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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
Catherine Ryan Hyde is really great at writing a delightful character-driven novel. This one is about Chester and Lewis, two people that thrown together more out of necessity than choice. Chester needed a carer and Lewis needed a job. No one could stand doing it for Chester since he was very unlikable. Lewis also thought that he won't make it. But their journey goes toward an unexpected friendship. It's a beautiful story about life and finding our true purpose in life. This book is heartwarming and inspiring.
Thank you to Lake Union Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this wonderful story in exchange for my honest review. The opinions above are my own.
Thank you to Lake Union Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this wonderful story in exchange for my honest review. The opinions above are my own.
I think when this book first came on my TBR, I had just read "The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride" and while not the same, felt similar, and I pushed it off for a while. This author is a good one to turn to whenever I have a KindleUnlimited subscription (generally a temporary thing, when Amazon offers a deal to former members) because most of her books are included, with text and audio. I've read several, I really liked this one.
Fairly predictable setup - a young gay man living next to a grouchy older man, who mocks him. Ends up being his caregiver and they go on an adventure and get to know and understand each other. A little Hallmark. Quite clean, no proFanity, some discussion of LGTBQ stuff. Dealing with death ... when you know it's not that far off.
I had this in three formats ... with KU I got the Kindle copy and the Audible, and I found the paperback at a thrift store and picked it up too. Table of Contents pet peeves!!! No TOC in the print copy, in Audible - just the chronological chapters listed. Kindle copy was the only one to include the chapter headers. Even those most of these headers weren't super profound, I still appreciate seeing them together in a TOC.
1. The Bad-Neighbor Lottery
2. Oh
3. What's Wrong with That Man?
4. I Want a Drink
5. Nocturnal Redemptions
6. Who Are You and What Have You Done With Chester?
7. Scrape Them
8. What Lay Ahead
9. Personal
10. Gobble Gobble Shine
11. There
12. The Disconnect
13. Honor
14. Judgy
15. Grays
16. You Want To Hear This
17. Chester 1.0
18. Watching You
19. Cool
20. The Win
21. It Okay Honey
22. Weenies
23. Sentimental
24. Serve
25. Calling
Epilogue: One Year Later
I really like chapter headers in a TOC ... Scrape ... I remember the bumper stickers. The Win ... Ahhhhh, I'm going to remember that moment so fondly. If the author goes to the effort of making chapter headers, PLEASE make a TOC and include them (in all formats!) I went dominantly with the audio - I've heard Michael Crouch in quite a few other books, but usually as part of an ensemble. Here, it was all him, as this was all from Louis's POV (first person/past tense).
There were bookclub questions in the Kindle copy - which again, I appreciate. I read them, , they make me think about some things I might not have otherwise (as a bookclub discussion might), delve a little deeper. These had some points to ponder.
Fairly predictable setup - a young gay man living next to a grouchy older man, who mocks him. Ends up being his caregiver and they go on an adventure and get to know and understand each other. A little Hallmark. Quite clean, no proFanity, some discussion of LGTBQ stuff. Dealing with death ... when you know it's not that far off.
I had this in three formats ... with KU I got the Kindle copy and the Audible, and I found the paperback at a thrift store and picked it up too. Table of Contents pet peeves!!! No TOC in the print copy, in Audible - just the chronological chapters listed. Kindle copy was the only one to include the chapter headers. Even those most of these headers weren't super profound, I still appreciate seeing them together in a TOC.
1. The Bad-Neighbor Lottery
2. Oh
3. What's Wrong with That Man?
4. I Want a Drink
5. Nocturnal Redemptions
6. Who Are You and What Have You Done With Chester?
7. Scrape Them
8. What Lay Ahead
9. Personal
10. Gobble Gobble Shine
11. There
12. The Disconnect
13. Honor
14. Judgy
15. Grays
16. You Want To Hear This
17. Chester 1.0
18. Watching You
19. Cool
20. The Win
21. It Okay Honey
22. Weenies
23. Sentimental
24. Serve
25. Calling
Epilogue: One Year Later
I really like chapter headers in a TOC ... Scrape ... I remember the bumper stickers. The Win ... Ahhhhh, I'm going to remember that moment so fondly. If the author goes to the effort of making chapter headers, PLEASE make a TOC and include them (in all formats!) I went dominantly with the audio - I've heard Michael Crouch in quite a few other books, but usually as part of an ensemble. Here, it was all him, as this was all from Louis's POV (first person/past tense).
There were bookclub questions in the Kindle copy - which again, I appreciate. I read them, , they make me think about some things I might not have otherwise (as a bookclub discussion might), delve a little deeper. These had some points to ponder.
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beach read
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Maybe my interest in the elderly sparked my loving this book but I really did like it and how Louis handled his "difficult" clients as well as how he looked at them and their attitudes.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes