Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde is an incredible read. It's so good that I think everyone should read it. There's something here for everyone, including teenagers.

The story centers on Lucas who carries the weight of everyone in his life on his shoulders. He feels everything so deeply and worries about everyone. The characters in this book are so very well done that if they walked into my house I wouldn't be surprised. The story of Lucas and Zoe is so very heartwarming.....but all the interwoven stories are.

I don't know how Catherine Ryan Hyde continues to produce book after book that are must reads, but she really does and I hope she never stops.

Pick this up. I don't care who you are, pick this up. Give it to friends and read it again!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC at my request. All thoughts in this review are mine and gratefully given. This book touched me deeply.

Another beautiful story by Catherine Ryan Hyde. This author never misses the mark! This is a coming of age story that delves head first into suicide, addiction, and dysfunction. The characters however become your friends and you will find yourself wanting them to overcome their issues. This is a first class read! I highly recommend it!

Wow!! I read this In 2 short sittings & need to take a bit to process still but I just LOVED this look. I am a huge Catherine Ryan Hyde fan, her writing style is just.beaitiful. What an incredible story.

Lucas is a fourteen-year-old boy whose good friend, Conner, is depressed. He has parents who are fighting, His older brother is in Vietnam. Set in 1969, this is a coming of age story. Lucas runs with a couple of dogs who live with a woman named Zoe. Catherine Hyde is masterful in her writing about life’s problems. Lucas is there for everyone, I loved the characters and how the story is developed. I think this book would be a great bookclub read. I know I am going to suggest it to mine,Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review,

As always with Catherine Ryan Hyde the characters that she writes stay with you, even when you are not reading. They become friends that you ponder whilst going about your day. Stay is a powerful story with life lessons interwoven between and among engaging plot lines. Lucas could be your childhood friend, or your son or grandson. The lessons of loss and how it impacts our lives are timeless...but are beautifully woven among the angst that is the Vietnam era in the USA. Addiction, depression, loss and hope faced by each generation can teach future generations how better to cope...and are told beautifully in Stay.

Catherine Ryan Hyde hits another one out of the ballpark with Stay, a deceptively touching and emotional story about the power of friendships that unfolds in part in the past, and later in the present. Life seems so simple looking back on 1969, but as she digs deeper into the people in this small town, it becomes clear that there are many, many issues that affect everyone.

Ranging from simple small-mindedness, the awkwardness of the teenage years, depression, the effects of the Vietnam War, to tragedy that expands to cover a lifetime, Ms. Ryan Hyde exposes the inner workings of the her characters, and uses her writing talents to weave together a beautiful, touching, realistic and enjoyable story.

I have always appreciated how she finds a way to see inside her characters, to bring their deepest sadnesses, failures and fears to the surface in a gentle, careful yet determined way that helps the reader understand how everyone suffers from something in their lives, but that suffering doesn't have to define you. Facing it can allow you to grow and change and experience your life in a whole new way.

Thanks for yet another wonderful book!

Author Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my big reading discoveries this year. I have only read two of her bajillion books so far, but both hit the bullseye for me. I am thrilled there are so many more for me to dive into.

Stay is a thoroughly engaging story set in the summer of 1969. The plot centers around four main characters, including the deeply affecting Zoe Dinsmore, a 55-year-old recluse with tragedy in her past that has left her racked with guilt. Then there are the two 14-year-old best friends Lucas and Connor, both trying to cope with dysfunctional parents. Lucas has also seemingly taken the weight of the world on his shoulders and is intensely engaged in saving said world. Finally, there is Lucas’s older brother Roy, a troubled Vietnam soldier with his own dark secrets.

The tale is told from the viewpoint of Lucas. Through conversations and their actions, we get a pretty good idea of what the other three characters are like, though it would be nice to have at least one chapter from each of their perspectives. This is minor, however, and no stars are lost. All of these four are suffering. By coming together, they begin to heal each other. At the center is Zoe, a woman racked with pain and regret, but also blessed with ton of wisdom. I loved Zoe. But Zoe needs support as well. And through her relationship with the three young men, she is also able to transform her life.

Major themes include suicide, addiction, almost paralyzing guilt, family dysfunction, the importance of human care and sharing, animal-human relationships, self-worth, and redemption.

It's worth mentioning that this book has one of the very best epilogues I have ever read.

I have read a few books this year involving challenged/troubled young people and their relationships with enlightened older people. I’m digging this particular theme and will be on the lookout for more of these types of books. Recommendations welcome.

If you are looking for a gentle, poignant slice of life centered on deep personal nonromantic relationships, try Stay. I bet you will love it.

