"Why do people do that? Why do they need to make you wrong? Or make you out to be some kind of bad person? Everybody knows bad things happen. I know we are not supposed to talk about this. I know you don't want me to. But I'm talking about it. I'm just talking about it. Because I need to know"."Here's the thing," she said. "If they admit to themselves that what happened couldn't have been easily prevented, then they're admitting it could happen to them." All I want to say is that there are so

I adore Catherine Ryan Hyde. This novel should be depressing because it deals with incredibly difficult topics—suicide, addiction, parental neglect, the Vietnam war—and yet I found it uplifting. Fourteen-year-old Lucas’s brother is fighting in Vietnam and his parents are fighting each other—constantly. By accident, he befriends a much older woman with a troubled past and finds solace in running and hanging out with her dogs. His best friend is also troubled. Connor’s parents don’t fight—they’d h...

This book was a wonderful surprise! I had never read anything by this author, but a friend recommended it so I thought I would pick it up. The story is told from the point of view of a fourteen-year-old boy, Lucas Painter, who was dealing with several issues: his brother was off fighting in Vietnam, his parents argued all the time, and his best friend, Connor, is always sad. Lucas has discovered that two dogs live at a cabin in the woods and he goes and runs with them every day. One day the dogs...

Catherine Ryan Hyde has written a delightful book with a perfect blend of characters, setting and story.SUMMARYLucas Painter is fourteen years old and overwhelmed with responsibility. It’s 1969 and his brother, Roy is fighting in Vietnam, his parents are endlessly fighting, and his best friend Connor is struggling with depression. Lucas is trying desperately to help all of them. Lucas has turned to running to take his mind off his troubles. On a run in the woods near his house, he finds an isola...

I read two books by Catherine Ryan Hyde and while I enjoy an uplifting story, they felt a bit too sappy, even for me. Then I read Have You Seen Luis Velez? and I liked that one so much more. Still, I wasn’t planning on reading this one, until I read the 4 and 5 stars reviews by some of my friends that kept coming. It was my friend Tudor Queen’s review that convinced me and I’m thankful because I really was moved by this story.It was easy to like Lucas right from the beginning, feel for him as he...

Don't you just love those rare books that grab you immediately from the first page? It's such a thrill when that happens. I'm going to write this review with the strictest of caution not to reveal too many details as the reader must experience this delicious unfolding of a story going in blind. It's the summer of 1969 when the book begins, with one 14-year old Lucas Painter recounting a pivotal moment in the trajectory of his life. He likened it to when you're walking across a teeter totter and

Author Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my big reading discoveries this year. I have only read two of her bajillion books so far, but both hit the bullseye for me. I am thrilled there are so many more for me to dive into.Stay is a thoroughly engaging story set in the summer of 1969. The plot centers around four main characters, including the deeply affecting Zoe Dinsmore, a 55-year-old recluse with tragedy in her past that has left her racked with guilt. Then there are the two 14-year-old best frie...

5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Wow! Stunning book! Catherine Ryan Hyde does it again with Stay - a coming of age story about Lucas Painter growing up in the summer of 1969. My review will be brief because it’s best to just dive into this book without knowing too much about it. The story is told from one POV - Lucas. He is the sweetest, most caring and selfless 14 year old boy who carries a lot of burdens. His parents constantly fight and yell, his older brother is at war in Vietnam and his best friend Conne...

When Lucas Painter was only fourteen, he felt weighed down by what was happening around him. His big brother Roy, whom he idolized, was away fighting in Vietnam – Lucas continually worried that he wouldn’t make it home again. His parents were forever fighting; yelling at one another – Lucas needed to leave the house to get away from the harsh words. His best friend Connor was struggling with issues concerning his mother and father and Lucas worried he couldn’t help his friend.The day Lucas wande...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Another heart warming story written by Catherine Ryan Hyde. When I need a feel good story especially in this crazy world we are all now living in I turn to Catherine Ryan Hyde. You never disappoint me with your incredible compellingly writing. Happy reading to all...📚

Such a beautiful story! Exquisitely told, deeply moving, and thoughtfully tender. It is the summer of 1969 and 14-year-old Lucas has a lot too be concerned about. His parents are fighting nonstop, his brother is over in Vietnam, and his best friend doesn’t seem to want to leave the house. There was a lot of burden on this 14-year-old’s shoulders and so he took to running in the woods where he met Zoe and her dogs. At first Lucas would only run with the dogs and had very little interaction with Z...

This was such a touching read. I was utterly transfixed by this novel as I read it over the course of a single day. It was gentle.It was sweet. It was heartbreaking.And it was life affirming. The majority of the novel takes place in the summer of 1969 and focuses on 14 year old Lucas Painter. Lucas is the sweetest character ever. I have never felt so maternal about a character when reading a book as I have about Lucas. He's just on life's precipice about to become a man, but still a boy... And i...

“Stay” has 439 written reviews on Goodreads, with an overall 4.46 rating. The blurb itself says plenty - Forgive me if I’m just singing to the choir...” yes, it’s good, has heart, worthy issues, depth, insightful themes, and takes place during the Vietnam war era.....in a small town. Yep.....I ENJOYED THIS BOOK *Too*! Thank you Goodreads community!!! 👍🏻💕🐾🌳Towards the end I was ready for it to end...but there is no denying that “Stay”, was easily engaging - with storytelling that flowed effortle...

This is only the second novel I've read written by Catherine Ryan Hyde, but she writes such beautiful books that I will definitely be checking out her previous novels. The main character in this book, Lucas Painter is a fourteen year old boy who is very thoughtful and caring for his age. The year is 1969 and his homelife is difficult as his parents fight all the time and his older brother Roy is away in Vietnam writing Lucas letter which show he is struggling with the trauma of combat. His best

Beautifully written story by seasoned author Catherine Ryan Hyde. Each of her characters are engaging, my favorite being 14-year old Lucas, the central character whose life will drastically change after meeting up with two large dogs near a remote cabin in the woods.“What I did not yet know is that I had placed the first domino in a stack of events that would literally alter the world as I’d known it.”This selfless, perceptive and thoughtful young man completely captured my heart. He carried a h...