Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Ryan Hyde is a beautifully written story. Having your child taken by someone is the scariest thing to happen to anyone. I liked the way the book ended. I find that women’s fiction is many times such emotional reads.

Brooke, divorced for two years and mother of two-year-old Etta was back living with her mother, the criticizing woman who couldn’t say a nice word about her daughter. The night Brooke took Etta to the movies – just to get out of the house – was the night her life shifted on its axis. It was on the way back from the movies that Brooke was carjacked; thrown to the ground by the masked man, she watched in devastated horror as the Mercedes tore away from her – with Etta still inside.

Sixteen-year-old Molly had been living on the streets of Los Angeles after her mother had thrown her out of the house in Utah. She and her best friend Bodhi stayed together in their camps to watch each other’s backs. When Molly found Etta, she was still sitting in her car seat, but it was dark and the little girl’s eyes were big and round when she looked up at Molly. During that long night in the darkness, and the following day, Molly cared for Etta, comforting her when she was scared, and when they needed to be quiet, Molly softly sang “brave girl, quiet girl” to Etta until she whispered it in return.

Would the police find Etta? Would Brooke ever see her baby girl again? And what would happen to Molly and Bodhi?

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is a heartwarming and heartbreaking novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde which I loved. I have only recently discovered this author, and Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is my third by her. But her novels are intense and emotional, with this one being about motherhood, love, and finding yourself and your place called home. Another exceptional read by this author which I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so full of unexpected twists- it wasnt the story I thought it was going to be- in a good way! It starts with a car jacking with 2 year old Etta in the back seat, her mother is frantic. What then entails was a lesson in how things can change so suddenly, how the things you think you want are not Always the best for you, and how we should count our blessings. Beautifully told, Hyde is a skilled writer who had me enthralled from the first page.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Ryan Hyde is a highly recommended contemporary drama set in L.A. that starts with a carjacking and then explores the often fraught relationship between mothers and daughters.

Brooke is a divorced and the mother of two-year-old Etta. Due to finances, she has been forced to move in with her domineering, judgmental, and critical mother. One night when her mother starts complaining about Brooke's parenting, Brooke takes Etta out to a children's movie. On the way home her life is shattered when she’s carjacked - and the ca is gone with Etta still strapped in the backseat. Brooke is frantic and inconsolable as she waits for news at the police station.

Miles away, Etta is abandoned on a sidewalk and found by Molly, a sixteen-year-old homeless teen who is living on the streets with her friend Bodhi. With no one in sight, she brings Etta back to the crate she calls home to keep her safe until she can call the police. Bodhi goes out and brings back apple juice and goldfish crackers for Etta, but also tells Molly that they must hide her and Etta because there are three guys looking for them with the intention of ransoming Etta back to her mother. He finds the two a safe spot and leaves to call the police, but never returns. Molly manages to keep Etta safe and quiet when the three malcontents are heard talking nearby, looking for them.

After a fraught night, Molly manages to contact the police to get Etta back to her mother. When Brooke sees Molly, dirty, disheveled and obviously a homeless street person, she immediately is suspicious and judgmental. Soon, however, the complete story is revealed to Brooke and she understands what Molly did to protect Etta and keep her safe. Etta also is saying Molly's name and obviously felt safe and loved while in the girl's care.

This is a social commentary story full of tension and judgmental attitudes that change and result in a heart-warming tale of understanding and compassion. Molly was thrown out of her home by her critical mother (and she reveals why late in the story) while Brooke is also dealing with a critical mother. The story quickly switches gears after the carjacking and the focus becomes compassion for others, love and trust, what makes a family, changing attitudes, and a final moment of utter clarity of a future course beneficial to all.

The writing is quite good, despite the emotional manipulation, and clearly becomes a message novel - which is fine. The plot is basically simple as the narrative alternates between the point-of-view of Brooke and Molly. While it does tackle social issues, they are simplified in the narrative, which, again, is fine. This is going to be a glimpse at some social issues, but won't tackle the more  grim, gritty, and complicated reality. It is a quick read and will hold your attention throughout. The denouement is a feel-good heart-warming story that is neatly concluded.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author.
After publication the review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