I wish to extend my thanks to Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing, and Ms. Catherine Ryan Hyde for an ARC of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

This thoughtful and sensitive novel explores the impact of war, grief and survivor guilt through the eyes of Lucas, who is 14 during the summer of 1969. Things are not going well for him at home or for his friend and so he finds himself taking long walks in the woods. When he finally meets Zoe, who has been existing more than living, pretty much as a hermit, things change as he begins to care for her and the two of them grow together. This is one to experience- it hits some tough issues but there's a warm heart under it all and you know, because this is Catherine Ryan Hyde, that there will not only be some lessons but that it will restore your faith in humanity (I know, I know but I do feel that way about her novels). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. One to pick when you need good storytelling and a positive vibe.

I Hope You'll Stay. This was a solid coming of age story of a boy dealing with quite a bit in the summer of 1969 - though only one of those things is directly related to that very notable summer. Instead, we mostly see several very relatable dramas playing out through the eyes of our narrator. Very well written, all but a single chapter take place during that one eventful summer - with the final chapter providing answers to how everything turned out, from a perspective of many years afterward. Very much recommended.

Another outstanding story by Catherine Ryan Hyde. A coming of age story, a tale of friendship and loss and redemption. Fourteen-year-old Lucas has a hard life. His parents are distant and uninvolved, mostly because they’re too caught up in their own marital issues. His brother is off fighting in Vietnam. And his best friend is in his own downward spiral of family drama and depression. So Lucas begins to run. No particular destination, just a run into the woods. And on this first run, he encounters something that will change his life, along with the lives of everyone around him, forever.

Catherine Ryan Hyde once again worked her magic and gave us another exceptional book. Stay has great insights about life that are meaningful and appropriate for all. This book was hard to put down and I hated to reach the last page.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read a few of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books and they all have brought tears to my eyes, sometimes sad tears and sometimes happy ones. From page one you are transported to the land of the story! You feel what the characters feel and you want to do something for them but in the end it all works out. Beautiful story! Highly recommend. Enjoy! 📚

I've read (and enjoyed) several of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books and I have to say that this one is my favorite. In this book, she wrote about some very challenging issues - depression, suicide, veterans, and drug dependence (just to name a few). I thought she did an amazing job with the main character, 14 year old Lucas. Lucas is dealing with some very heavy issues (parents are always fighting, his brother is a soldier in Vietnam, and his best friend is struggling with depression). Lucas finds an outlet by running through woods on a regular basis with some dogs that live at a cabin in the middle of the woods. As the story unfolds, it brings to attention the impact that we can have on the life of another person. I cannot do justice to the power of this story - read the book and you will not be disappointed. I will say that if you are looking for a light-hearted, fun book then this book may not be for you.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. Once again, a wonderful story told by this amazing author.

I stayed up late last night reading Catherine Ryan Hyde’s upcoming release. I know it’s so common to say it’s a new favorite but I honestly believe it’s my all time favorite book from her. I can’t imagine anyone else tackling such serious, life changing, and unfortunately all too common subjects in a way that is not only entertaining but thought provoking. If you haven’t preordered your copy do it now.

Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde was an amazing book and Catherine Ryan Hyde is fastly becoming one of my favorite writers of all time. This book takes place in 1969 the summer of 69 to be exact. (Are you singing the song?!?!) This was the time that boys were becoming men too soon the the Vietnam war.

Ryan’s books deal with some raw and emotional situations and Stay is no different but in true Ryan style it’s done so beautiful and so delicately.

Bottom line Stay is a must read!

“Stay” by Catherine Ryan Hyde is one spectacular novel!

If you have not read this book yet, do yourself a favor and add it to the very top of your “To Be Read” pile. I can’t say this is the happiest book or the saddest book I’ve read but, it is the most satisfying and profound book I’ve read in a long time. There are a lot of life lessons to be learned in this story.

The writing was smooth and poignant. I found myself re-reading sentences and passages because they grabbed me and I didn’t want to ever forget them. This book deals with addiction, families and many thoughts of suicide.

I woke up this morning thinking about this story and why I loved it so much when on the surface it felt so sad. This book carries with it an abundance of HOPE. What do we have in life if we don’t have hope?

I will never forget this book.

I do not read books more than one time but, I am going to make an exception for “Stay”. This book is definitely worth another read and will be read at least one more time. Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde for such a beautiful and profound book.

Just one small kind or random act can help save someone’s life.

Starting out set in America during the summer of ‘69, at the when teenage boys and men were still being called to serve for their country in the Vietnam War, Luke Painter retells his life as a 14 year old small town boy encountering and awakening to the life of “wounded humans.”

