Life, Loss and Puffins is a novel by award-winning American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. Rumaki Evans is five when her mother describes her to someone as freakishly smart. What Ru hears is freak. She later tells people that was when her childhood ended. Ru has an eidectic memory and hyperthymesia, and is mostly bored at school, always smarter than her classmates, no matter how many grades she skips.

She’s so smart that, at thirteen, she is offered a full ride scholarship at a prestigious college. Her mother isn’t going to let her go there: it’s way too far to commute, but it’s her Grandma Mimi’s dying wish, and the student advisor finds a family with whom she can board. Paula Gulbranson will provide meals and treat her like family, and her seventeen-year-old son, Gabriel will drop her off at Wellington on his way to the State University.

With his painted nails and eye make-up, Gabriel is different, an outsider himself, but from the moment they meet, he and Ru connect as friends and remain so all their lives. College might not be quite the solution Ru was hoping for, but her astrophysics teacher is able to provide some perceptive answers to things that have troubled her, and a way to approach life.

But when her mother suddenly sickens and dies, Ru is faced with the prospect of living with the aunt she can’t stand, in Kentucky, a long way from her only real friend. She realises that, as a minor, she won’t have a choice, but decides if she can’t stick around near Gabriel under the radar, she’ll run away, live a bit of life, before she’s forced to conform.

Ru makes a College List, a list of three things she wants to do, see, experience, before she returns to her education. Gabriel jumps on board, offering to drive her across the country for star-gazing at the country’s darkest place, seeing the Aurora Borealis (where they are the only humans on eighty square kilometers of nothing). and meeting an Atlantic Puffin.

As they travel the country, they meet, help, and are helped by, a number of people, and Ru comes to understand more about herself: “All these years thinking I’m so smart, but only about stuff that isn’t very useful when you’re trying to have a life. It’s like I know all this stuff but all of a sudden none of it seems very important”, an observation that strikes a chord with this reviewer, whose mother would comment about her intelligence “Marianne’s brains are not for domestic use.”

Do things fall into place too easily for this pair? Maybe, but Ru notes that “Life has this way of letting these perfect events drop into their perfect slots at just the right moment. But there’s a catch to that kind of living. You have to be doing it right” and the pair is not averse to hard work or being generous and are game for new experiences.

Acceptance of people as they are is a big theme in this novel. Ryan Hyde always manages to warm the heart and uplift the soul; she often provokes serious thought but also provides humour. This time, she includes one of her own passions, astronomy, in the plot. Her characters easily endear themselves to the reader, and have wise words and insightful observations. Ryan Hyde never disappoints.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

Life Loss and Puffins a heartwarming novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde to be published on May 14th by Lake Union Publishing.

Catherine Ryan Hyde does it again, and believe me when I say this I have read many of her books and they do not disappoint. From My name is Anton to So long Chester Wheeler so when I hear she has a new one out I get excited.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this one early in exchange for a honest review.

This was a story of life loss and love and puffins. A story of two different souls but oh so alike. Ru was a 13 year old genius who came to know Gabriel 17 when she was staying with his family(well him and his mom) in order to attend college, like I said a 13 year old genius or as she liked to call herself freakishly smart.

After the incredible loss of Ru’s mom she was to go and live with her mean aunt Bitsy and when I say mean she was but anyway before going to live with her Ru and her friend Gabriel went on a trip, what they called the college list(like a bucket list) it was a lovely heartwarming story, some good some bad but a friendship that wouldn’t be broken.

CRH another five stars for this awesome book, thanks again NG, much enjoyed!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own

Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde has spun a yarn with two compelling protagonists-Rumaki(Ru) and Gabriel as they journey from the U.S. to the Canadian Arctic. It is a poignant tale of friendship, grief and enjoying the beauty of life. It's not a teen romance situation because Ru is 13 and Gabriel is 17. No, this book is more about people accepting each other for who they are and not what is expected of them to be. I loved the personalities they met along the way and of course, that one of my favourite Canadian cities- Yellowknife was featured as a setting. It is as beautiful as CRH describes.

