This is a well written book that will tug at your heart strings. It's an emotional read that will make you laugh, cry and feel every emotion in between. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another Winner!!

I will admit that if Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author, I will buy the book without knowing anything about it.
She writes beautiful novels that pull at our emotions and this one is not different. Teenaged Abby witnesses a sack being tossed into a river, upon retrieving the sack she finds 7 puppies.
Abby doesn't have the home life that is going to welcome or allow 7 pupppies so she places them in an abandoned cabin promising to take care of them.
The story has great loving characters and a few not so likeable ones. It is ultimately a story of love. As with all other books by Catherine, this is a heart warming book that the reader will cherish.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review

This is the story of Abby, a teenager that lives in a very terrible environment, her father is not the typical kind one, he is always showing aggressive behaviors even speaking to his wife and daughter like there were not valuable at all, he never shows any kindness or love for any of these wonderful ladies.

Abby a teenager that life hasn't been easy but is about to change in the most amazing way, walking around the lake Abby found something that will bring so much joy and happiness but at the same time that will change her life forever. Abby is searching for a way to save the puppies she found, when she comes across Elliot's life, a man who is trying to have some peace and free time, his life hasn't been easy the last couple of years and he is trying to break this sadness that has been following him for a while.

Mary is trying to survive a marriage that hasn't been what she really wanted or expected, she constantly lives in fear, especially since her husband keeps blaming her for everything and making her life a living hell.

Abby, Mary, and Elliot's life become entangled in the most amazing way and this is where things will start to change and the magic will start to show.

Elliot was an amazing character too, he was kind and always very respectful and the best part of all is that he loves animals.

The secondary characters were great, they gave so much to the story and the main characters but definitely, the star of this story is Abby she was young but very strong and mature for her age, I really love how much she supported her mother and helped her to find her happiness again. I really was biting my nails thinking Abby's father was going to break things apart for everyone but I'm glad love and kindness succeed.

I really love this story, I don't think there is a review that can make justice to this book, but overall I really love it because it has the right amount of angst and drama that will keep you hooked to your seat but at the same time Catherine's book are always so beautiful because you never know where are they going to take you, you start with a simple house and end up always with a bigger mansion and this is exactly what I love about her books.. real-life stories, with no perfect characters or situations just humans making mistakes and finding a way to get home.

I recommend this book a lot, you're going to have a great journey meeting the characters and getting to know their magical lives...

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the arc of this book.
I try to read all of Ms. Hyde's books. This has to be one of my favorites!
The relationship between Abby and Elliot was very special. Also how can you not like a book with seven puppies?
I enjoyed how they became friends and then how he tried to protect her and her mom. I will be recommending this to the patrons at the library where I work.

Catherine Ryan Hyde always manages to tug at the heartstrings, especially in this new book with 7 ADORABLE PUPPIES IN IT :)

I loved Abby & the way this story unfolded. It wasn't a very easy read, but it was hard to put down and heartwarming at the end, as always.

The ending of this book was too abrupt. It made me wondering if the author just have up. I loved the whole story. It was beautifully written until the last couple of chapters. Not sure what happened. It is like the book was never completed. Did the author go on vacation and have her child finish writing the ending? Disappointed.

First off I must say that Catherine Ryan Hyde is an author that I will always read without question. I am always amazed at the number of books that she is able to write and they are always solid stories.

I honestly can say that this is the first book of CRH that fell short for me and this is the main reason why: Her last book that I read, My Name is Anton, felt like it was too similar to Seven Perfect Things. Same story line of spousal abuse just different characters. I also felt disconnected to the main character mainly because she was a young teenager and as a mom of teenager girls, the story line did not feel realistic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review

A man who loses the love of his life. A teenage girl that rescues seven puppies. A woman that married young and feels trapped in her marriage. In this heartwarming tale from the Queen of tugging at my heartstrings, love is found in the most unexpected places.

Hard to believe that up until a few years ago I had never read any of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books and she has quickly become one of my favourite authors. If you're looking for a nice read to take along on that family vacation, I highly recommend bringing some tissues. Also, the puppies are well taken care of and loved by the majority of the humans in this story.



