A wonderful poignant read about friendship, loss and family. Ru and Gabriel embark on an adventure to see the Northern Lights. Evocative descriptions of both the US and Canada.

Always a pleasure to read books by this author.

This is nice book about life, loss and being different. Teen age is complicated and it's more complicated when you are trying to find yourself losing your family or feeling that your don't fit in the boundaries others want to put you in.

What a surprising find from the author of “When I Found You”.

Such a beautiful story and reminder of friendship and that there really is no such thing as normal.

The shaping of Ru’s character is delightful. The chaos of everything going wrong for Ru and Gabriel makes these characters bond stronger.

I enjoyed the opportunity to join them on their journey to see the puffins.

Life, Loss and Puffins by Catherine Ryan Hyde is an amazing story about a very smart girl losing her mom and a boy that decides he needs to help her on her journey.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Life, Loss and Puffins" and all opinions expressed are my own. I do like this authors books. I really loved this one a lot! Such a great story!

I was so excited to read Life, Loss, and Puffins by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Her stories are full of heart and emotion. They have a layer of depth that some stories don't include. I was super excited for this book - who wouldn't want to read a book about a girl fulfilling her dream of seeing puffins in real life! That would be incredible to experience. However, much of this story fell flat for me. While I loved the concept, I had a hard time keeping fully engaged in this story. I loved reading about Ru and Gabriel and their journey across the country. But I just felt like I kept wanting more from the story.

I love any book by Catherine Ryan Hyde and was thrilled to get this arc. This book was really sweet, following the loss of her mother and the road trip she went on to discover herself. I would highly recommend this to others to read!

Beautiful story of unlikely friendship and love in a time of loss. I love how she brings people together and makes you love them even more!

Wow, where to start reviewing this book?! Such a hard book to put into any particular genre. Suffice to say that I loved it :)

Ru is 13 years old and very smart. She is enrolled in College and boards with a family that includes 17 year old Gabriel, himself not a very mainstream sorta guy. The two of them hatch a plan to to go Canada to see the aurora borealis and puffins for themselves and this book is about that journey.

Not the physical journey per se, although that is fascinating as well, but the journey they take as friends and which cements their bond into something unbreakable.

Beautifully told, their individual quirks are told a little bit at a time, as are the characteristics of the people around them. This is a book about friendship, loss, grief and love in all its forms.

Gorgeous read. I am still processing it.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favourite authors and I was delighted to receive a copy of her book Life, Loss and Puffins.
A story that tugs at your heartstrings and characters that keep you interested and entertained.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ru and Gabriel’s adventure and I can’t wait for her next book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity of reading an advance copy.

I have pretty high expectations when I start a Catherine Ryan Hyde book because I have yet to be disappointed by one of her books. This book delivered just what I've come to expect - interesting, relatable characters who find themselves thrown into unusual circumstances and are adjusting to their "new normal". In this case it's focused on Ru, a 13-year-old "freakishly smart" girl and Gabriel, a 17-year-old boy. They form a friendship based in part on the fact that neither of them really fits in with their peers. They get to know and understand each other, and help each other see other ways to look at themselves and the world. When she experiences a big upheaval in her life, they set off to have an adventure before she has to begin her new normal. One has to suspend disbelief a bit in these days of Amber Alerts and suspicion of everyone and everything. But once I thought about how the particular adults in the situation would have looked at things in this very particular situation, it made sense. I enjoyed watching Gabriel help Ru realize that there was much more to herself than just her IQ, and watching their relationship develop into an exceptionally strong platonic friendship. This book has humor, heart, characters to love (and actively dislike) and there's character growth. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

This was a beautifully written its story about a 13 yr old genius and her best friend. This book covers all the emotions and feels. I really enjoyed reading it. You will travel the entire spectrum of emotions during this book.Catherine Ryan Hyde can always bring emotions out in her writing. Thank you to Net Galley , the Publishers and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the chancecto read this book.

I had a hard time believing the relationship between Ru and Gabriel. I understand Ru is advanced, but those four years of age make a big difference. I just didn't invest in this story.

Ru Evans is super intelligent, easily bored & just thirteen. School is not doing it for her (her habit of correcting the teachers doesn't help either!) When she gets accepted by a college, her single mother eventually agrees to her boarding with a woman & her son, Gabriel. He is not one of the cool kids.- Eye shadow & nail varnish are his form of expression. Unexpectedly the pair get on very well together. Gabriel tries to introduce Ru to the concept of having fun! When Ru's mother dies & she faces the horror of living with her dreadful Aunt Bitsy she & Gabriel set off on a trip that takes them from California to the North West Territory in Canada.

This was a book that I dipped in & out of for a while before it grabbed me & wouldn't let go. I loved the relationship between Ru & Gabriel. Their adventures & experiences were magical & I finished the book with a smile on my face. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this lovely book.

Heart-tugging, sweet, and uplifting!

Life, Loss, and Puffins is a heartfelt, tender tale that takes you into the lives of Ru, a brilliant thirteen-year-old girl attending her first year of college whose life gets turned upside down when her mother suddenly passes, and Gabriel, a teenager who impulsively gives up his studies to take his new friend on a road trip to the north to fulfil some of her wish list of things she really wants to see and do.

The writing style is sentimental and sensitive. The characters are quirky, multilayered, and endearing. And the plot is an impactful coming-of-age tale of life, loss, family, friendship, grief, heartache, support, love, taking chances, introspection, and self-identity.

