I love every single book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, she always makes me feel alive, with every new character and story. her stories are always so real and have a great thing to show.

Life, Loss, and Puffins The Story of Ru is a 13 years old very smart who has excelled in every single school and now is ready to go to college, she has to move away from her mother to study not knowing that maybe it will be the last days she will ever see her.

This is one of the hardest parts of the book, I didn't understand why Ru's mother did that, I know you do not want your kids seeing you like that, but hey you're giving her trauma for lifetimes to come, not allowing your daughter to be with you in your final days.

Ru embarks on a new life in her new school, and that's when she meets Gabriel a teenage boy who will become her best friend and confidant, making this friendship so strong and unique that will last for many years.

Ru's character was very lovable I enjoyed her so much, she was smart, funny, and at times a little chaotic but she made this book and experience so worth it, her aunt was a pain in the neck, I despise her, how can you hate a 13-year-old kid for christ sake but people are weird anyway.

Fantastic, wonderful, many tears were rolling this book is everything I ever loved and I ever expect from Catherine's books.

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of Life, Loss, and Puffins
in exchange for my honest review

Rumaki Evans is freakishly smart. Ru overheard her mother telling someone that when she was five. She's now thirteen and about to start college. Ru has been accepted to a very prestigious university with a full-ride scholarship, the only problem is that it is 150 miles away from home. The University has a program where it matches students with a family in a live-in situation. Sounds perfect to Ru, her mother isn't too sure about the whole college thing.

Ru is paired with a mother and her son, seventeen -year-old, Gabriel. Through her friendship with Gabriel, Ru is for the first time able to feel accepted for who she is while encouraging Gabe to be himself.

Hyde is my feel good author. Her books explore the messiness of humans and how love and friendship bridge the gap in relationships. Ru and Gabriel are at a crossroads in their lives, their current situations are untenable and both are longing for adventure and independence. Some may suggest that their ability to achieve items on Ru's bucket list as impossible, yet their philosophy of "right place, right time', gets them there.

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting this review, I had a bit too much going on.

This is the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last. This story of two teenagers who both don't fit in and are not bothered about peer pressure, but are both deeply content to have found a safe harbor of friendship in the other is wonderfully written, with depth and honesty. Themes of acceptance, dealing with feelings and coping with adults - who often aren't really listening - all while finding and being true to their own self: This is a book for both young adults and grownups, both can learn much.

2.5 stars
I love CRH and was so excited about this book coming out. Her books always make me think about what I would do in that situation and give me big feels.
None of that happened in this book. I read it like a cute novel about a brilliant girl who loses her mom and goes on a grand adventure. Nothing more, nothing less.

This book is everything and more. I fell such a kinship and connection to Ru being different and not seen as "normal." This book is relatable to anyone reading it and as well as any themes typing the story together, I love and enjoy reading anything by Catherine Ryan Hyde! This is definitely her best book yet!.

Ver much recommended!

THanks to Chatherine Ryan Hyde, Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available

The writing of Catherine Ryan Hyde never disappoints. She is quite gifted at writing stories that touch the heart, and at creating characters so rich and full that, over the course of the story, they become as real to you as someone sitting beside you.

I love both of the young characters Gabriel, 17, and Ru, 13. Gabriel is quiet, a bit awkward, knows who he is but fears other won't accept him. He has learned some of the ways of the world. Ru is freakishly intelligent yet naive in interacting with people and the world.

It is wonderful to watch their connection with each other grow, and their impact on each other increase with each turned page. We all should have a person who is our "herd"!

An easy and engaging read, I highly recommend this book. You'll be glad you read it.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own and are given freely. Publication was 5/14/24, so go get your copy now

Many thanks to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Catherine Ryan Hyde pulls her readers into another heartwarming story.
Ru is 13 years old, extra intelligent, she is starting college, she is going rent a room with a family who live near the college and that is where she meets Gabriel. Gabriel is 17 and like Ru he is different, different to anyone she has known, they get each other and quickly become friends.
At the start of the college year Ru’s mum becomes unwell and sadly dies. Ru tries to bury her grief, she dreads going to live with her horrid aunt.
Ru and Gabriel come up with an escape plan, a road trip to Canada where Ru will be able to see the Atlantic Puffins she so loves, they also plan to do some star gazing. Their bond grows stronger, silence often their form of communication as they know what one another is thinking and feeling, making words unnecessary.
These two young people are living in the moment, through their eyes we see the stars and much more. This is an emotional heartwarming story of loss, friendship, courage and trust. Catherine Ryan Hide’s fans will love this book, which I highly recommend.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Reading one of her books to me is like childhood and Saturday mornings lying on the couch watching cartoons. You can just open the pages and slide right in..

This is a story about a "freakishly" smart girl and how she meets her best friend and together they deal with life and love, oh and they both love puffins. That's it and everything. A feel good story that I should have picked up sooner!
Enjoy!

I received an electronic ARC from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I connected with Ru and Gabriel from the beginning of the story. Both of them just wanted different experiences, but did not know how to go about them. Through their journey, they learned about life, and grew up together. I’m not supporting the fact that the story was about two underage teenagers running away together. I kind of wish that more was written about the aftermath of everything. However, the story that was told was beautifully written.

This was a quick read about loss and the trust that can be found in humanity if you look for it. Ru already has so many obstacles to overcome being that she is incredibly intelligent. Smart enough to start university at age 13. Not only does she grow up fast in intelligence, but in life as well because she also becomes orphaned at 13.
Ru can remember everything she has read, seen or heard but she still isn't emotionally aware. She used toys to find out how they were made, not to play with or have fun. Only until she meets Gabriel does she realize she might be missing out. At the ripe old ages of 13 and 17, these two decide to take an adventure and escape their realities. And this is where the book gets a little iffy because they do escape over the US border into wilderness of Canada. The imagery is described beautifully even if the context is a bit questionable.