Goodreads review published 04/06/21
Publication Date 04/05/21


#SevenPerfectThings #NetGalley

Get ready for an inspirational read that will tug at your heartstrings. While walking home from swim practice, thirteen-year-old Abby Hubble spies a bundle being tossed into the water. Seeing the litterer's bag move, she dives in to discover a litter of seven squirming puppies. Will they become #SevenPerfectThings that will enrich her world or will Abby be left drowning?

Past and present collide when grieving widower Elliot Colvin returns to the Sierra Nevada to escape the daily reminders of his wife. What he didn't expect to find was Abby and her newborn puppies. In order to save their lives, she hid them away in what she thought was an abandoned shed. Will Elliot and Abby be able to find happiness or will their dreams be dashed?

Thank you to #NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the early edition in exchange for an honest review. It was my first time reading Catherine Ryan Hyde but it won't be the last. The author's character development, touching scenes and memorable moments will have readers fall in love with her books.

Omg omg omg how could I resist these cutie pies on the cover?

The seven perfect things – the 7 puppies and the one child who found them, one elderly man, mourning the loss of his wife, who helped her, and one mother, who had just escaped the clutches of an abusive husband. It was their story.

A beautiful book by author Catherine Ryan Hyde, the story was as cute as it was relatable. The characters were well developed where each had lived a tough life. I loved their dynamics, as their true nature slowly came out under the care these puppies required.

A well plotted story with a gripping storyline, read with a melting heart at the antics of these puppies, the writing caused my emotions to be evoked, but the puppies made me smile through the tough ones. A few challenges faced by the characters as they rose up to show me their strength. All these and more made it a wonderful read.

Oh, who am I kidding? It was always these puppies who stole my heart and made me read their story.

My thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. I gave this a 4 stars or 8/10.

I have read other books in the past by Catherine Ryan Hyde and enjoyed them. This one didn't disappoint on that front either.

Seven Perfect Things is a story about a young teenager called Abby. Abby comes across a man dumping a bundle of puppies into a river. She knows that they need saving and takes the decision to save them. The consequences of saving them comes with responsibilities obviously. Finding somewhere to keep them safe in what she believes is an abandoned cabin, she knows that she will have to care for them and takes on that responsibility.

As Elliot decides to visit the cabin he had left forsaken, he comes across the puppies that are living in his cabin and young Abby who is caring for them. An unusual friendship is formed and Elliot is soon taken with Abby and the puppies too.

As events are taken out of the hands of both of them, Abby and her Mum are forced into situations that neither of them want to be in. Can Elliot be the one to save them both along with the puppies?

This was a lovely read that flitted from being gentle and sedate at times, to scenes of tension as events took a turn for the worse in many ways that none of them wanted nor had been able to predict would happen. Will there be a happy ending and will Abby be able to keep her puppies or will destiny have other plans?

I have read several of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books and have always enjoyed them, hence my decision to read SEVEN PERFECT THINGS.

First of all, the cover. I am a sucker for puppies and the ones pictured really drew me in......BUT…………while this book did have its moments I found the plot to be a little too formulaic. The story, in general, had a “soap opera” redolence, the dramatic sequences were predictable and you just knew we were all heading down this particular road to the “happily ever after” climax.

If perfect solutions and feel good endings are what you enjoy in your reading material, then look no further......this is the book for you.

Adorable puppies story. Puppies do bring happiness to a girl much in need of happy feelings. The puppy story is intertwined with the story of her dysfunctional family. Elliot is portrayed as the savior, as a way to escape. While it makes for a nice story it isn't realistic. I liked the story, just didn't find it more than a pipe dream for those readers stuck in abusive relationships.

This was a heartwarming and relatable story about a mother and daughter learning to stand up for themselves. A great example for teens and adults to read.

Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Sweet almost fairytale style story perfect for a youth or young adult reader. It was a quick read for me but would be long for many readers that age.