I guess my quibble might have been getting some more details about what Ru's life was like in the future. Yes, we get an ending that seems suitable but I had a lot of questions. Typical reader, right?




#LifeLossandPuffins #NetGalley.
Expected Publication Date 14/05/24
Goodreads Review 27/04/24

I can't even begin to tell you how beautiful this novel was! It really took me by surprise how much I enjoyed it, especially since it was outside of my usual genres. So the book follows supersmart Ru as she navigates the world after her mother's death. It doesn't sound like much but what the author packs into this book will have you both tearing up and cheering. It was such a joy to read Ru's journey. I am looking forward to reading more by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde wrote a book that made me both laugh and cry! I loved this book so much! The story features a brilliant 13 year old girl and her 17 year old friend and their journey to make sense of the world and to enjoy life. I loved them both! I wasn’t sure how the book was going to end, and was kind of dreading what I thought might happen. And then, bam…the author ended it perfectly. Do yourself a favor and just go ahead and buy this one!

"It wasn't until after the ink dried on my birth certificate that she found out rumaki is actually an hors d'oeuvre people make for parties with chicken livers, water chestnuts, and bacon."

Rumaki (Ru) Evan's is described by her mother as "freakishly smart". At age 13 she feels very out of place in her classes. A teacher tells her she should enroll in college, for more challenges.
Her mother agrees and she boards at a nearby home. The family has a 17 year old son named Gabriel.
Ru and Gabriel form a strong bond. When Ru's mother dies she has no plans in her mind to live with her aunt in Kentucky.
Ru makes a plan of escape and Gabriel is by her side.
What an adventure these two go on!
This book was so good. Kept me captivated in their adventures, was heartwarming, had me feeling so many emotions as I read. One of their experiences, adventures has been on my bucket for years. Although not exactly the same way they did it.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Catherine Ryan Hyde pens another winner. Life, Loss, and Puffins is a powerful coming of age novel for a brilliant thirteen-year-old and her best friend. We follow their adventure to complete somewhat of a bucket list before Ru starts college. The characters are wonderfully and empathetically drawn and they, along with the story, pulled my heartstrings big time. Wonderful story arc. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I cannot quit smiling since finishing this delightful and heartwarming book. Ru and Gabriel are teens who are both a little different than the average teenager. Ru is a 13-year-old girl who has been described by her mother as "freakishly smart" and she is headed off to college. In order to be able to go to a great college, Ru's mom had to arrange for Ru to live with a woman and her 17-year-old son, Gabriel. The two teens form a fast and tight friendship and seem to be able to communicate even without talking. It does not bother Ru that Gabriel likes to wear eye makeup and nail polish. The teens seem to be in the right place at the right time and this makes for a great story with lots of adventures.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this wonderful story that still has me smiling.

I have always enjoyed the books by Catherine Ryan Hyde and was really looking forward to reading this one. It took me a while to get into the story but once I did I found it very interesting and enjoyable ! The relationship between Ru and Gabriel, who were both different from accepted society, was heartwarming and allowed us to peer into how differences in people can be accepted or judged. When Ru’s mother dies and she must live with her unloving aunt in Kentucky they both travel together to Canada to see the Aurora Borealis. The adventures and the insights and wisdom of that trip made this another wonderful book by this author!

Catherine Ryan Hyde has brought us another of her superb, heart-warming and life affirming tales filled with wonderful characters that she writes so well. Thirteen year old child genius Ru (short for Rumaki), who has an eidetic memory, meets seventeen year old Gabriel, who is also very smart and likes to wear makeup, when she boards with Gabriel and his mother after being awarded a scholarship to attend an elite University 150 miles from home in California.

Always regarded as a freak, Ru has never fitted in to school and has made few friends in her life but in Gabriel she finds a soul mate and a friend who will challenge her as to what being ’normal’ means. When tragedy hits and Ru is told she’ll have to leave University and live with her hateful Aunt in Kentucky, she rebels by escaping with Gabriel to tick off a couple of things she really wants to do before life catches up with her.

