Reading a book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde always gives me a lesson in humanity. In Michael Without Apology, we meet a young boy from a troubled family who is severely burned in a fireworks accident. As he is placed in foster care and eventually adopted, he nurses the feeling that he is not wanted by his birth-family because of his injuries. When we meet Michael as a young college student entering the field of film making, we see him begin to evolve and want to face the world as he is, to no longer hide or be ashamed of what his body looks like to others. Which brings him to decide to do a documentary about people who worry and stress about their bodies and appearance. The stories that follow of the people who have volunteered to be a part of his film are at times both heart-wrenching and inspirational. The making of his film "Here I Am" teaches Michael many life lessons along the way, including love, shame, acceptance, understanding, and empathy. Along with that he knows he has to face his birth parents to be able to overcome the feelings of abandonment he feels towards them. The characters in Michael's life story play an important part in helping him to accept himself as he is, to see the world through the eyes of others, and to become an independent young man. This is a book well worth the read which will make the reader do a little soul-searching about their own imperfections and acceptance of those of others. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ##NetGalley #MichaelWithoutApology

Thank you so much Lake Union Publishing.

I love Catherine Ryan Hyde's novels so much. She tugs on heartstrings and writes such wonderful characters. Michael is no exception. I loved his story and how he used his creativity to tell the world about himself. I hope we can all learn empathy from him.

When I see Catherine has a new book coming out, I race to get an advanced copy because I know I’m going to love it, but I had no idea with this one!

“It was also intense and exhausting to be so directly seen.”

Michael is such a special young man. He has been through so much in his life. I love how he connects with people, even though he’s spent his life closing himself off. You want to hear everything he has to say. Every person he meets brings something so special into his life, and subsequently, the story.

“My accident. With the fireworks. It was like I did a wrong thing, but only for a second.... Like, it just seems wrong that I can’t undo it. Just walk up to that second and do something different.”

This is such a touching and beautiful read that will give you all the feels. It’s so thoughtful you’re going to find many things to love about it.

This book was so powerful from the very beginning. I think the main message and the thing that stuck out to me most was just CONNECTION. The connection between Michael and the nurse (As a former nurse) was beautiful. The connection throughout the book with Michael and so many people throughout this book was just amazing. Rex, Madeleine, Robert, every cast member, Caroline, his foster parents. As someone who has had 3 brain surgeries and literally had to grieve a version of my life that no longer exists, i resonated with every word of this book. This book had such a beautiful way of showcasing that everybody has different insecurities, whether it be with your body, your family, your history, grieving a past version of yourself and your life. I highlighted SO MANY quotes in here it's not even funny. As a nurse, one of the most profound moments was Michael reconnecting with the firefighter who responded to his accident because working in Healthcare, you most often treat and move on without ever knowing what happens with the people you help. This made me cry so many tears. I cannot tell you how many times I had to tell my husband to ignore me ugly crying. If you want to read a book this year that will genuinely move you, read this. Just read this. I can't give this infinite stars, so I'll settle with 5.
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This is a remarkable novel that imparts great wisdom without being preachy or condescending. It embraces the human condition with compassion and sensitivity engendering self-acceptance and, even, self-love. Finally, it explores the capacity to reframe experiences when given new information and new possibilities that support healing traumatic emotional wounding. While it is heart-wrenching in some respects, the overall message is inspirational and uplifting.

Michael (Costa) Woodbine sustains life-threatening injuries at age seven that leaves him with psychological and physical scars. The physical trauma is compounded by his birth parents’ relinquishment of their parental rights as Michael is adopted by the Woodbines. His disfigurement has led him to believe that he must hide his scars, never revealing them to anyone but his immediate family and health care professionals. All that begins to change when Michael encounters Mr. Bob Denning, his professor, in a filmmaking class. Denning, who has severe scars on his face and hands, unapologetically addresses the issue at the first class by encouraging the students to look, stare and ask questions. The story unfolds as Michael develops a documentary which reveals how much of our lives are limited by apologizing – both overtly and covertly – for who we are.

I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying Micael on his journey of self-discovery and healing. I seldom read books for a second time, but this is a book that I will revisit again. I am deeply grateful to the author for sharing her insight and wisdom.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

romance

****TRIGGER WARNING: Major surgery, burns, cancer, fostering, complex relationships****

I really loved Pay It Forward (book and movie), so I was eager to review another book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Michael is scarred for life during a fireworks display when he’s seven. Years later, at 19, he meets a film teacher, Robert Dunning, who has physical scars of his own. I really enjoyed Michael Without Apology. Michael’s backstory was so strong, whether the fostering part or the part about filming. I liked how honest and open Robert was, too.

