I will begin this review by saying that I have a background in law enforcement, so when a book is totally unrealistic in how the author approaches matters that are police related, they lose me fast. This story kept me hooked the whole way through. Each character is as developed as it needs to be for the story to flow, without useless overflow. About halfway in, you can begin to guess what may happen, but the ending is not obvious, and the paths taken are not always what you would expect.. I am glad I picked this book as an advanced reader to review.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is an emotionally charged novel of overcoming adversity, and survival.

Single mom Brooke is newly divorced and living with her overbearing mother. Molly is a homeless teen, never sure where she will sleep or when she will eat.
This plot comes out of the gate running when tragedy strikes early in the story. An act of violence that changes the lives of these two strangers.

Told in first person narrative, the storyline alternates between Brooke and Molly as they cope with the aftermath and seek each other out. The themes of homelessness, family dysfunction, friendships and trust are skillfully woven together creating a realistic and thought provoking drama.
Poignant, a little suspenseful and well paced, I was thoroughly engrossed in the story. I also enjoyed the Book Club Questions at the end.

This is the second book I've read by Catherine Ryan Hyde, and I will be reading many more!

*Thank you Lake Union Publishing, Catherine Ryan Hyde and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I'm rapidly learning there's something truly lovely about Catherine Ryan Hyde's novels, and <b>Brave Girl, Quiet Girl</b> was no exception.    Since discovering her work I've noticed she doesn't shy away from contentious issues but she takes them on in an expert and engaging manner.   Her characters are so very realistic and I love the way she uses them to make me question my own morals and behaviours.

The two main characters are Brooke and Molly and their  alternating perspectives bring the story to life.   Brooke is in her late 30's and is a divorced single mum who has returned to live with her aging & highly critical mother whilst she gets her finances under control.    Molly is a 16 year old homeless girl living on the streets because she was unwelcome at her parents home.     At first glance these two have nothing in common but their lives are thrust together in the most bizarre of circumstances.     The beauty of the writing is that although I've never been in either of their situations I felt such strong compassion and empathy for each of them.   

Brave Girl, Quite Girl focuses heavily on mother/daughter relationships with three such relationships going under the spotlight.   Brooke has a strained relationship with her own mother and because of this she desperately wants the exact opposite for her relationship with 2 year old daughter Etta.   The third is between Molly and her mother as we gradually uncover the reasons she ended up living on the streets.

Molly was a beautifully natured character and the author used her homelessness to make readers aware of how easy it is to fall into the trap of judging a person by their appearances.   In one scene Molly was desperately seeking help from passers-by and, as a reader knowing why she needed help, I was aghast it wasn't forthcoming simply because she was so clearly homeless, unkempt and dirty.    How critical of these people I was for their unwillingness to assist but then I tried to place myself in their shoes and wondered if indeed I would have behaved any differently?  I'd like to  think I would have helped but perhaps fear or other factors would have played into my response and I might have fallen short too.      And whilst Molly had proven herself to be completely protective and nurturing of Etta when they were together, Brooke found it difficult to entirely trust her.   Brooke harboured doubts about Molly's version of the story of how and why she's currently living on the streets, imagining she must have done something to contribute to her homelessness, and finding herself all too ready to aportion blame for the situation she found herself in.       Again Hyde cleverly introduced scenarios  forcing readers to evaluate their own hidden prejudices and attitudes.
 
With multiple themes running throughout including love and loss, trust, judgement, family, and homelessness this was a delightful read and I feel Cathrine Ryan Hyde just might be my new go-to author when I feel the need for a sensitive and caring novel.

Thanks to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my absolute pleasure to provide.


4.5 stars on Goodreads

I don’t even have the words to describe how good this book is! It is easily a one day read....because you won’t be able to put it down! It is so emotionally stirring, at points I had tears, a lot of anger and disgust, a few laughs, and a pure love for the characters (especially Etta). Catherine Ryan Hyde is a magical story weaver!
Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union, and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I enjoyed the book. It opens with a little girl stolen in a car jacking. She is found by a teenage girl who watches her for a day before returning her to the police. The little girl’s mother is happy to have her daughter but wary of why it took a day to get her back.

This book highlights the struggles of living on the streets as the teenage girl did. I liked the ending but wished it would have happened sooner.

Another gem from Catherine Ryan Hyde. We are introduced to Brooke, who is in a rough place. She and her little girl, Etta, are living with Brooke’s difficult mother. Molly is a teen living on the streets of LA. When the unthinkable happens, Molly and Brooke meet and an unlikely relationship forms.

Brooke needed to grow a backbone. I understand that some people are just unpleasant, but you can’t let anyone treat you like dirt.

Molly is strong and sweet. She was very mature, which may be a product of living on her own.

A lovely story of growth and redemption.

This is my third book by Catherine Ryan Hyde and the third that earns 5 stars from me. This author really knows how to push my reading buttons! I am thrilled that I have so many more of her books to read, not to mention she puts out at least one new book every year.