This is a wonderful tale of friendship, found family and being open to people and experiences. Along the way Ru and Gabi meet people who accept them as they are and trust them to be responsible (they tell everyone they’re older than they look and Ru has some anti-aging condition). They take risks and challenge themselves to do and see things outside of their comfort zone from viewing the universe from the night skies of the desert to travelling to the freezing Northwest Territories with an elderly woman. The strong familial bond they form during their experiences is one that will not be easily broken. A beautiful, inspiring novel reminding us that the world is full of wonder and awe.

Life Loss and Puffins by Catherine Ryan Hyde had me from word one. This is a 2 day, feel good read. A real feel good read! I fell in love with Gabriel and Ru. They are both outcasts who find each other and build a bond that can’t be broken. I would love to see this as a movie. Most importantly seeing Atlantic puffins has now been added to the top of my bucket list!

Here are few of my favorite quotes.

“And then, just like that, we were lone wolves. We were no longer a herd. “ Life is so much better if you are part of a herd!

“Four days to shut off their brains in the Canadian wilderness. No talking not even to each other.” When you are really comfortable you don’t always need to have conversation.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this one!

I really enjoyed this lovely book. As always, Catherine Ryan Hyde has written a story full of love, kindness and generosity of spirit. Always delightful and ultimately uplifting. Although I'm much older than the two teens who are the main characters, I never felt alienated from their personalities, hopes, ambitions and also their insecurities. 13 year old Ru, a girl with an exceptional IQ giving her intelligence way above her years and 17 year old Gabriel, a young man still exploring his thoughts on gender and his unusual fashion choices, were sweet people, innocent and hopeful. I loved how they were enchanted by the beauty of nature and their bucket list of dreams that they set out to accomplish by running away and embarking on a road trip to Canada which, although illegal due to their ages, was a pleasure to read and especially their experience of witnessing the aurora borealis which was described so beautifully. Their innocent, sibling-like relationship was based on kindness, trust and an unusual maturity for their ages. The author has the most beautiful way with words and this book left me feeling awed and uplifted. My thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union for a pre release copy which I gladly and voluntarily review.

It's been less than two years since I finally discovered Catherine Ryan Hyde's books, but every single one I've read has been excellent so far. I also love a travel element in my stories, so of course I was immediately intrigued by the premise of Life, Loss, And Puffins. And can we all agree with the main characters just how adorable puffins are? Anyhow, I've been looking forward to start this book, and as expected I ended up having such a wonderful time following Ru and Gabriel on their journey!

One of the elements I loved most in Life, Loss, And Puffins most definitely is all the travel/road trip. Is it credible for two minors to actually make it all the way to Canada? Not exactly. But it sure made for such a fascinating story, and I loved following Ru and Gabriel as they make their way north. The road trip was also such a great way to meet new characters along the way, and it was fun to see how they popped up just at the right time and seem to be part of Ru and Gabriel's coming of age story. The part that stood out most for me were the chapters set in Canada, which had such glorious descriptions that really made the setting come alive for me. I could almost feel the cold and snow!

There is no doubt that Life, Loss, And Puffins is quite a sad and emotional book, although there are also many moments of hope, found family and a beautiful friendship. As a whole I felt that the plot was well balanced, and I really enjoyed how everything was wrapped up in the end. This book also tackles quite a few heavier topics including cancer, death, grief, toxic relationships and transphobia (non binary). They are all well incorporated into the plot, and I could appreciate what they added to the story.

As for the characters... It is so easy to warm up to both Ru and Gabriel, and I had a fantastic time following them on their journey. It's such a beautiful budding friendship, and I love how their growing connection is also represented in the progress of their journey north. The aunt was a bit too much like the stereotypical 'bad guy', but most of the rest of the cast was wonderful as well. The writing itself is extremely engaging and beautifully put together, and I literally flew through Life, Loss, And Puffins.

If you enjoy well written, emotional and well balanced contemporaries about found family, friendship and grief as well as a road trip angle, I can highly recommend this book. Life, Loss, And Puffins is definitely among my favorite stories written by her so far!

I received an ARC of this delightful novel through NetGalley.

