Good. Easy to listen to. Overall, I enjoyed the message and story. The characters were a little flat and not as compelling as I usually expect from CRH. However, as usual, the plot had depth and made me examine a situation I hadn’t before. The pace was quick and the narration was good.

Advanced listener copy provided by Brilliance Audio but all opinions are my own.

“Your life will be your own when you can do what I did today. Stand in front of whatever small segment of the world you find yourself facing and say, ‘Here I am. Get used to it.’ That’s when you’ll truly be free.”

Michael Without Apology is a beautifully heartwarming, emotional story and I am so glad I read it. When Michael was 7, he had a bad accident that involved playing with fireworks with his older brother. As a result of the accident, he almost died, was left with very intense scarring, and removed from his family’s home and put into foster care. Twelve years later, he’s a 19 year old college freshman, taking a beginner film course. He meets his new professor and notices that he is completely unapologetic about his own scars. Michael has always felt ashamed of his scars and feels like they make him less lovable. He has never gone swimming without a shirt or changed in front of anyone. He decides to make his student film about how others see themselves and the things they perceive as physical flaws. He learned that everyone has things that make them feel insecure and the resulting film changes his life and the lives of others. I’ve read a few books by Catherine Ryan Hyde and she has this incredible skill for writing characters and situations that truly touch your heart. Michael Without Apology highlights that skill perfectly. It had me in tears a couple of times and laughing in others. The strength of Michael and several of the other characters was absolutely incredible. This story has such an incredible message that I think most of us need to learn. I know I struggle greatly with scarring of my own. I know the sight of them can be shocking and feel self conscious when I see them by myself. It’s human nature to let that sort of thing to let color our self worth. But it doesn’t affect who we are in the ways that matter.

This was an emotionally powerful novel that I highly recommend. I sobbed more than once.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a phenomenal author that prompts deep reflection with each story she tells.
The story centers on Michael, who has always felt like an outsider. With guidance from his professor, and mentor, he learns the importance of embracing his true self, without apology, while navigating societal expectations.
The connections he forms with others significantly impact his life in unexpected ways. The author beautifully illustrates the significance of these connections, understanding and the unpredictable nature of human relationships.
Each character plays a meaningful role in Michael's journey, contributing in ways that are not always positive, yet always significant. He faced numerous challenges and triumphs that made my reading experience worth every second.
This inspiring book will stay with me for a long time.
The narrator was wonderful and brought the characters to life for me.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Michael has had it rough for many years. He had an accident when he was young that led to severe scarring and was sent into foster care. Now, he is taking a film class and meets Robert Dunning, his teacher. Robert is badly scarred also. They begin a mentorship that in a lot of ways helps Michael to heal. This is a beautiful story. The narrator did an excellent job.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

5 emotional stars for me. I felt this one in my core. I listened to the audio version (and switched to kindle at times) and raced through it (I'm usually much longer listening to audio books). The Michael Crouch, the narrator was wonderful and the story emotional and heartwarming.
I really enjoyed the relationship Michael had with his professor Robert Dunning and how he guided him througout his film. The relationships Michael made with his subjects was great, and I loved everything he learned along the way. He seemed like a sponge, soaking up all the information and opening up his mind. He had an up and down journey along the way, and the support from his (adoptive) parents was great to see.

Trigger warning - the fact I read this book the week I started a new chemo treatment may have impacted on my views - but I loved it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for my audio version and Lake Union Publishing for the kindle version.