I have been slumpish in my reading the last several months, taking 10-17 days to read one book instead of the usual 4-5 days. It seems all the info out there on the Trump impeachment and the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn me in more than my books, which is a pretty sad statement. This one though took me only 3 days to read. It provided me with a most welcome three-day escape to all of the depressing news out there.

I am really tired of the stolen kid theme. When Brave Girl, Quiet Girl became available on Net Galley, I was excited. I then read the blurb and was disappointed to see the plot involved a stolen child. For a second I considered passing, but gosh, this was Catherine Ryan Hyde so I took a chance she would make it good. She succeeded with flying colors. I do want to say for the benefit of readers that are also tired of this theme, the abduction of the child is not the thrust, but just the ignitor of the story.

Ms. Hyde’s books (so far in my experience) profile people who are struggling with issues that seem insurmountable. A really strong feature of her writing is that her characters are so realistic. Their speech, their thoughts, their mistakes, their actions. They all seem believable. Unlike some writers, who make use of coincidences or somewhat over the top or implausible events to propel the story, I have seen none of that in Ms. Hyde’s novels. Her books also generally feature only a very few main characters, which is a relief in regard to keeping everyone straight. These few characters also get all the attention, so the reader really gets to know them—a real plus in my book. In my experience she always writes in one timeline, another positive in my opinion.

The thing I like most about Ryan books, however, is the way they make me feel. I become ferociously attached to the main players and suffer right along with them until Ms. Ryan leads us all out of the woods, always towards a positive/uplifting ending. It’s the journey that is so captivating. I am never sure where she will lead us next.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl (such a wonderful title, btw) is the story of how strangers sometimes hold the key to the salvation of each other. Things are not always perfect, just like in real life, but one does get the gist that we don’t always have to be alone in our struggles even if we think we are.

I strongly recommend this book for all readers of contemporary fiction. As of this writing, the novel is still available as a READ NOW on Net Galley. Publication date is May 19, 2020.

Thank you Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing, and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the privilege of an advanced copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

Life can change in an instant. One minute you’re driving along, your toddler soundly asleep in the backseat. And then you’re out of the car, thrown to the pavement, as the car and your daughter disappear. Brooke hopes for the best but fears the worst. A lot can happen to such a young child in such a short amount of time away from her mother in the hands of a violent carjacker. But luck is somewhat on little Etta's side when the carjacker realizes that a child wasn’t part of the deal and sets her out, in her car seat, on the side of the road. When Molly, a homeless teen, happens upon Etta, it’s the best possible thing that could happen to both of them.

From the book description, it appears that this book is going to be more of a suspense filled thriller. It turns out that there is a lot more to the story than that. Brave Girl, Quiet Girl explores the relationship between mother and daughter as well as the problem of homelessness.
The first part of the book is indeed suspenseful. Brooke's daughter Etta is taken from her in a carjacking. The thieves leave Etta in her car seat on the side of the road where a homeless teenager, Molly, finds her later that evening. There is anguish and fear for both Brooke and Molly as the next hours play out. This start of the story is so good and engaging. I found it hard to stop reading.
The last section of the book, however, really dragged for me. I knew pretty much how things would end and the path to that end was just not that interesting to me. It took a long time for Brooke to come around and I could understand the Molly's reluctance to trust her fully. I have read this author before and really loved her writing. Overall, Brave Girl, Quiet Girl was still a solid book even though I didn't connect to it like I have her other books. I recommend this book to fans of Catherine Ryan Hyde as well as lovers of women's fiction.
My thanks to the author and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book through NetGalley and offer my unbiased opinion.

This book, like all of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books does not disappoint. It was a great read. Thought provoking, human interest, I feel like I learn something new about life when I read Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books. Loved the exploration of mother and daughter relationships along with other life lessons in this story. well developed characters and storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Brooke is a divorced, single mother down on her luck, struggling to provide for her 2 year old daughter Etta, while dealing with the fact that she's recently had to move back in with her mother. They haven't always had the best relationship. One night while driving home, Brooke is the victim of a violent carjacking. The thief pulls her from the vehicle and flees, not realizing Etta is still strapped into her car seat, sound asleep. Once she's discovered she's dumped a few miles away still strapped into her seat.

Molly is a homeless teen, kicked out of her home after revealing a secret to her strict parents. She finds Etta on the side of the road and while her life is usually unpredictable, what happens that night and the weeks and months after are not anything she could have ever expected.

Brooke and Molly's lives cross paths from one frightening situation and even though the start was rocky, a beautiful friendship forms.

This book was a fantastic read; so much anticipation was building in the beginning of the book I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Once things settled down is when you realize the book has a little bit more depth. Difficult topics were main themes of the story; being divorced, being a single parent, homeless teens, unaccepting parents and the ways people cope with these situations and react under pressure. I would definitely recommend this read.