The reader can always count on an uplifting plot from author CRH. Outstanding character portraits are also an element present in all her novels.

This story is about two characters. Ru is a 13-year-old girl, a genius already entering an elite college at her incredibly young age. Gabriel is a 17-year-old boy who develops a sibling type relationship with Ru when Ru moves in with Gabriel's family after Ru's mother died. Gabriel wears eye makeup and paints his nails, which sets some people off, but not Ru.

Circumstances caused Gabriel and Ru to decide to take off from California on an adventure trip to the northern reaches of Canada. This trip was rather risky, given their ages, lack of money, dicey weather, etc. If there was a plan for this trip, things did not go completely as hoped.
While the characters were great and the adventure trip rather daring, I did not easily grasp what the point of this story was. I guess it was about being yourself, living your dreams, daring to be different.

A fast-moving, eloquently written novel.

Catherine Ryan Hyde always writes emotional stories that wrap around you like a warm hug.
This story is no different. Grab your kleenex.

Ru Evans just turned thirteen when she was accepted into college. She's a sheltered child with an eidetic memory, and the campus that accepted her is 150 miles away, which is difficult for her mother in letting go. With some convincing, she finally agreed to let Ru board with the Galbranson family, who have a seventeen-year-old son.

Gabriel is 17 and a bit of a misfit, but he and Ru form a tight, sibling type bond, and he loves that she accepts him as he is. When tragedy strikes and up roots Ru's life, Gabriel knows what she needs. The two of them take off on a road trip. They travel from California to Canada to see the Northern Lights and ultimately the Puffins.
This trip was everything! A journey of self-discovery that was magical and transformative.

I loved this book so much. It was beautifully written, and Hyde's ability to capture and put on paper the magic of the Northern Lights was just exceptional!
I also loved how the author examines the average teen struggles with peer pressure, fitting in, acceptance, and, in this case, loss and grief.

Life, Loss and Puffins is a deeply moving coming of age story thst is not to be missed.

I laughed
I cried.
I hugged my Kindle ♥︎

I like Hyde; she’s a really great writer and storyteller. I’ve really enjoyed all seven of the books of hers that I have read so far. This one was no exception to that rule. I loved Ru, from the get-go. I have a couple of people in my family who are neurodivergent and one of the characteristics that I love about them is their honest reactions and feelings about the things they experience in life. Some might call it brutal honesty, to a fault, but I don’t see it that way. It’s been my experience, at least with my neurodivergent relatives, they’re reactions and opinions aren’t meant to be cruel or hurtful, they seem to come from a place of just plain and simple honesty and a need to be transparent and maybe even helpful in the way a teacher would be in an exchange of facts and opinions with a student. On that note, I have learned a lot from them.

Anyway, I found Ru endearing and during their travels, Ru and Gabriel tell people that Ru is 22yrs old because Ru definitely comes across as so much more intelligent and wiser than her 13yrs (she looks like a typical 13yr old). Gabriel is a 17yr old boy who likes to wear nail polish and make-up and is a kid who is obviously experimenting with his own gender identity and place in the world. Sometimes I think that the neurodivergent and/or nonbinary youth today are somewhat better off in their efforts to live authentically, then when I was a teenager (late 70’s early 80’s). Other times, I realize they face the same old biased, judgmental crap that has always been there for anyone who isn’t neurotypical and/or cisgender. Kind of sad and something that will probably not change in my lifetime, but something I hope for the future generations. This story depicts that while Ru accepts Gabriel for who he is, that isn’t always the response Gabriel gets from others.

The book summary pretty much lays out the first half of the story, so I’m not going to repeat any of that here. What the book summary doesn’t really mention much of is that Ru’s “escape” is actually Ru and Gabriel running away in the dead of night. On the road, they develop a “college list”, which is just basically a “bucket list”. From the get-go, Ru and Gabriel just click and begin developing a bond (kind of a sibling bond) as they clear a few bucket list items. This special relationship will also see them through some coming-of-age moments and their efforts to become the kind of people they want to be in spite of what their mothers and other adults in their life want for them.