Overall, Life, Loss, and Puffins is an alluring, empowering, entertaining tale by Hyde full of heart, hope, and healing that does a wonderful job of delving into all the complex dynamics of relationships while also highlighting the incredible power of friendship.

Catherine Ryan Hyde consistently delivers captivating stories that never fail to impress. Her latest novel, "Life, Loss, and Puffins," is no exception. This gripping tale follows a remarkably intelligent young girl who forms a close bond with a nonbinary young man while staying with his family in order to attend college at the age of 13. Tragically, her mother passes away unexpectedly during her first semester, leaving her with no choice but to move in with her aunt. Their relationship is strained, as her aunt only takes her in out of obligation to her late mother, lacking warmth and connection. Together, they devise a plan to escape and embark on a journey of self-discovery, facing challenges and experiencing unforgettable adventures along the way. "Life, Loss, and Puffins" is a compelling narrative that explores themes of identity, resilience, and the power of human connection.

This book was the perfect sweet story that I didn't know I needed. It became the perfect reprieve from an overwhelmingly full week. Catherine Ryan Hyde beautifully developed each of the characters you meet as the story unfolds whether they are a small or large part of the story. At the center of the story are two main characters - Ru, who is entering college at just 13 years old and Gabriel who is just about to turn 18 years old. They meet when Gabriel's mom agrees to offer a non-traditional housing arrangement for Ru in her home instead of the college dormitory.

Told as a flashback, what unfolds is a story of two young people finding their place in the world around them. Through a crazy road trip, both Ru and Gabriel figure out how to be more comfortable in their own skin. It's a story about growing up and maturing. It's a story that reminds us that love stories aren't always of the romantic nature and that family isn't just about blood ties.

If you have ever felt like an awkward teenager; if you have ever felt like you've had to grow up before you should have; if you want to be reminded that there is good in the world - I encourage you to pick this one up.

Thank you to Catherine Ryan Hyde, her publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

It seems Catherine Ryan Hyde specializes in putting forth the stories of minorities of the society - those misunderstood people who live in the fringes of society. Her recent book "Life, Loss and Puffins" is yet another insight into the minds of two such people.

There is Ru Evans, a gifted genius, who got admitted into college recently - and she is only 13 years old. As the college is 15o miles away from her home, the college directs her into a supervised household where she can board and and will be looked after by the elder of the house as well. Having gone through her life till then with no real connection to any person - not even her mother - her relationship with Gabriel, the boy who is the son of her host, feels like a breath of fresh air to her. Gabriel's unique interests make most people uncomfortable, which in turn leads him to live a secluded life as well.

When circumstances push her away from Gabriel, both of them make an impulsive decision to run away from home and take a journey to watch intense night skies, auroras and Atlantic puffins. This journey teaches Ru all that she has been missing about life- particularly the joy of families that one forms through connections of the heart. How does this travel influence her? Why does it influence that?

The entire story is told in the first person narrative and the style helps Hyde to push her readers into the unusual minds of certain unusual people. Not only Sheena but the few occasional glimpse we get of Gabriel is enough to show us his beautiful world. The crisp and taut dialogues keep the story moving forward constantly with no loss in pace. What's more impressive is the fact that, inspite of the crisp narration, Hyde still managed to evoke emotional responses for the ordeals the characters go through.

I can't recommend this book enough to people who would love to read something insightful and inspiring. It's a lovely story told with a lot of heart and the ending particularly touched my heart. Do check this book out definitely.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite feel good authors. Her books always feature characters who have good hearts and kind souls and through her books she puts a little bit of good into the world. There are some books that are best described as “a hug for your heart” and all of the ones I’ve read by Ms. Hyde qualify as that.
Ru Evans is 13 years old and “freakishly smart” (her mother’s words. She’s so smart she’s already graduated high school and is planning on starting college 150 miles away from home. Her Mom agrees as long as Ru lives in a boarding house instead of a dorm. Ru moves in to the house and quicker becomes friends with Gabriel, the 17 year old son of the woman who runs the house. With both of them being outsiders and never having friends they quickly find solace in each other and form a close sibling like relationship. When tragedy strikes and the unthinkable is on the horizon, Ru and Gabriel decide to take off on an adventure of a lifetime, crossing state lines and the Canadian border and meeting wonderful strangers on their journey to see the aurora borealis and Atlantic puffins. This story is one of found family and learning to live life instead of just observing it and it will have you laughing, crying, and cheering on Ru and Gabriel.
While I enjoyed the bulk of this I hated the way it was narrated. It opens with Ru talking to two girls but we don’t know who her audience is and while some people might be ok with that, it set a very poor tone for me. Anytime she broke from the story to talk to her audience broke me out of the trance the rest of the story had me in and I found it to be a jarring contrast. Aside from that I loved everything else about this. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of this. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. Life, Loss, and Puffins hit the shelves on May 14th.

Life, Loss, and Puffins really is the perfect name for this heartfelt book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. It's a beautiful read that's heartwretching yet heartwarming, all at the same time. It really is one of those novels that will have you laughing and crying by turns. And while I liked the ending, I wish it had been tied up just a bit more neatly.
Ru Evans is a certifiable genius. She knows this because her Mother said so. She also knows because she's preparing to enter university even though she's only 13 years old. Soon she meets Gabe and they become best friends. So, when tragedy strikes and she needs a great escape, they decide to take a road trip to the great North. And what an escapade it is!