I Hope You'll Stay. This was a solid coming of age story of a boy dealing with quite a bit in the summer of 1969 - though only one of those things is directly related to that very notable summer. Instead, we mostly see several very relatable dramas playing out through the eyes of our narrator. Very well written, all but a single chapter take place during that one eventful summer - with the final chapter providing answers to how everything turned out, from a perspective of many years afterward. Very much recommended.

Another outstanding story by Catherine Ryan Hyde. A coming of age story, a tale of friendship and loss and redemption. Fourteen-year-old Lucas has a hard life. His parents are distant and uninvolved, mostly because they’re too caught up in their own marital issues. His brother is off fighting in Vietnam. And his best friend is in his own downward spiral of family drama and depression. So Lucas begins to run. No particular destination, just a run into the woods. And on this first run, he encounters something that will change his life, along with the lives of everyone around him, forever.

Catherine Ryan Hyde once again worked her magic and gave us another exceptional book.  Stay has great insights about life that are meaningful and appropriate for all.  This book was hard to put down and I hated to reach the last page.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read a few of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books and they all have brought tears to my eyes, sometimes sad tears and sometimes happy ones. From page one you are transported to the land of the story! You feel what the characters feel and you want to do something for them but in the end it all works out. Beautiful story! Highly recommend. Enjoy! 📚

I've read (and enjoyed) several of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books and I have to say that this one is my favorite. In this book, she wrote about some very challenging issues - depression, suicide, veterans, and drug dependence (just to name a few). I thought she did an amazing job with the main character, 14 year old Lucas. Lucas is dealing with some very heavy issues (parents are always fighting, his brother is a soldier in Vietnam, and his best friend is struggling with depression). Lucas finds an outlet by running through woods on a regular basis with some dogs that live at a cabin in the middle of the woods. As the story unfolds, it brings to attention the impact that we can have on the life of another person. I cannot do justice to the power of this story - read the book and you will not be disappointed. I will say that if you are looking for a light-hearted, fun book then this book may not be for you. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. Once again, a wonderful story told by this amazing author.

I stayed up late last night reading Catherine Ryan Hyde’s upcoming release. I know it’s so common to say it’s a new favorite but I honestly believe it’s my all time favorite book from her. I can’t imagine anyone else tackling such serious, life changing, and unfortunately all too common subjects in a way that is not only entertaining but thought provoking. If you haven’t preordered your copy do it now.

Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde was an amazing book and Catherine Ryan Hyde is fastly becoming one of my favorite writers of all time.  This book takes place in 1969 the summer of 69 to be exact. (Are you singing the song?!?!) This was the time that boys were becoming men too soon the the Vietnam war. 
 
Ryan’s books deal with some raw and emotional  situations and Stay is no different but in true Ryan style it’s  done so beautiful and so delicately. 

Bottom line Stay is a must read!

“Stay” by Catherine Ryan Hyde is one spectacular novel! 

If you have not read this book yet, do yourself a favor and add it to the very top of your “To Be Read” pile. I can’t say this is the happiest book or the saddest book I’ve read but, it is the most satisfying and profound book I’ve read in a long time. There are a lot of life lessons to be learned in this story.

The writing was smooth and poignant. I found myself re-reading sentences and passages because they grabbed me and I didn’t want to ever forget them. This book deals with addiction, families and many thoughts of suicide. 

I woke up this morning thinking about this story and why I loved it so much when on the surface it felt so sad. This book carries with it an abundance of HOPE. What do we have in life if we don’t have hope? 

I will never forget this book.

I do not read books more than one time but, I am going to make an exception for “Stay”. This book is definitely worth another read and will be read at least one more time. Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde for such a beautiful and profound book.

Just one small kind or random act can help save someone’s life. 

Starting out set in America during the summer of ‘69, at the when teenage boys and men were still being called to serve for their country in the Vietnam War, Luke Painter retells his life as a 14 year old small town boy encountering and awakening to the life of “wounded humans.” 

From family feuds, separation, attempted suicide, suicidal tendencies, war injuries and drug addiction, to inquisitiveness, persistence, kindness, care, compassion, love, and a brief crush! Hard subjects are so gently and tastefully handled, but they certainly have a strong emotional punch. 

Definitely one to pick up and read.