At 269pgs, the end comes pretty fast and it was a little bit of a tearjerker for me. Quite a few of CRH’s books have had that effect on me. The character development of Ru and Gabriel was fleshed out pretty well. It would have been nice to know just a little more about their mothers as well as Aunt Bitsy. The pacing seemed really good too. The storyline and CRH writing were wonderful. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.43 that I’m going to round up to a 5star rating. I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing #LifeLossandPuffins

Another solid winner for the YA shelf from Catherine Ryan Hyde! While most of it needed a strong suspension of reality, I loved her descriptions of the stars and explanations of astronomy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Rumaki or Ru, as she’s called, is 13 years old and is freakishly smart. How’d she know that? Her mama called her that at five years of age, and it’s true. You see Ru has an eidetic memory.. If she ever saw, heard, or read it, she remembers it all. Her mind “photographs” the information. One sad part of her predicament is that she has no friends, school is boring, she’s isolated and unchallenged. Upon graduating high school at age 13, she is offered a free ride to a prestigious university. Her single mom makes a decision to allow her to accept the offer. The college, Wellington, is not too far away, but far enough so that she will need to live there. Thirteen is way too young for dorm life, so her mom finds a family that will accept her as a paid boarder. Gabriel is the 17 year old son living with his divorced mother, so the boarding money comes in handy. Gabriel is also a social outcast. He has chosen, a a non binary identity and isn’t concerned for others to know. Ru and Gabriel quickly bond, forming a deep abiding friendship. Their relationship is a sweet friendship and not in anyway, boyfriend and girlfriend.

And here is where the adventure of Gabriel and Ru begins.


Oddly, Ru’s mom makes excuse after excuse for not visiting her young daughter at college and bringing her home for weekend visits. Ru senses that something is wrong at home. Gabriel drives Ru back home, unannounced, one weekend and she discovers her mom is sick and dying of an aggressive form of lung cancer. If her mom does in fact die, Ru is to become the ward of her nasty aunt, Bitsy who has well earned her adjective. Ru hates her aunt and the feeling is mutual. You, reader, will develop a dislike for Bitsy as well.

Ru and Gabriel, hatch a plan to fulfill a dream. The dream, while understandable exciting is not honorable. The pair take off in Gabriel’s very yellow car to drive to Canada to see puffins and the Aurora Borealis. The idea is fairly half baked for two underage children with little money and the problem of crossing the Canadian border as unaccompanied minors. Still the adventure is heartwarming and so monumental that I didn’t want to take a break from reading. Their journey is life altering, by the people and experiences they encounter along the way. 


One thing that had me wondering as I finished the last chapter and it seems Ru is now an adult is, who are the girls she is telling her story to? I want to think they are her daughters, but there is absolutely no indication to that as a fact.

You will enjoy the author's vivid descriptions of the night sky and places the two encounter along the way. I highly recommend this emotional novel about grief, hope, friendship, and life. I really would enjoy reading a sequel to get the questions about Ru and Gabriel life post adventure answered upon closing the book.

I am a huge fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde from the first book she wrote Pay It Forward. This book totally lived up to any expectation that I had and I just could not put it down. It is the story of love, loss, family, friendships and so much more. I found all the characters to be beautifully introduced, developed and ones worth following. Even the ones you were not supposed to like were brilliantly described. I loved Gabriel and Ru and their adventures together as a 13 year old brilliant girl forms a friendship with an 18 year old outcast. This is a book I will long remember and whole heartedly endorse. Do not fail to read this one. The title of the books is absolutely perfect for it.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

I love books by Catherine Ryan Hyde. This one started out on the slower side for me but it was a very enjoyable read. It was a very heartwarming story and you experienced the friendship of the two main characters that was a bit unusual You ended up taking a road trip with them and you end up learning about love, acceptance, and true friendship.

One day I will make it to see the Aurora Borealis but until then it was brought to life a little in this book.

Normally I cry at the end of a Catherine Ryan Hyde book however with this one I did not. But I did come out of it with a nice smile on my face with the ending of the story.

Well done!!!