From family feuds, separation, attempted suicide, suicidal tendencies, war injuries and drug addiction, to inquisitiveness, persistence, kindness, care, compassion, love, and a brief crush! Hard subjects are so gently and tastefully handled, but they certainly have a strong emotional punch.

Definitely one to pick up and read.

This book was absolutely fantastic! I have read several books by this author and given every single one so far 5 stars...and Stay is no exception.
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I think at its core this book is a message about family and ripples. When you drop a pebble into water the flow of the water is changed in that spot into ripples. One ripple turns into another, and another, as soon as the pebble goes in. It changes the flow and the narrative irrevocably. Little acts, everyday acts, have the power to cause ripples in a life that never would have happened if that one thing hadn't happened, if that one thing had never been said. Also of note, family isn't just blood. I'm of the belief that people have two families; the family they were born into, and the family they choose for themselves. And sometimes, you meet that one person in a random event, only for them to become the most important part of the family you choose. But it never would have happened if even one thing had happened differently before that moment. It's crazy to think about it, isn't it?
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But anyway, I digress. This book has a split timeline. Most of the events happen in 1969, and a brief bit towards the end is "50 years later" - for those of you who can't/don't want to count, that's 2019. The story focuses on a 14 year old boy, his best friend, their families, and a neighbor all in a small town where the memories are long and the list of people who will let you live down what you did is short. This book covers everything from high school on, with plenty of important topics covered in a way that is authentically beautiful and not at all preachy and/or malicious. I found myself racing through the book because the writing and story are so good I literally couldn't stop reading. I think I finished it in less than three hours. Which would normally be depressing, but CRH has a huge backlist that I can't wait to dive into. All in all, this book gets 5 stars, and would be getting more stars if I could give them. Brava!

Catherine Ryan Hyde does it again – Stay is a serious, deep and very beautiful, yet realistic and down to Earth novel. This is my second book by her, and I was completely blown away by the first one, Where Is Luis Velez, so I was a little bit worried about reading another one (despite buying up ANYTHING by her that went on sale for the past half a year!) Because what if I didn’t like it as much? It’s hard to start reading an author at a 5 star book.

But I needn’t have worried – Stay is touching, heartfelt, it has deep subjects, is steeped in a worldview based on kindness, and while it didn’t hit me as strongly on the personal level as the first book did (the problems in the story were less close to my heart), it’s still a strong 4.5 star and I was incredibly invested in it straight after I started reading.

Stay is based in one of my favorite decades, at least in modern times – it’s a small town of America in 1969, a year of pivotal change for all the world, but especially so for America. The main character Luke is 14 years old and he has a lot on his plate, although he doesn’t quite know how much just yet. Quite by accident, he saves a life, and in turn, that saves another few lives. But the story isn’t about that – the story is about how sometimes (well, most of the time) appearances are deceiving and there is so much more to people’s actions and decisions when you give them a chance to help you understand them better. It’s also about how hard it is to struggle with mental health issues or addiction in a society that will force you into that situation, but then not help you get out of it or even blame you for suffering from it. All of this is full of compassion and understanding, so the story is presented in a soft, soothing way.

The Voices Of The People Who Are Never Listened To

In Stay, we get to see the world through the eyes of the people who we would ordinarily be told to avoid because “they’re not someone you should mix with”. Draft Dodgers. Addicts. Mood killers. The simply different. Those who will not bow down to some pointless notions of society.

They are all wonderful characters, kind and caring people, but ultimately just people – and all the characters in Stay – even the one who from the “inside” of the story may have seemed like a saint, will have done something that put them in more or less of a disgrace with society. What the book puts out there is that you can’t possibly judge them if you know them like the story helped you know them, but if you were to hear about them in passing, you probably would.

You might even think they’re not very good people. And how many times do we make that kind of a snap judgement in our real lives? This is a good message – and yet, one that is still strikingly unpopular even now, despite how much change society has gone through since the times the characters of this book lived in.

But There’s So Much More To The Story

There is so much more – even the title – Stay – means staying alive. Deciding to stay, to not leave this world, despite how hard it might be. There is a lot in this story about suicide, but I don’t know if I want to unpack that, so I’ll leave it for the other reviewers. There’s also a lot about the machine of war (it’s set in Vietnam times, and the main character’s brother is a drafted soldier). There’s no way I could look at it all and not have this review be pages long!

But I think what matters is that I mention that it’s an amazing book. It warms your heart. It makes life seem more meaningful, if only for a little while longer. It makes you want to believe in humanity again.

And now I know I want to start reading all those other books by Catherine Ryan Hyde that I bought sooner rather than later. Because it’s a vibe she does and I want to have more of that in my life. It’s something that makes your life better.

Triggers: (please look it up on my blog because they may contain spoilers)

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.