narrator was a good choice and fit the story.
It has a very good message about acceptance and not letting what others might think of your outward appearance hold you back. It did feel more like a full on lecture, rather than reading a book. The only other issue I had with the book was that every person he met, he learned something major and that is not real life. You might meet a few people that share something with you that is so moving or an idea that might change you but you aren't getting that from every single person you meet.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the book and audiobook arc.

A really solid book about body positivity with a heartbreaking romance subplot.
I fell in love with Michael. and I loved his relationship with his film teacher.

the setup…
It’s the Fourth of July and seven-year old Michael and his older brother Thomas are on the beach waiting for the fireworks to start when Thomas talks him into stealing one of the rockets. It ends in a nightmare where Michael barely survives and is left with permanent scars on his chest, ending up in foster care. He’s now a nineteen year old college freshman looking to pursue studies in filmmaking. On the first day of his film class, teacher Robert Dunning, who wears his own scars on his face, does something extraordinary, unapologetic in owning his circumstances and accepting the stares without judging the audience for doing so. It inspires Michael to begin a documentary on the topic of body image with surprising revelations and insights.

the heart of the story…
I don’t know how to adequately describe the beauty of this story. Michael was a sensitive child who grew into an equally sensitive young man. His film project was eloquent in its tenderness towards the participants, who left an indelible impression on him and he on them. And on me.

the narration…
Michael Crouch seemed to understand that he needed to leave the drama behind and let the story sort of tell itself. He added to the lovely experience.

the bottom line…
This touched my soul in ways I cannot express. I’ll never ever forget this journey into self acceptance, unapologetically. Just trust me and find out for yourself.

Michael Without Apology is a thought-provoking coming-of-age novel that explores themes of trauma, self-acceptance, heartbreak, and defying the odds. The story follows Michael Woodbine, a 19-year-old college freshman who’s spent much of his life hiding his physical & emotional scars from a near-fatal fireworks accident at age 7. The accident placed him in foster care, leaving him with abandonment issues. In college, Michael enrolls in a film class taught by Robert Dunning, a professor who bears visible scars on his face without shame. Inspired by Dunning, Michael begins filming a documentary of interviews with individuals facing various physical and emotional challenges.

Like all of Hyde’s novels, this emotionally resonant story dives deep into the complexities of the human experience. There are many meaningful subjects featured in this story: healing after trauma, fatal illness, heartbreak, abandonment, self-acceptance, and most prominently, speaking one's truth without apology. Societal pressures around physical appearance and the struggles people of all ages face around their self-image are profoundly analyzed through Michael’s struggles and the people he interviews.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has an amazing ability to write characters and relatable stories that touch a reader’s heart—and Michael's story is precisely that! He is a very introspective, intelligent character, wise beyond his years. The relationship between Michael and Professor Dunning is a focal point of the story, and it emphasizes the profound impact that mentorship and deep understanding can have. Before meeting Dunning, Michael had never processed his emotional trauma and harbored a lot of pent-up anger towards his birth parents. Through the fascinating interviews he conducts, Michael learns that almost everyone has an internal conflict and insecurities. His high sensitivity and intuition allow him to soak up all the information he hears to transform him. By the end, his character arc is so pronounced that it seems like he’s decades older when only a few years have passed. There is also a romantic subplot in the story between Michael and an older woman who has a fatal illness. Although their love story isn’t overly developed, their dialogue is very compelling and heartfelt—so be sure to have some tissues on hand!

The story is told over multiple timelines. The main storyline occurs during the year when Michael is 19 years old, with flashbacks to the time around his near-fatal injury. The timeline shifts are seamless and greatly enhance the story without causing any confusion, and they give readers a satisfying and comprehensive picture of Michael’s coming-of-age story. With every Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, there’s always something new for readers to learn! Her stories are also very well researched—in this book, there is interesting medical information during Michael’s hospital stay and later on, insight into documentary filmmaking and the film festival circuit. In addition, there are so many meaningful lines of dialogue that readers will want to bookmark and use in their own lives. For all these reasons and because of the compelling characters, this story lingers and prompts readers to consider its themes long after finishing!

Overall, Michael Without Apology is another standout novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde, filled with profound messages and life lessons. Anyone who has struggled with self-acceptance, societal expectations, or abandonment issues will especially relate to Michael’s story. If you haven’t read any of Hyde’s previous books, this book is a great book to start with, and afterwards you’ll be compelled to check out her amazing catalog of 40+ titles! Anyone who enjoys thought-provoking, emotionally satisfying stories with characters that defy the odds shouldn't hesitate to grab a copy of this book!


🎙️ Narrator Performance 🎙️ (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Narrator Michael Crouch delivers a heartfelt & captivating performance. He portrays protagonist Michael with an intelligent sounding, inquisitive voice, perfectly capturing the character’s willingness to learn and high sensitivity. Crouch demonstrates his top notch acting skills and impressive vocal range not only by giving the characters unique voices, but also by shifting his performance of Michael during the most intense scenes. In particular, Michael’s dialogue with his dying girlfriend is so emotionally heartbreaking that readers will need to have tissues on hand! The scenes between Michael and his birth parents are equally intense to listen to—the near explosive anger is palpable and readers will be holding their breath with tension! With such a powerful, authentic performance, it’s highly recommend to listen to this story on audio—and you’ll be elated to know that Crouch has narrated several of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s previous books!

This story has a good message but felt a bit like being lectured to - the message a little to obvious. The book was a quick easy read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This one surprised me. It was really good and felt very real and authentic to how it feels to live with scars, visible and not.