This is a wonderful, heartfelt story! Brooke and her two-year old daughter Etta are living with Brooke’s mother when Brooke is violently carjacked and her daughter, who was in the back seat, is taken. Molly, a sixteen-year old girl has been living on the streets when she finds Etta, still in her car seat. Molly was thrown out of her parents’ home and told not to return. She cares for Etta, tries to get someone to help them, until she can safely get her to the police. A story of a woman who has lived through the devastation of thinking her child was gone forever and a teenager who survives on the streets with strangers for friends. Brooke wants to help Molly, but she is dependent on her mother and Molly wants to believe that there is help for someone like her, but is there? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Excellent, heartwarming Hyde tale of a girl, a mother and a child

I have long been a Catherine Ryan Hyde fan. Yes, I loved PAY IT FORWARD (as most people do) but I've enjoyed so many other of Hyde's books. She has a rare talent of bringing her readers into her stories, letting them feel what the characters are feeling. 

Brooke is 39 years old, has a 2 year-old daughter, and lives in West L.A. with her mother. She is not happy with this because her mother is not a nice person but she's divorced and can't afford a place of her own yet.

She takes her daughter, Etta, to the movies (mainly to get away from her mother) and on the way home, she is carjacked - and Etta is taken with the car.

Molly is a 16 year-old living on the streets of L.A. and she finds Etta, who has been dumped on the side of the road in her car seat.

What transpires after this is a story that is heartwarming, heartbreaking, and really makes you think. It is about mothers and daughters and what actually what makes up a family.

I loved this story and I loved its characters, especially Molly. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I received this book from Lake Union Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

This is my first time reading a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel but it won’t be my last. Brave Girl, Quiet Girl follows Molly - a young, homeless girl struggling to survive on the streets of LA,  Brooke- a divorced, single, financially strapped mom and how their worlds collided. 

It is a beautiful, touching story all about friendships and mother-daughter relationships. I enjoyed the pacing and the characters, I especially loved Molly. 

Whether this is your usual genre or not, I would highly recommend!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.  This book was a surprise and nothing like I was expecting it to be.  
Brooke was raising her 2-year-old daughter, Etta, and had to move in with her mother for financial reasons.  Like some mothers and daughters, they didn't get along.  One night Brooke took her daughter to the movies and after the movie, she was carjacked with her daughter still in the car.  A homeless teen named Molly found Etta.  From there we see the chain of events unfold between Brooke and Molly.  
The book kept me reading because there were so many levels to the story. Most of what I was reading was nothing I had even thought about but the author took me where I had never been before. I could see where she was taking me and I could understand why she was taking me where I was going.  
There are lots of things in life that some of us don't realize and it opens our eyes.  As I finished the book, I was amazed at the many things Catherine Ryan Hyde brought to light.  This is the first book I have read by Catherine Ryan Hyde but it won't be my last.  She captured my attention and gave me insight on so much.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in contemporary fiction. I have read several of hers, but this one touched me in ways I wasn’t expecting, drawing me in from the opening chapter.  Although difficult emotionally at times, it was worth sharing the experience of these multi-faceted characters as they learned about themselves and what they were capable of feeling and doing in uncontrollable circumstances. I couldn't put this one down for the first 30%, it just captivated me. 

The first 30% of the novel is about the accidental abduction of a 2-yr old child in a carjacking that went awry. Brooke, the mother of the child, Etta, is pulled out of the drivers seat at a stop light by the carjacker who is unaware of the toddler in the carseat in back. When it’s discovered, he drops the baby off, seat and all, in a dark industrial part of L.A. where he won’t be seen but is totally unsafe for anyone, much less a helpless baby. A homeless teen, Molly, who has her own story in this novel, discovers her and takes her to the only place she has, a crate under a cardboard until she can figure out what to do with her. She has no phone and danger is lurking right outside her hiding place. My heart was in my throat during all this. Aptly titled because this was the only thing Molly could think to do to calm the crying toddler. She quietly sang to her “brave girl, quiet girl” and put a finger across her lips until Etta understood and tiredly cuddled close to her rescuer in the cold crate. 

Etta wasn’t missing long but what happens in the interim is the catalyst for the plot line. How it affects those who love her, and how this profound moment will alter the lives of those involved in getting her back safely. The story is told in two POV’s, Brooke, the mom, and Molly, the 16-yr-old homeless teen with a big heart. It has us questioning ourselves as to how we perceive others, with prejudices or attitudes in our reactions. We wonder if we had been approached by a filthy street person in a bad area, would we have stopped to help, or scurried away like those Molly approached in this novel. This also touches on other current topics giving us food for thought about how fragile relationships can be, and yet how easily they could be mended with tolerance and unconditional love, as it should be between a parent and child.