What I liked:
* Abby: thirteen, on eggshells around her father, realizes her mother is not happy, saves puppies, finds happiness and a sense of responsibility/family with the puppies.
* Elliott: recently widowed, professional, grieving, meets the puppies and Abby at his cabin, loving, kind, generous, a good man.
* Mary: Abby’s mother, in an unhappy marriage, dreams of leaving, not physically but emotionally abused, loves Abby, ultimately puts her daughter first.
* The puppies: bring joy into more than one life
* That there is a resolution that is happy for now and could be ultimately a happy for the three main characters and the dogs.
* It was a feel-good story with good winning out
* There was no violence or abuse except the negativity and underlying tension in Abby’s house
* That I could see a younger reader enjoying the book.

What I didn’t like:
* Abby’s father and the tension he created
* That I ended up skimming the book because it really was not a story for me….might be for my granddaughter in a few years.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? It would depend

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Thirteen year old Abby Hubble living in the Sierra Nevada foothills sees a person dumping a bag of puppies in the river and goes in to save them. There are seven of them and she knows that she would never be allowed to keep them so she takes them to an abandoned cabin where she returns each day to care for them. Elliott is a grieving widow and at the urging of his friend decides he needs to get away so he returns to the cabin that he has not been back to in a long time. There he is surprised to find 7 puppies and a determined Abby. This is a heart warming story of one girl and her desire to help the little lives and how that touches the hearts and lives of others. A great read that I really enjoyed. The cover is what caught my attention. Thank you Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing and Catherine Ryan Hyde for an ARC e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my favorite read so far this year. Some of the subject matter isn’t easy, but is honest and handled beautifully. And there are puppies. Lots of puppies. Abusive relationships (emotional and physical), terminal illness, death, depression and much more. Tough, but honest and real. It is in no way gratuitous, but is there to explain why the main characters are who they are. Thirteen year old Abby is an amazing young lady. She is living a difficult life with an abusive father, a mother (Mary) rightfully terrified of him trying to figure out how to get out, but afraid and feeling stuck. She sees a man throw something into the river and has a funny feeling so she jumps in and rescues a bag full of beautiful little puppies. In her efforts to save them she meets a wonderful kind man named Elliot who is dealing with the loss of his beloved wife. The development of their relationships and new paths they ultimately find themselves on is beautiful, redemptive and though at times scary, it is hopeful. Love, kindness, people helping each other move forward to better things than any of them ever dreamed all wrapped up in beautiful writing is a delightful read.

Absolutely love this author and her books. Such an absolutely sweet story. I am a dog lover so this was just such a treat to read. Thank you so much for the advanced copy!

If you love puppies this should grab your heart right away. Seven puppies are found dumped in a bag in the river. Thankfully they are rescued by a 13 year old girl named Abby. The rest of the story centers around the puppies, Abby, fellow puppy caregiver and recent widower, Elliott, Abby’s mom Mary and her verbally and emotionally abusive father, Stan.
It’s a quick read and maybe not the deepest of stories, but well written and worth reading anyway.

Puppies and warm feelings at the forefront in this newest story by author Hyde

Catherine Ryan Hyde has become one of my favorite authors over the years, starting with PAY IT FORWARD (both the book and then the film adaptation). I can always count on her stories having fully developed complex characters that make me feel a wide range of feelings, from sad to happy. This story didn't disappoint.

The story revolves around a newly widowed man who heads to his hunting cabin that he hasn't been to in years, a young teen girl who rescues seven puppies that were dumped in a river to die, the girl's mother, her abusive father, and, of course, the seven perfect puppies.

I don't know how author Hyde finds time to write because I notice on Twitter she's interested in many other things too, including taking pictures of outer space (really cool pictures BTW) but I am very glad she writes also because always finish her books feeling better and happier than when I started them.

I highly recommend this book to readers who love puppies and darn good writing.

Do be warned that there are instances of emotional abuse and the aforementioned puppies into a river animal incident that might trigger some people.

I received this Advanced Reading Copy from Lake Union Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.