I felt like I was invited on a very personal journey. Michael Without Apology is a lesson in life. It’s about learning who and how you are and loving yourself. The struggle to accept past and present.

I really liked Madeline and her relationship with Michael. It shows age doesn’t matter. Rex’s backstory was interesting, as was his relationship with his wife.

Difference, and society’s attitude towards those of us they perceive as different is a theme.

I have scars from multiple brain surgeries because of hydrocephalus which is one of my disabilities. I identified with the feeling uncomfortable with your body and the struggle to feel comfortable with it.

Michael Without Apology is incredibly powerful, personal and raw. It’s immersive, happy, sad and hopeful. The fast-paced story is gripping and I was hooked. I finished it in an afternoon.

It is memorable and unforgettable. I think everyone should read this whether they’ve had surgery or not, as it shows that there are physical as well as psychological scars, and that the journey to healing can be a rollercoaster. It definitely is for each of the characters in this book. Friendship or love is very important too.

5 stars but it deserves more. Michael Without Apology is one of my favorite books of 2025.

Thanks to Catherine Ryan Hyde and Lake Union Publishing for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review

4.5⭐️
(ARC review) — Thank you to author Catherine Ryan Hyde and her publisher Lake Union Publishing. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the May 2025 release of 𝘔𝑖𝘤ℎ𝘢𝑒𝘭 𝘞𝑖𝘵ℎ𝘰𝑢𝘵 𝘈𝑝𝘰𝑙𝘰𝑔𝘺 in exchange for my honest review.

This was unexpected. A coming of age journey of a young man who is physically scarred and how he’ll embrace the cards that been dealt to him. Acceptance from yourself and the grace to accept others treatment of you. It’s a heartbreaking but is also hopeful and uplifting.

Just a beautifully written story, the ending got a bit slow but really enjoyed this book. This was my first time reading this author.

I like how the story shows how we all look at life differently, it can be our bodies, our encounters with certain people and wishing it turned out differently or it could be how we think about what happens after we die, but it is in finding out about how others feel that made Michael accept what he went through. I found it brave for the character Michael to even approached the subject of his body at all but it is through talking with others about their bodies that he stopped hiding himself and allowed himself to have relationships with others. I could relate to the characters in the story because I had a lot of self doubt about my body too, until I discovered that everyone has them and you really can't stop it.
I like most of the secondary characters, but the ones that seem to stand out the most were those that were being taped and that talked about their body image and how their bodies effected how they related to others and how others related to them, some of them made me very sad. I also liked that when Michael reveal why he has hidden his body to those being taped that those people actually became more open about their stories and feel closer to Michael.
Although, there is a lot more to the story then the filming of how Michael feels about his body, they just don't seem as important as how Michael heals himself and other by telling his story and find out that he fine the way he is.

I want to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of a story of how we feel that we are the only ones with those feelings and we are not.

Hyde always knows how to write a powerful story and this one is no exception. Michael is taking a film class and decides to do a documentary about people who have a problem with the way their bodies look. He has major burns in his body so he is expecting those with trauma like his and to his shock, he gets a much wider variety of people than he expected.

This book is a kind, generous and honest journey Michael takes to find his way back to his own body and his own life so that he can live it to its fullest extent without apology. It's powerful and sweet and touching.

with gratitude to Lake Union Publishing and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you are going to read just one book this year make, it this one. It is an amazing story about a young film student who comes to grips with his own upbringing by making a film about others and their perception of themselves. The subject matter is dealt with so sensitively and is put into a novel that is incredibly readable. You won't want to put it down, just make sure you have the tissues handy.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite authors. She continues to be one of those authors I read as a palate cleanser and trust her formula will generally be the same each time. Her latest book is entitled “Michael Without Apology” and it was another solid read for me.

When Michael Woodbine was seven years old he had a near-fatal accident involving fireworks. His life, as he knew it, was changed forever. Not only was he left with scars, but he was placed in foster care. The book primarily takes place while Michael is 19 years old, but there are a couple chapters that describe the accident and its aftermath.

The first three-quarters of the book were relatively fast-paced for me. I enjoyed how the chapters were primarily structured around his film class, his movie idea, and the interviews he does for the movie. I also liked how he found a mentor in his film professor and how the focus of his film was allowed to organically change by him. The last part of the book was satisfactory, but dragged slightly for me. However, I did like how the book ended.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is a master storyteller!

