My Name is Anton by Catherine Ryan Hyde

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review the ARC of My Name is Anton for NetGalley. I recently read another book by Hyde and was immediately hooked by her writing style. After participating in a live book club chat with her, I became determined to read through this talented, prolific author’s collection. It was no surprise that Hyde’s newest novel, due out in December of 2020, had the same effect on me as her earlier novel had.

Is it possible for one event to completely change the trajectory of one’s life? For Anton, horrific trauma has physically and psychologically changed him forever. To complicate matters, Anton’s parents are detached and unloving, while his extended family are remarkable for their dedication to him. Almost a year after the traumatic incident, Anton witnesses a horrific scene of domestic violence while testing out his new telescope. His brave actions show the reader that Anton is wise beyond his years, selfless, brave, insightful, and has the capacity to love with his entire soul.

A love story; a coming of age story; a triumphant story; a bittersweet story with all the feels... this novel’s unforgettable characters bring the reader all of this and much more. It was wonderful. A five star read for me!

Thanks to Catherine Ryan Hyde, Lake Union and NetGalley. An unusual love story, the ending of which I wasn't expecting. I imagined they would meet again somewhere in life, but thought they would be dragged apart because it wasn't meant to be. To say I didn't enjoy the story would be wrong but felt it lacked the element of conflict; their lives and their life together seemed rather too perfect.

Anton is an 18-year-old, home alone for the holidays when he unexpectedly forms a friendship with his neighbor Edith. They quickly bond, despite the unusual circumstances and their age difference. As the book moves on, Anton moves through life and further into adulthood, and it is obvious that Edith is still in his heart. This story focuses on family and love, but also touches on loss and mental health. I really enjoyed the writing style - I could immediately connect with both Anton & Edith and loved their own idiosyncrasies.

18 year old Anton has been through too much over the last year including the death of his grandfather and brother. His parents go on a trip leaving him home alone, and as he’s looking through his telescope one day he sees his neighbor being physically abused. Anton decides he needs to help her get out of her abusive situation, they meet, and the novel takes off from there.

Really good read. Would recommend to friends and family. I could sympathise with characters (important for any fiction novel!) and looked forward to picking it up and reading the next few chapters! Interesting plot line and a good ending. Will look out for more novels by the author. Thank you.

Caution: Spoilers: Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC in return for a honest review. I have heard of Catherine Ryan Hyde but do not remember reading one of her books before, or at least not recently.. This book was a very light read and welcomed during the current world we are living in today. The book tells the story of Anton, an eighteen year old who had a very bad year with the loss of his grandfather and his brother. His brother committed suicide in front of him by shooting himself and unfortunately Anton tried to stop him and got his hand blown off in the effort. The book starts with Anton's parents leaving him alone for a few weeks during the holidays while they go to South America to try to rejuvenate their marriage. I can not imagine how they could leave him after all he had just gone through. They give him a telescope for Christmas and he is using it and sees a woman being physically abused in the building across the street. This begins his quest to try to save her from her abusive situation. He follows her and meets her in a restaurant and they begin a friendship. She is 33, and he again is 18. Anton offers her rescue in his apt while his parents are away and one day she shows up at his door having left her husband. This was in 1965 so maybe 18 year olds were supposed to be more mature but I found it a little unrealistic that Anton's grandmother and uncle would not question why this grown woman was staying with him. They come for Christmas and they all have a nice holiday together. After the holidays Edith (the woman) leaves on a train, to where Anton doesn't know since she was afraid her husband would harm him to get that information. They both declare their love to each other and then she is gone. Fast forward to after college and Anton is in his 30's and he "accidentally" meets Edith again on a train. He breaks up with his current girlfriend and from there they resume where they left off and eventually marry and foster/adopt two children. The book follows along until Edith's death. The book was a nice love story, a little unrealistic, but gave faith that sometimes things do work out.

I love how reading Ms. Hyde's books start with you thinking the story is about one thing but partway through you find the story is actually about something very different, though toward the end you can see a connection. My second favorite reason I enjoy her books is that they are so real - you can actually picture this happening. Her usual themes of love, pain, and c families, surface here but in an unusual manner.

3.5 stars
Anton Rice has experienced a terrible thing and as he is reeling from it, we learn of his parents who are so consumed with their own issues that they are not present in Anton's life. They leave him at the holiday time and go off to South America to try and salvage their marriage and Anton, just eighteen years old is left alone. He is watched over by his loving grandmother and a dear great uncle who seem to bring love and understanding into his life.

But soon, Anton's life is about to change after witnessing a case of spousal abuse through the eyes of a telescope he received as a Christmas gift. He manages to meet the woman, Edith, senior in age to him by many years, and falls in love for the first time.

He assists her and Edith finally realizes that staying in her marriage will not be what she desires. Her husband's abuse has escalated and as Anton sends her away he is in turmoil emotionally. Can he survive being separated from the one who he loves? The story progresses through the years and we get to know an older Anton and Edith connected by what once brought them together, the vision of love.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this love story that transcends the years and time itself.

What a phenomenal book!!
Drew me in from the very beginning.
Loved each and every character in this book. Loved the writing (great author) and the storyline. Makes you fall in love with love stories again.
Do not pass this one up, it has all the feelings.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an early release of this book.