This book was absolutely fantastic! I have read several books by this author and given every single one so far 5 stars...and Stay is no exception.
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I think at its core this book is a message about family and ripples. When you drop a pebble into water the flow of the water is changed in that spot into ripples. One ripple turns into another, and another, as soon as the pebble goes in. It changes the flow and the narrative irrevocably. Little acts, everyday acts, have the power to cause ripples in a life that never would have happened if that one thing hadn't happened, if that one thing had never been said. Also of note, family isn't just blood. I'm of the belief that people have two families; the family they were born into, and the family they choose for themselves. And sometimes, you meet that one person in a random event, only for them to become the most important part of the family you choose. But it never would have happened if even one thing had happened differently before that moment. It's crazy to think about it, isn't it? 
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But anyway, I digress. This book has a split timeline. Most of the events happen in 1969, and a brief bit towards the end is "50 years later" - for those of you who can't/don't want to count, that's 2019. The story focuses on a 14 year old boy, his best friend, their families, and a neighbor all in a small town where the memories are long and the list of people who will let you live down what you did is short. This book covers everything from high school on, with plenty of important topics covered in a way that is authentically beautiful and not at all preachy and/or malicious. I found myself racing through the book because the writing and story are so good I literally couldn't stop reading. I think I finished it in less than three hours. Which would normally be depressing, but CRH has a huge backlist that I can't wait to dive into. All in all, this book gets 5 stars, and would be getting more stars if I could give them. Brava!

Catherine Ryan Hyde does it again – Stay is a serious, deep and very beautiful, yet realistic and down to Earth novel. This is my second book by her, and I was completely blown away by the first one, Where Is Luis Velez, so I was a little bit worried about reading another one (despite buying up ANYTHING by her that went on sale for the past half a year!) Because what if I didn’t like it as much? It’s hard to start reading an author at a 5 star book.

But I needn’t have worried – Stay is touching, heartfelt, it has deep subjects, is steeped in a worldview based on kindness, and while it didn’t hit me as strongly on the personal level as the first book did (the problems in the story were less close to my heart), it’s still a strong 4.5 star and I was incredibly invested in it straight after I started reading.

Stay is based in one of my favorite decades, at least in modern times – it’s a small town of America in 1969, a year of pivotal change for all the world, but especially so for America. The main character Luke is 14 years old and he has a lot on his plate, although he doesn’t quite know how much just yet. Quite by accident, he saves a life, and in turn, that saves another few lives. But the story isn’t about that – the story is about how sometimes (well, most of the time) appearances are deceiving and there is so much more to people’s actions and decisions when you give them a chance to help you understand them better. It’s also about how hard it is to struggle with mental health issues or addiction in a society that will force you into that situation, but then not help you get out of it or even blame you for suffering from it. All of this is full of compassion and understanding, so the story is presented in a soft, soothing way.

The Voices Of The People Who Are Never Listened To

In Stay, we get to see the world through the eyes of the people who we would ordinarily be told to avoid because “they’re not someone you should mix with”. Draft Dodgers. Addicts. Mood killers. The simply different. Those who will not bow down to some pointless notions of society.

They are all wonderful characters, kind and caring people, but ultimately just people – and all the characters in Stay – even the one who from the “inside” of the story may have seemed like a saint, will have done something that put them in more or less of a disgrace with society. What the book puts out there is that you can’t possibly judge them if you know them like the story helped you know them, but if you were to hear about them in passing, you probably would.

You might even think they’re not very good people. And how many times do we make that kind of a snap judgement in our real lives? This is a good message – and yet, one that is still strikingly unpopular even now, despite how much change society has gone through since the times the characters of this book lived in.

But There’s So Much More To The Story

There is so much more – even the title – Stay – means staying alive. Deciding to stay, to not leave this world, despite how hard it might be. There is a lot in this story about suicide, but I don’t know if I want to unpack that, so I’ll leave it for the other reviewers. There’s also a lot about the machine of war (it’s set in Vietnam times, and the main character’s brother is a drafted soldier). There’s no way I could look at it all and not have this review be pages long!

But I think what matters is that I mention that it’s an amazing book. It warms your heart. It makes life seem more meaningful, if only for a little while longer. It makes you want to believe in humanity again.

And now I know I want to start reading all those other books by Catherine Ryan Hyde that I bought sooner rather than later. Because it’s a vibe she does and I want to have more of that in my life. It’s something that makes your life better.

Triggers: (please look it up on my blog because they may contain spoilers)

I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.

It was the summer of '69 and Lucas Painter is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.  He's is a fourteen year old who is just trying to figure out being a teenager when life begins to relentlessly thrust adult issues on him.  He finds himself facing family issues with his parents, suicide threats, concerns over his brother who is fighting in Vietnam and much more.   He is trying to protect those he cares about without them knowing.  This only makes it more difficult but Lucas does it this way anyway.

"....I should note that in my opinion, we're all wounded humans.  The rest is just a matter of degree."

Stay was a sensitive and beautiful read that explores human nature and how life's events naturally affect the person you will become.  The secondary characters lent to the overall feel of the book, including the dogs that Lucas ran with.

"And in this one perfect but probably fleeting moment....nothing in my life has ever been a mistake."

I was really moved by Stay and look forward to reading more by this author.

**Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Also, I have used quotes in my review.  Since these were taken from an ARC, they could potentially change before the final copy is issued.**

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Catherine Ryan Hyde for allowing me to read the ARC of Stay. I have read the authors books for years, and, once again, am so pleased. What a wonderful book for all ages. In 1969, the Vietnam War was in full force and many young men were drafted. The families, as well as these young men were effected in many ways. Fourteen-year-old Lucas Painter waits every day for his brother, Roy, to return from Vietnam, only to face the dire effects war has on these soldiers. Lucas has been struggling with his parents constant fighting, his best friend, Connors desire to end his life, and almost losing Zoe Dinsmore, a wise lady who changed all their lives for the best. This is a beautiful story about the power our words and actions have on other people. It is a good reminder to be honest with ourselves and everyone around us.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel.  What can you say about her books other than they are so positive, life-affirming, make you want to live your better life kind of perfect?

The book takes place in the summer of 1969.  Lucas Painter struggles at home with parents who are constantly fighting and a brother who is in Vietnam.  His best friend, Connor, is struggling with his own family issues.  To get away from all the noise, Lucas begins running in the woods behind his house with a pair of dogs he discovers living with a woman in a cabin deep in the woods.  The connection he makes with the woman, Zoe, will change all of their lives.

This is one of those books that makes you think about the fact that each action we take can have a positive (or negative) impact on someone else and change the course of their lives.  Highly recommended!

It’s 1969 and 14 yr old Lucas Painter is about to have his toughest summer yet.  

His only sibling (his brother) is off fighting in the Vietnam war. Meanwhile he is fighting his own battle with parents that are constantly arguing and a best friend that just wants to be left alone. To add to the chaos he meets Zoe, the old lady in the woods. 

I won’t go into much detail because it will give too much away. Lucas is determined to fix everything and everyone, even if it costs him his friends. Being wise beyond his years and learning to grow up fast Lucas has to make decisions that will affect not only himself but those around him. Lucas, Connor(his best friend), his brother Roy, and Zoe must learn to help each other before they can help themselves. 

This book frequently talks about a very fragile subject that is impacting a lot of teenagers today, suicide. Trying to figure out if your life is worth fighting for.

I have read previous books by Catherine Ryan Hyde and this is by far my favorite. I was hooked from page one. The ending leaves you with plenty of emotions both happy and sad. The writing is beautifully done making me feel like I knew the characters personally. I highly recommend this read! 

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Catherine Ryan Hyde, and the publisher for giving me this digital copy of Stay in exchange for my honest review.

I've read several books by Catherine Ryan Hyde.  Each is different but they are all excellent, centering on people and how they make it through their journey of life. Stay is a beautiful story about 14 year old Lucas Painter's coming of age during the summer of 1969 and the importance of family and friendship, about the Viet Nam war, drug addiction, and 2 boys who had been best friends since they were 3 years old.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this novel. From page one, I was pulled in and wanted to know about Luke. His unique relationship with the dogs that led to his involvement with the lady in the woods. His friendship with Conner, which seemed so strong but we later learn had cracks in it. All of these complicated relationships converge and change Luke's life through very challenging times. 
The struggles that we face throughout our lives often define who we become and the author gave those feelings a place to go with sensitivity and honesty. Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde for this touching book. 
I recieved an early copy from netgalley. All views and opinions are my own.

Stay is a very intense story about life and how it effects everyone around yoy. The characters are developed so you get to know them as they grow. This story is about the ups and downs that everyone faces. Some deal with life easy and some have a hard row to hoe. You'll keep reading to see how their lives turn out.

Lucas is a 14 year old boy dealing with issues beyond his years. He recuses an older lady who tried to commit sucide, is trying to keep his best friend from committing sucide, and trying to process his brother’s deployment to Nam. This is so much for anyone to handle but Lucas does it beautifully. I loved his character and how the story highlighted all these issues and more. I highly recommend this book!