Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This one surprised me. It was really good and felt very real and authentic to how it feels to live with scars, visible and not.

I really enjoyed Michael and getting to know him as a whole. We got to watch his growth come full circle from the moment everything changed.

Its a powerful read.

Michael Without Apology
By Catherine Ryan Hyde
Narrated by Michael Crouch

Publishes May 6,2025

This is a book I think that everyone should read. It was so touching and the dive into so many others stories around him. This really hit home with me because I haven’t always been happy with my appearance especially after becoming chronically ill. Rex stuck out the most to me, a 103 year old olympic silver medalist who was at the olympics during Hitlers reign. I love the journey through each persons life and really shows that looks isn’t everything.
I will be reading more from Catherine Ryan Hyde because if her other books are as good as this I wont be able to put them down. If I could give this 10 stars I would it was THAT good.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

4 thought-provoking stars!

Michael shows up early for his first college film class. His teacher, Mr. Dunning, introduces himself and their conversation marks the beginning of an incredible mentoring relationship that inspires and changes Michael’s life forever.

The story grabbed me immediately. Michael was an endearing, interesting, multi-layered character. He had so much depth and vulnerability. Searching for a sense of purpose and belonging, Michael’s character is sure to have readers sympathizing and rooting for him. His backstory brings a heaviness to the plot that had my heart aching. The plot is filled with real, raw, honest vulnerability and emotion.

Moments of the story did feel slightly preachy, especially when Mr Dunning was talking with Michael, however, this was essential in his role as mentor to Michael. And perhaps that was the authors intention. The matter-of-fact conversations had a quiet power to them that was memorable and impactful.

This novel is filled with heavy topics, some of which include addiction, child neglect, cancer, Hitler, among others. Please be sure to check trigger warnings before reading this.

Audio rating: 4 stars! The audio narrator did a great job performing this story. He gave a convincing, strong narrative that matched Michael’s character well for me. At times his narration felt slightly robotic, but it blended well with the tone of the story, the seriousness of the dialogue and Michael’s character in general. Pauses and expressions were perfectly timed. I highly recommend the audio!

Thank you to the publisher for my advanced audio copy !

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing | Amazon Publishing, and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, with the audio perfectly narrated by Michael Crouch. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Michael was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care and subsequent adoption by another family. Now a college freshman, he's taking a film class by Robert Dunning, himself scarred but with no apology. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. The reaction to his call for stories shows him that everyone struggles with these issues.

Every book that Catherine Ryan Hyde astounds me. She explores a different human issue in each book and makes you look hard at it. Typically, it will change your views and encourage you to be a better person. This one is a must read because we all deal with body image issues. It made me think how quickly we judge others by their looks. I loved these characters - of course, Michael and Robert, but all the film subjects, and his adoptive parents. An absolute must read!

Michael Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma from his classmates, his adoptive family, and himself.

When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society—and is surprised to learn that this is essentially everyone. Although some participants are recovering from injuries or surgeries, others are dealing with more everyday factors like aging or the changes to a body from giving birth.

As he collects these stories—and finally tells his own—Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him.

This is a devastatingly real book about everyone's struggle with self-acceptance. I was able to listen to the audiobook and I felt like the narrator did a great job. Michael's story while unique with his firework accident felt like it connected to a wider audience because so many people deal with body image issues. His relationship with his professor, Robert was something I think we all aspire to have. Someone who pushes you to see the world and yourself in a different light. While I did enjoy this book I felt like Michael's personality didn't quiet sit right with me. I would recommend this book to others though.

Splendid narration. This Narrator did such a good job. He pulls you in and holds you until the very ending. Never does he make this story sound bad. He did great.

A favorite author of mine. This book is such a good one. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Catherine Ryan Hyde always gives you something to think about and makes you shed lots of tears. I've read so many of her books and will continue too.

There are a few characters that you will love. Each has a story. Tim is the janitor and has always been stick thin. He hates how he looks. Rex, who is 103 years old, was an olympic silver medalist during Hitler's reign. At the start of it. Rex was only fifteen at that time. Tanya is the mother of five and has a lot to say also. Madeleine is an older women who had a double mastectomy and whom Michael has a fling with. Then there is the professor who started it all, Robert Dunning. He is the professor of Michael's film class he's taking. The one who has scars of his own. Very visible scars that he calls attention to the first day. He refuses to hide them. Michael has scars too. He's kept them hidden though. He was afraid of people's reaction. Until he met Mr Dunning...

This book takes you through each of the of each people lives I named. How they came to meet Michael and how he interacted with each. Though he really only met them briefly they all left a huge imprint on his life. Made him into the adult and husband he was to be.

Michael is raised from age eight up by his adoptive parents. They were his foster parents and they loved him so unconditionally and adopted him. His birth parents gave them full freedom to do so. It hurt Michael and he felt like it was because of what happened to him. He loved his adoptive parents unconditionally also. He didn't want to see his birth parents ever. Michael had a good life. He was loved and loved his parents.

You find out everything about what happened to Michael and each of the people he interviewed and why he did this interview. How it developed and ended. All you need is there. No questions left unanswered.

This is a very emotional story that had me weeping in parts. You just never know what scars a person is carrying. Be wary of judgement as it could be something that can't be helped.

Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnion, #BrillanceAudio...

I listened to the audiobook of this one and I thought the narrator matched the story well even if it was a little flat for my personal tastes. This was a really beautiful story even if it was also full of tragedy. I thought the events/relationships all moved more quickly than was naturally, but I did still enjoy. The story quite a bit. Michael is in college and so excited to start his first film class. He’s taken off guard when he sees his professor, a man visibly covered in burn marks. Michael is beyond fascinated by the way that his professor is so up front about it especially because his torso is covered in scars of his own from an accident when he was just a child. This was a quick story, but it was full of emotions and all kinds of connections. The story was well written and it was a fun ride.

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.