Catherine Ryan Hyde knows how to write a page turning, grip at your heart-strings story... and My Name is Anton is just that! All of Hyde’s books have incredibly endearing characters and none have a heart as big as Anton. His character has incredible depth considering his backstory and when he first “meets” Edith by mistakenly seeing her get assaulted through his telescope, the story moves from there. I absolutely loved Edith and Anton’s easy way of communication and their way of knowing each other so deeply. Their story is certainly one that spans decades and includes many others that they help and love along the way.

Excellent story, so well-written with characters that you will remember long after reading:) 5 stars! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has given us another wonderful piece of fiction to enjoy. The book was many twists and turns and you never know what surprises lay ahead.. The story begins with two main experiences in a teenage life that affect him and mold him into the man he has become. They really influence the decisions he has and does make as well as the moral compass that guides him. A character who we find ourselves routing for and wishing him every happiness. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we were all guided like a man named Anton.

This is a story about relationships and surviving through adversity. Definitely a story with heartbreak and tragedy. But, there is also family, love and friendships throughout the story.
Love conquers all in the end.....
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest opinion and review.

A very heartwarming story about love and family. The old saying about let it go if it comes back it's ment to be, this book shows that. The emotional rollercoaster this book gives you from dad to happy to crying. Love stands the test of time.

My Name Is Anton (Anthony)... thank you, I LOVED it~
Catherine's story here deals with so many issues that allows one to see so many different situation others live with (some that are not my choice and others choose to live with for thier own reasons) such as mental illness, spousal abuse, physical disabilities, etc., However, the book is primarily shows us a unusual & beautiful form of unconditional love. that we dont often see from others! Anton continually shows his willingness to give up his greatest hope and desires for the well being of another person! This story takes you on an emotional journey yet one that I believe will satisfied your soul, at least it did for me. Catherine Ryan Hyde is such a blessing to anyone who loves to read....she NEVER fails to take us on such beautiful journey's in life with the books she writes!
Thank you for this opportunity to read this lovely story NetGalley for an honest review~
I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 1/2 Stars~

Thanks NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book. I must confess right off that Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite writers and I'm thrilled to have received her new novel to read. I don't unequivocally love every book she writes, but she almost always miraculously draws me in from page one. Ryan Hyde has a gift for understanding young people and also of making their inner lives clear and vivid to us, the readers. In every book there is a character with problems, interesting life situations and conflicts.

Anton is a 17 year old cursed with dysfunctional parents and surviving the loss of his right hand and his brother in the same event. Fortunately for him he also has a psychiatrist uncle and a loving grandmother. Anton's life is drawn sharply in this book. His situation is unusual, but from page one you know that he is a sensitive, kind and moral individual. There may not be many like him in the real world but in Ryan Hyde's books they are the rule rather than the exception Not only is Anton an unusual person, but the woman he falls in love with, much older, is also unusual.

How does this author manage to lure you into her stories which are peopled with not only oddball adolescents but also with wise and sympathetic adults who save their lives? I can't explain why but I love reading about them but I do. My Name is Anton is no different. Ever since I discovered Take Me With You I have sought out every book Catherine Ryan Hyde has written and have thus learned much about horses, dogs, free-climbing, mental illness and a host of other subjects.

If an intensely written story that touches your heart is what you're looking to read, you can't do better than this one.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley to review.
This is the 12th book I've ready by Catherine Ryan Hyde, obviously one of my favorite authors. She is a superb storyteller, a master at creating characters that are so easy to relate to.
This book is primarily about the relationship between Anton and Edith. The story begins with Anton as an 18-year-old. Anton lost his right hand in a tragic incident. He has a difficult relationship with his parents. He meets Edith when he accidentally discovered that she was being abused by her husband. Edith was 33,e virtues fifteen years older than Anton. Anton helps Edith escape from her husband to parts unknown, but not before he falls in love with her despite the age gap.
Later in life, they come together. And they face new challenges together.
The author's books always contain life lessons. The virtues of unselfishness are featured in this one.
I couldn't put this one down. But I say that all the time about books by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

This story spans 55 years. During this time Anton experiences trauma, love, loss. He grows into an unselfish man that proves who he is by his actions. At 18 he lost the love of his life when she had to leave town to get a way from her abusive husband. 15 years later they bump into each other on a train. They spend the rest of their life building their family. Together they experience live and loss.

What an incredible book. Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite authors. I've loved everything I've read of hers and this book was no different. Her books grab you from page one and then I can't put them down! The characters in this book are heartwarming and so is their story. From page 1 you know there is something special about Anton. I loved the ways Anton and Edith healed each other from their pasts and how they taught their children those same lessons. Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde for this incredible love story!

Wow wow wow. Her finest book yet. What a sensitive and moving story. I absolutely loved it! Loss, abandonment, love, promises, domestic violence, fostering, suicide, life changing injury ..... what else has this book got that I missed off the list? Cancel the next few days, put the kettle on, grab the tissues, and settle down to read. 5* all the way!

A sweet love story about two broken people who meet during dire times for each of them. Anton is eighteen and Edith is thirty three. It's a friendship of only a few days, but Anton is head over heels in love and devastated when Edith must leave for parts unknown. They lose contact until fifteen years later when fate intervenes.

I had some problems with the characterizations. Anton is pretty much a perfect human being. I'm not sure such a person exists in the real world. Edith, on the other hand, was kind of a bland personality with not much of a back story.

It was a nice read, but not one of this author's better books. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.