I loved ‘Michael without Apology’ on all fronts; storyline, characters, subject matter of the novel, as well as the depth and tenderness with which the author tackled body dysmorphia and other subjects that are usually hard to deal with in a such sensitive manner.

I highly recommend it, for it’s a book that will stay with me for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the e-ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story and was rooting for the main character- Michael all the way. As a child he was badly burned which resulted in foster care and his eventual adoption by good people. The title comes from his acceptance of his burns rather than shame. The story delves into how many of us have something about our physical appearance that we hate, or are ashamed of- something that makes us “less than” and how we tend to go though life apologizing for things we shouldn’t. It made me reflect on a boy with terrible acne in my high school, and how he was treated- as though it was some sort of fault of his. Though I didn’t participate in the taunting, I also didn’t stand up either and feel really bad about it now. We as a society place far too much value on looks and this book reminds us of it. Overall Good story with an uplifting message.

My primary challenge that kept this story from 5 stars was the lack of realism and complexity of the characters- Michael is saintly though out the book. As is his college professor, friends and adopted parents. I think they all become more accepting, but were all pretty great to start with so not much room for growth. His birth parents and brother remain unchanged also. It think it would have would have been more interesting to have seen Michael struggle a bit more with dating. A good relationship has nothing to do with looks- its just hard work and takes lots of compromise. His movie star handsome face opened doors for him that a less attractive person may have found closed. That struggle could have been interesting- acceptance of yourself even when others tell you that you lack.
Final pet peeve-instant success in the film industry including a lucrative job and a home purchase in California right from the start. Pure fantasy.

We all have scars, some are inward, some are outward, and some are both. We each handle them in our own way, and we often think that ours are worse than those of others. While this is a work of fiction, this is the premise that Michael researches due to the scars, both emotional and physical in his own life. It is an extremely thought-provoking story that may make you spend a little time thinking about your own scars and how they impact the way that you relate to others. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

One thing you are guaranteed with a Catherine Ryan Hyde book is heart. This book has it and some. A great story with a message that will make you stop and think about your own life. And following my 5* rule as in shed more than one tear on more than one occasion this is a very strong 5* read from me.

Wow another great book from Catherine Ryan Hyde! Michael has felt different and like he doesn't belong most of his life. He tells his story and the story of others like him in a beautiful way.

With S0cial, Emotional Learning (SEL) being such a huge push in schools today, Michael Without Apology is a huge win! I am already a fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde, and her book Stay is my all-time favorite to date; Michael Without Apology is a tie with Stay! After reading the description of the book, I seriously wondered how the protagonist would have even survived, but survive he did, and when faced with a Capstone film assignment, he creates something memorable for his fellow characters and for us as readers. I literally could not put it down and read it in one sitting. As a high school media specialist, I have preordered and will be recommending this title for required Summer reading. It's REALLY hard not spoiling the really good stuff, but I will say, Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of--if not THE best--author when it comes to character development. You will not be disappointed.

Michael Without Apology” by Catherine Ryan Hyde is an inspirational, thoughtful, and engaging read that resonates deeply. Hyde’s writing style is captivating, weaving a narrative that is both poignant and uplifting. The characters are relatable and well-developed, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking a story about self-acceptance and personal growth.

The protagonist, Michael, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, navigating the complexities of body image and acceptance. His story is interwoven with powerful life lessons, including the importance of embracing one’s true self without apology. Hyde’s ability to craft characters that evoke empathy and understanding is a testament to her skill as a writer. Overall, this book is a compelling exploration of love, loss, and resilience, leaving a lasting impact on readers.

#thankyounetgalley

Another outstanding book by Catherine Ryan Hyde! I absolutely love everyone of her books! They are all so different and teach us so much!
This is another one that you don't want to miss out on.

Michael appears handsome to others, but, at 19 years old, he’s never gone swimming without a t-shirt or showered in the locker room with the other boys. On his first day of film class, his professor has scars that can’t be hidden with a shirt. He points this out and says there is no shame. Michael gets the idea that for his student film assignment, he can interview other people who have issues with their bodies. He quickly finds that almost everyone dislikes some part of their appearance, and the people he interviews for his film covers a variety of those topics: Too skinny, too many pregnancies, age, scars from surgery. By sharing these personal stories, it helps give other perspective and to know they are not alone.

I teared up more than once. There were a couple things that strained credulity, but I really enjoyed the characters, their journeys, and what they had to say about their experiences.

NetGalley provided an advance reader copy, which RELEASES MAY 6, 2025.