This is sad at times, yes, but there are redeeming moments as well… moments of joy from the smile of a child, a mother, a homeless teen with no self worth but with a beautiful soul. Brilliantly written it will tug at your heartstrings but renew your faith in the goodness of most people. It sure opened my eyes to how the homeless live, I never imagined how bad it could get from my privileged little corner of the world. Or maybe I just didn’t want to think about it.

I won’t easily forget this one. Readers, get your copy at your favorite retailer on May 19, 2020.

My sincerest thanks for the complimentary pre-release digital ARC to the following:
#netgalley 	#lakeunionpublishing	    #catherineryanhyde	#bravegirlquietgirl

Mothers and daughters...relationships explored on so many levels....another excellent read by C R Hyde...always pertininent to social issues!  Thanks to #NetGalley for the e-Arc of #BraveGirl, Quiet Girl

Thank You Netgalley for an early copy.
When I get in a reading funk I just reach for novels by Catherine Ryan Hyde, she always writes beautifully stories of characters bonding through forgiveness and love. Such great characters.

Thank you net galley for an advanced copy of BRAVE GIRL, QUIET GIRL.  This is the first book I read by Catherine Ryan Hyde, I enjoyed it and will be reading more of her books.  This book told the story of a homeless girl and a single mother, the circumstances of their meeting and how their relationship grew. .It also dealt with the mother/daughter relationship..  I could identify with the mother/daughter relationship from both perspectives, and while I got annoyed with the mother's character a lot, I could see her point.  This is the first book that I read where a homeless person was a main character and it really put it into perspective.

Single mom Brooke is back living with her mom and dealing with her mom's non-stop criticism. Nothing Brooke does is good enough. She doesn't spend enough time with her two-year-old daughter Etta. She's too busy working. She has a junker car.



Fed up, Brooke decides to take Etta to the movies for the evening. Once again, her mom has something negative to say and pushes Brooke to at least take her newer luxury sedan since she's going out after dark.



On the way back home, Brooke and Etta are the victims of a carjacking. Brooke is pulled from her mom's car, and Etta remains in in the car in her car seat. Police are called and a desperate race to find Etta begins.



In another neighborhood, Etta's found by a homeless teen. Molly learns of some homeless teen's plans to hold Etta for ransom, so she does everything she can to keep the toddler safe. If she can just make it through the night, she'll be able to get someone to call police for help.



The only criticism I have is that the story started so well and then came off as a little rushed. There's a lot covered in terms of homelessness, single moms, LGBTQ, and foster care. I wish some of those aspects had been fleshed out a little more. At times, it just seemed like things were too quickly wrapped up.



I fell in love with Catherine Ryan Hyde's writing back when Pay It Forward came out. I've read many books since and have enjoyed each one. Brave Girl, Quiet Girl takes a look at the plight of homeless teenagers and the struggles of a single mom. I enjoyed watching Molly and Brooke connect and start to build a tentative relationship. Did I ever like Brooke's mom? No. She was a despicable person from the start and didn't learn much at all.

I have read and loved other books by this author in the past.  I don't know if it's just the wrong time (this strange new world where my attention span is so fleeting) or if the pacing is just too slow.  After snaring my interest early, the pace seemed to slow and I found it hard to motivate myself to return to the story.  Ultimately, it's a DNF for now.  I may circle back and try this one again once life goes back to normal.

Once again, Catherine Ryan Hyde has provided her readers with a thought provoking tale populated by very human and relatable characters that literally step off the page as she examines how the ripples from one act brings together two women - - one a single mother named Brooke and the other Molly, a homeless 16 year old. 
   
Writing with empathy and rich detail, Hyde once again delivers a narrative of realism, moral complexity and emotional resonance as she examines feelings that most of us can barely acknowledge to ourselves in this tale of what constitutes the nature of family as well as each human being’s need for love and approval.

This is a cautionary tale as well as a lesson in forgiveness, adaptability and acceptance and love of others as well as ourselves. Hyde teaches but never preaches.

A contemporary novel about how a dramatic 24 hours bring a single mother and a homeless teenager together.

Single mother, Brooke watches in horror as her mother's car is hijacked with her two-year-old daughter, Etta, trapped inside. When teen runaway, Molly finds Etta abandoned in a LA alley, she takes the little girl under her protection. Soon Molly is able to make contact with police, but Brooke finds herself unexpectedly taking interest in her daughter's rescuer. It's a tale filled with a focus on mother/daughter relationships and what constitutes a family.