I really enjoyed Michael and getting to know him as a whole. We got to watch his growth come full circle from the moment everything changed.

Its a powerful read.

Michael Without Apology
By Catherine Ryan Hyde
Narrated by Michael Crouch

Publishes May 6,2025

This is a book I think that everyone should read. It was so touching and the dive into so many others stories around him. This really hit home with me because I haven’t always been happy with my appearance especially after becoming chronically ill. Rex stuck out the most to me, a 103 year old olympic silver medalist who was at the olympics during Hitlers reign. I love the journey through each persons life and really shows that looks isn’t everything.
I will be reading more from Catherine Ryan Hyde because if her other books are as good as this I wont be able to put them down. If I could give this 10 stars I would it was THAT good.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

4 thought-provoking stars!

Michael shows up early for his first college film class. His teacher, Mr. Dunning, introduces himself and their conversation marks the beginning of an incredible mentoring relationship that inspires and changes Michael’s life forever.

The story grabbed me immediately. Michael was an endearing, interesting, multi-layered character. He had so much depth and vulnerability. Searching for a sense of purpose and belonging, Michael’s character is sure to have readers sympathizing and rooting for him. His backstory brings a heaviness to the plot that had my heart aching. The plot is filled with real, raw, honest vulnerability and emotion.

Moments of the story did feel slightly preachy, especially when Mr Dunning was talking with Michael, however, this was essential in his role as mentor to Michael. And perhaps that was the authors intention. The matter-of-fact conversations had a quiet power to them that was memorable and impactful.

This novel is filled with heavy topics, some of which include addiction, child neglect, cancer, Hitler, among others. Please be sure to check trigger warnings before reading this.

Audio rating: 4 stars! The audio narrator did a great job performing this story. He gave a convincing, strong narrative that matched Michael’s character well for me. At times his narration felt slightly robotic, but it blended well with the tone of the story, the seriousness of the dialogue and Michael’s character in general. Pauses and expressions were perfectly timed. I highly recommend the audio!

Thank you to the publisher for my advanced audio copy !

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 Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma from his classmates, his adoptive family, and himself.

When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society—and is surprised to learn that this is essentially everyone. Although some participants are recovering from injuries or surgeries, others are dealing with more everyday factors like aging or the changes to a body from giving birth.

As he collects these stories—and finally tells his own—Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him.

This is a devastatingly real book about everyone's struggle with self-acceptance. I was able to listen to the audiobook and I felt like the narrator did a great job. Michael's story while unique with his firework accident felt like it connected to a wider audience because so many people deal with body image issues. His relationship with his professor, Robert was something I think we all aspire to have. Someone who pushes you to see the world and yourself in a different light. While I did enjoy this book I felt like Michael's personality didn't quiet sit right with me. I would recommend this book to others though.

Splendid narration. This Narrator did such a good job. He pulls you in and holds you until the very ending. Never does he make this story sound bad. He did great.

A favorite author of mine. This book is such a good one. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Catherine Ryan Hyde always gives you something to think about and makes you shed lots of tears. I've read so many of her books and will continue too.

There are a few characters that you will love. Each has a story. Tim is the janitor and has always been stick thin. He hates how he looks. Rex, who is 103 years old, was an olympic silver medalist during Hitler's reign. At the start of it. Rex was only fifteen at that time. Tanya is the mother of five and has a lot to say also. Madeleine is an older women who had a double mastectomy and whom Michael has a fling with. Then there is the professor who started it all, Robert Dunning. He is the professor of Michael's film class he's taking. The one who has scars of his own. Very visible scars that he calls attention to the first day. He refuses to hide them. Michael has scars too. He's kept them hidden though. He was afraid of people's reaction. Until he met Mr Dunning...

This book takes you through each of the of each people lives I named. How they came to meet Michael and how he interacted with each. Though he really only met them briefly they all left a huge imprint on his life. Made him into the adult and husband he was to be.

Michael is raised from age eight up by his adoptive parents. They were his foster parents and they loved him so unconditionally and adopted him. His birth parents gave them full freedom to do so. It hurt Michael and he felt like it was because of what happened to him. He loved his adoptive parents unconditionally also. He didn't want to see his birth parents ever. Michael had a good life. He was loved and loved his parents.

You find out everything about what happened to Michael and each of the people he interviewed and why he did this interview. How it developed and ended. All you need is there. No questions left unanswered.

This is a very emotional story that had me weeping in parts. You just never know what scars a person is carrying. Be wary of judgement as it could be something that can't be helped.

Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnion, #BrillanceAudio...

I listened to the audiobook of this one and I thought the narrator matched the story well even if it was a little flat for my personal tastes. This was a really beautiful story even if it was also full of tragedy. I thought the events/relationships all moved more quickly than was naturally, but I did still enjoy. The story quite a bit. Michael is in college and so excited to start his first film class. He’s taken off guard when he sees his professor, a man visibly covered in burn marks. Michael is beyond fascinated by the way that his professor is so up front about it especially because his torso is covered in scars of his own from an accident when he was just a child. This was a quick story, but it was full of emotions and all kinds of connections. The story was well written and it was a fun ride.

Good. Easy to listen to. Overall, I enjoyed the message and story. The characters were a little flat and not as compelling as I usually expect from CRH. However, as usual, the plot had depth and made me examine a situation I hadn’t before. The pace was quick and the narration was good.

Advanced listener copy provided by Brilliance Audio but all opinions are my own.