The way you feel is the way you feel, and no matter how much you think you should feel some other way, you can't change that. There's some things in this life you can change and some you can't. Maybe it's because it's Christmas, but I feel the need to have my heartstrings pulled on a little bit. Ever since I read an ARC of Have You Seen Luis Velez? earlier this year, I have wanted to experience more of Catherine Ryan Hyde's writing. A Goodreads pal recommended that her 2014 novel Take Me Wit

Got caught in my throat more than once in this story. Thank you for making me feel human. If you have another that touches me like this did, I'll be reading it soon. Hopefully many more. Like August, I want to savor every minute of this journey you've put together. It's even more impressive that you make August and the boys real feeling beings and not standardized males.

I've had this on my bookshelf for so long and have finally had the chance to read it. With the hustle and bustle out of our daily life I have come terms that some of my books must go... It's like the guest that has overstayed their welcome... you don't have to go home but you can't stay here!And so I am so happy I have read this and it turns out it is a keeper. This is my second Hyde book, and man, can she write! She takes these ideas of imperfect people and writes these beautiful stories on som...

The main character of this book is August, a man of a certain age, a science teacher who is taking an RV trip. Just those two facts – the science and the RV meant that throughout this read I had Walter White in my head and read all of August’s dialogue in Walter’s voice.But, to be serious, this is the second book that I have read by the author lately and, like Where We Belong, the main theme of this book is a friendship between the generations. Similarly, we have a man who is intrinsically good,...

If you're the type that enjoys character rich stories, and you haven't read a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, then I suggest you start right here. I have never been disappointed in her work.This is the story of a teacher named August who travels each summer in his RV. He meets up with 2 young boys, Seth and Henry who end up traveling with him. The 3 of them share a summer of camping, and learn quite a lot from each other.It is a heartwarming story, that had me choked up a few times. I always feel s...

This book was a little confusing and hard to rate, for me. I'm a little suspicious of authors who release 3 or 4 books a year, thinking that surely they write to a formula. The first two thirds of the book seemed to prove me wrong, as it was a captivating story of a man who had lost his 19 year old son in an accident, and got stuck with taking a stranger's two sons on a summer long trip to several national parks. Not a romance, as there were not even any female characters in the novel, not an ab...

Catherine Ryan Hyde's books are readily addictive if you want to read about people and their lives, their relationships and their stories, and care about what happens to all of them. I started reading her books and soon became obsessed with reading everything she had written. Many of her books make me think that her original idea comes from a small 2" blurb from Page 4 of the local paper and that she then tells the story behind the blurb. Whether it is the story of Grace alittle girl, whose moth...

On his way to Yosemite with the ashes of his deceased son and his small dog, August Schroeder's motor home breaks down and the mechanic asks him to take his two young sons along since he has to serve a 90-day sentence in jail. One son (Seth, age 12) is curious and talkative, and the other (Henry, age 7) has not spoken since running away from a home for abandoned children while his father served his last sentence. Turns out that the mechanic has a drinking problem, but August agrees and they head...

A special thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for introducing me to such a talented author, and providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Take Me With You was totally Amazing!! This is one of those rare books you will want to Pre-Order or purchase the day it is released. From the first page, this heartwarming story, grabs you and pulls you in, with a strong hold until the ending, and thereafter in your thoughts. My only issue was having to stop and finish work – and this is...

I can't for the life of me remember why this was something I wanted to read and now that I've read it, I still can't figure it out. It started out okay - a teacher who hates teaching heads out on a national parks summer vacation in his RV. When the RV breaks down a jail bound mechanic offers to fix it for free if August - the teacher - will take his two boys with him for the summer while he does his stint in jail for yet another DUI. A bit unlikely, but okay. August is divorced following a tragi...

This was a nice story even though a little far fetched. Two boys spend a summer with an elderly gentleman teacher who had tragically lost his son fairly recently. They travel in a motorhome through well known campgrounds exploring and learning about life, love and forgiveness. It is a coming of age story that touches on alcoholism and how each individual deals with it. By the end of the summer they had formed a lifelong friendship. The characters were well developed and the landscape description...

I don't know if it's fair to review a book before finishing but I can't take one more page of this drivel. It reads like a Highlights magazine story for grade school children. The premise is unrealistic, which most times I can overlook, but the author seems to be banging you over the head with her "lessons" about alcoholism, abandonment and letting go. This would be fine if she was reading to small children in a library, not enjoyable if you're over age 12.

2.5 - 3 “I liked some parts better than others” stars. The beautiful cover of my edition and the title perfectly fit the eight-year span of this emotional story about a grieving man named August Schroeder who loses his only child in a car accident and sets out with his dog in a well-traveled RV to visit Yellowstone National Park in his son’s honor. He picks up some unexpected company for the trip when his RV breaks down and needs repair.The characters here are well drawn, particularly motherless...

Once in a blue moon one encounters a book that just demands to be read and for me this was such a book. The storyline involves Alcoholism, coming of age, grieving the death of a child, and camping in an RV. The description of scenes from Joshua Tree, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands brought back memories and the other parks a desire to see new lands. With all the grammar and spell-checking software available today I’m mystified as to why so many errors still evade publishers and authors but this volume...