I am a big fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books but this was just a good read, not a great read for me. With chapters alternating between the perspectives of Brooke and Molly, there is a lot of focus on the inner thoughts of the two women that often felt a little repetitive. Albeit, Molly's time on the streets gives her a stronger sense of maturity than Brooke. I felt empathetic to their individual journeys but they didn't connect to me like some of Hyde's other characters have in the past.


Goodreads review published 09/05/20
Expected Publication. 19/05/20

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this Author‘s last Book, and from
The description, this one sounded like such an interesting story. However, the main event described in the story happened and was resolved in the first few chapters, and I had the end completely predicted with 75% of the book remaining and then it was just chapters upon chapters of dialogue and some conflict that felt forced  to get there. I’m not sure if this book was intended to be YA, but I especially found the POV from the teenager to be very inauthentic, like the author was purposely writing poorly to reflect a teenagers voice. That got old fast. Overall it was a light and easy read, but didn’t live up to my hopes.

“A slice of hot pizza almost sounded too good to be true. I didn’t want to look forward to it, because I thought she might be lying about it, because it felt like nothing as good as that could exist in the world anymore, or at least not anywhere near me and my rotten luck.”

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is a novel by American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. It happens in seconds. Brooke is driving home in her mother’s late-model BMW when a balaclava’d man drags her out of the car and drives off with Etta, her two-year-old daughter, in the car seat. Frantic hours follow. Her mother, usually an overflowing font of criticism and negativity, is marginally supportive. 

Brooke offers up prayers to the sky: “Please be gentle with her. Please don’t hurt her. Please comfort her when she cries. Please don’t let her be too scared. She’s a good girl. She’s totally innocent. She doesn’t deserve anything bad from anybody. Please take good care of her and get her back to me.”

Sixteen-year-old Molly has been living on the street for some months. Tonight, she’s managed to pick up enough bottles to nett her $1.42, and is returning from a long walk to the twenty-four-hour market with a banana and an apple when she comes across a child’s car seat, there on the pavement. Thoughts of selling it evaporate, however, when she sees a tearful baby strapped into it. No parents appear when Molly shouts. She can’t leave the baby there.

Back at their make-shift shelter, Molly waits for her friend, Bodhi. They need to take the baby to the police, for sure, but subsequent events put them in danger and they go into hiding. Soon, Molly is alone with a baby and a bare minimum of food and drink, determined to protect this child despite the unasked-for responsibility.

These events play out in the first third of the book; from there on, it is the interaction between Molly and Brooke that takes centre stage. Amid misunderstandings, incorrect assumptions and unfair judgements, these two eventually find their way through several turns to the ending we are all hoping for. 

Ryan Hyde has a talent for creating multi-faceted characters and this story is no exception. Molly understandably finds it difficult to trust, given her history, but is wise and perceptive, and often seems like the adult in the situation. And Ryan Hyde certainly knows how to tug at the heartstrings so have the tissues handy and maybe don’t read this in public.

As well as examining the bond between mothers and daughters, she explores societal attitudes to homelessness with insight and intelligence: “I know that people like to pretend you got yourself into the trouble you’re in by doing something that they would know better than to do. That way they can pretend that bad stuff like that happens for a reason and they can just stay out of the way of that reason.” Enormously moving and thought-provoking, this is another brilliant read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing

Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde, and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read Brave Girl, Quiet Girl for an honest review.

I love all of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books, always grasping a life lesson from her writing. This story is about Brooke,  losing her baby, Etta, and eventually reuniting with her, with the aid of Molly, a runaway who is abandoned  and living in a crate beside an LA freeway. Recently divorced, living with her unhappy mother, and wondering if life will ever become normal, Brooke has a lot of baggage to unload before she can trust Molly and realize how much they mean to each other and baby Etta. What they find is love, trust, and hope for the future. This is a heart-warming book.

Catherine Ryan Hyde never fails to provide a solid story that touches on at least one topic that is relevant to today's world. This book touches on several including a mother's love and acceptance, teenage homelessness and LGBTQ acceptance. 

I felt like the author could have gone a little bit deeper with the topics. These are heavy topics and I felt like they were sometimes glossed over. 

With that being said, this was a though-provoking read that I enjoyed. I will always happily read any books by this author. 

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.