First who could not love a books with chapter titles such as:
When a Toucan Met a Penguin
Rusty Metal Kangaroo Pouches
Throw me a Lifeline Named Gladys Through the Blowing Snow
Toto, I think we are in Kentucky


Catherine Ryan Hyde has written some deep down big hearted characters and some low down mean and nasty ones. She has created the most unbelievable believable situations and then turned them on their head and asked the reader to to be the arbiter of all the unfairness that these wonderful kids are going to encounter. If you have a shred of compassion this book is going to rip your heart to pieces but it also going to give you just enough room to hold onto hope for Rumaki Evans and Gabriel Gulbranson. They are kids, so different, so bright, eccentric - he has a smile with a secret message that could change her world. She has the mental acuity that could upend any adult in any situation.

“Because a good storyteller doesn’t leave gaps” I have to leave it here and just encourage you to read this remarkable story about two totally extraordinary kids. Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of another wonderful book by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say Catherine Ryan Hyde never disappoints! I really liked this book from the first page. I really liked how the whole format of the book was telling a Ru telling a story to two young girls (although not sure who they were even after finishing the book). I definitely recommend this book along with all of Catherines other books!

I started on another wonderful adventure when I opened the pages of this book. All of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books are like that. They take me to a place I didn't even know I wanted to go and I get introduced to amazing characters that I long to be friends with. So much wisdom and advice are freely given within the pages, to anyone who is open to receiving it.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of those author that I automatically read. I don't even need to know what the story is about, I just know that I've got to read it. I know it's going to be that good!

Ru and Gabriel are a couple of misfits who miraculously find each other and set out on a grand journey. Each of them are there to save the other. As they check off items on their bucket lists, they are lucky enough to meet a bunch of people who look out for them and become the families they don't have. I loved being a part of all of their experiences and loved the relationship that grew between these two main characters.

I highly recommend Life, Loss, and Puffins. I loved it and I think you will to. If you haven't read any of CRH's books yet, you really need to add her books to you TBR list. They are all wonderful!

A bit of an odd book I found with the two protagonists not seeming to be any pairing ever platonic that I could imagine. I found a lot of the long descriptive passages boring and skimmed through them. They made me feel I was swatting for an exam.

This book was a 5 star read. It was very relateable and heartwarming while also being heart wrenching at times. It goes from childhood to adulthood situations and challenges. Talks about friendships, relationships, love, loss, grief, and meeting new people. Its about finding what you want for yourself in Life. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

This is a wonderful coming-of-age story.

Two teenagers, each special in their own way, are thrown together by fate. They end up on the adventure of a lifetime: California to Utah to Canada's Northwest Territories and then back to the United States.

The author's love of astronomy and all things celestial shines through in this one. (See what I did there)?

The story is written from the standpoint of Ru reminiscing to two "girls", telling them about her 13-yr-old self. I'm not sure that was necessary.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this novel.

I have never read a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde that I didn’t enjoy and this book was no exception. Ru & Gabriel were such interesting characters and their journey of independence was exhilarating. As someone who lives in the Arctic I could see those Northern Lights as they were described. The visit to Yellowknife and the road there was great, I was jealous of them getting to see muskox in real life.
The end was so wonderful. I had to put this book aside for a few days as the story was hitting a little too close to home for me after the loss of a parent but I’m so glad I picked it up & finished.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for a copy of this book. It was wonderful!

This was a nice story. Contemplative, but not overly heavy, with a lightness to it that makes it easy to read. It’s a story that shines a light on humanity a little bit like a Frederik Backman book does (though it’s lacking the humor that Backman books have).

The book is definitely not written with a Christian world view, and for me personally that really lessens the impact. It didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment of the book, but it also kept the book from being really great. Anything that’s trying to shed light on life and humanity while also actively ignoring God’s role in it all just doesn’t quite work for me. Though all of this isn’t likely to bother most people.

But for the most part I liked the book. There are some very poignant lines, and some moments of wisdom. I think a lot of people would enjoy this one.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC of this book 😊

I love Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books. Have read most of them and recommend to friends all the time. This is one of the only ones I just couldn’t get into. I gave up after about a third of the way through. Usually even if the story isn’t real exciting, I get so involved in the characters that I can’t put it down. This one just didn’t do it for me. The characters were a little too weird for me to get into. Hope her next book is back to her usual awesomeness.

Ru Evans is a smarter-than-average 13-year-old who has been accepted at a university 150 miles from her home. Her mother makes arrangements for her to board with a local family which includes a 17-year-old named Gabriel with whom she forms a close connection. Not long after she starts at university Ru's mother passes away and Ru is expected to go and live with her aunt in another state. But she and Gabriel hatch a plan to take a road trip from California to Canada so that Ru can experience her "college" list.

I liked this book but maybe not as much as most reviewers. It was a nice story with wonderful descriptions of the sights, like the Northern Lights and the Arctic wilderness. I have to admit that I skimmed parts of it, especially when it came to Ru explaining such things as astrophysics and planets and stars, Gabriel explaining his theory about mothers, etc. I realize that the relationship between the two main characters is strictly platonic but I'm not sure people they meet along the way would be so accepting. In another story it would be considered pretty weird and maybe even illegal. I almost think the story would've been more believable if it took place many decades ago rather than currently. But, it is fiction so I won't quibble. It was a fairly quick read anyway. I tried to work up more enthusiasm for the book but obviously I'm an outlier in my opinion as nearly everyone else loves it.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Published: May 14, 2024