Ah, where do I start?! Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is an amazing book. So much so that I read it within two days while working 10 hour days. So much so that I just had to write a review now, right away, rather than jotting down on a note to remind myself to do it later. Why now? Because I want to tell everyone how much I loved this book and to encourage everyone to please read this book, and I wanted to do it while still feeling this euphoria, this excitement.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has a superb talent at writing novels that just engulf me right from page one, and do not loosen the grip until months and months after I finish devouring every page. They stay with me for a long tome because she always writes about topics that really make you think, that help you look at the world around you in a different way, a better way. She truly helps me be a better person with every book I read written by her. This one is not any different.

I’m not one to discuss what books are about in my reviews, you can read that yourself in the summary. What I do write about is what I think about the book; the writing, the characters, the author, and my overall thoughts. This time I am doing something a little different. I am not even giving that.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl written by Catherine Ryan Hyde is an excellent novel and I give it the highest rating. Please, just read it.

I loved this book! I gave it 4.5 stars. I love all of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books.
Check out my video review here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md08wE4SDvg

As usual, Catherine Ryan Hyde, comes up with another heart warming story of unlikely soulmates. Brooke is a single mom, that is carjacked with her two year old Etta in her car seat. She experiences the worst feelings a mother can ever know, fear for the safety of her child.
A teenage homeless girl Molly, finds the baby, and despite being in danger, manages to keep the child safe. So begins a relationship that is so typical of Hyde’s wonderful character development. It’s a heartwarming story, with just the right amount of everything that makes for a good page turner.
My thanks to #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own!

Catherine Ryan Hyde has hit it out of the park with yet another cast of flawed characters who you can’t help but fall in love with. Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is the story of motherhood, an unlikely friendship, and overcoming stereotypes placed on certain groups in society. This author tackles real-life problems in our world, in this case homelessness and poverty, and tells the story on a personal level.

Brooke is a single mom, struggling to provide for her two-year-old daughter, Etta. Molly is a teenage girl who was thrown out on the streets after revealing a secret to her overly strict parents. Their lives intersect when Brooke survives a violent carjacking, and her car is stolen with Etta still in the backseat. When the carjacker discovers the toddler, he abandons her on the side of the road, still buckled into her car seat. Luckily, Molly discovers Etta, and does what she can to care for the girl until she is able to find a way to return her to safety.

This novel tells the emotional journey of the formation of an unlikely friendship between two characters in less than ideal situations. It is both heartwarming, heartbreaking, and absolutely powerful in the lesson it teaches. I think there’s something in this book for most readers.

If you’ve never read a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, do yourself a favor and pick one up!

I read "Have You Seen Luis Velez?" in January, so when I saw this one available for request from Lake Union, I was excited to put in for an ARC. Catherine Ryan Hyde sucks her readers in from the very start with the perfect setup of a missing toddler, and the desperation of a mother when their child goes missing.

I was anxious to find out if Brooke would get her daughter Etta back. Etta is found by Molly, a homeless teen stuck in a rough situation, that wants to take care of Etta until she can get ahold of the police. But when you're homeless and broke, getting to a phone isn't an easy task. We watch the story unfold from both Brooke and Molly's perspective.

Not only was this a great storyline, but I appreciated the inclusion of the real-world issue regarding homeless teens. Specifically, those that fall into the LGBTQ category and the struggles they face at home regarding their sexuality, especially in religious households. I found myself drawn into Molly and her struggle, and I cheered her on from the start.

Molly and Brooke were wonderful characters, there was a lot they learned from each other. I liked how well the author wrote Brooke's mother, who was less than stellar. This was such a thoughtful read about healing and forgiveness, about finding light where the dark seems overpowering. A heartwarming read.

4.5 stars. A beautiful story of heartbreaking rejection and unexpecy events that lead to the purest form of love. This book will make you evaluate how to treat others and want to do better in your snap judgments of people.

Brooke is a divorced single mom, financially strapped, living with her mother, and holding tight to the one thing that matters most: her two-year-old daughter, Etta. Then, in a matter of seconds, Brooke’s life is shattered when she’s carjacked. I then thought the whole book would be about finding Etta but in a refreshing twist it becomes a story about love and kindness and about being lost and found.

Its about even with family you can feel alone and without family you can feel loved and wanted. A truly heartwarming story that had tears in my eyes and hope in my heart. Great book by Ms. Hyde, a must-read. Release date May 19, 2020. Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC of #BraveGirlQuietGirl #fivestars

Where do I start? This book grabbed me immediately. I couldn't put it down. It's 3:30am, and I just finished it! You will fall in love with baby Etta immediately. I wanted to embrace both Etta and 16 year old Molly as if they were my own. This is a must read! Be prepared to lose sleep, because you won't want to put this book down! Another wonderful book by this great author!

Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC of this AMAZING and special book. Grabs you on the first page and keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end. A carjacking with a baby in the back seat. A distraught mother. A homeless struggling teenager who finds the baby sitting on the sidewalk abandoned in her car seat. How will this all work out ? Can these strangers be friends, family even ? Just a beautiful story. Sad and heartwarming. This is a must read ! If you are a fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde you must read this when it comes out.