After thrilling to so many of CR Hyde’s books in the past, this one was just “not my story.” All of her books are geared toward youth and all of them preach a good sermon, using great object lessons. She’s very visual in her writings. This one was just a bit too YA for my enjoyment.

I appreciate the ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What a unique creation. This is not the typical Ryan Hyde book in that the story seems to build slowly with much more tension than in her other books. At least I certainly felt it, which is applicable to the situation these characters find themselves in. Ms. RH always seems to write about topics that affect/impact children in a unique way while still giving those children the ability and courage to take care of themselves and overcome or go around obstacles. I love that these choices in literature exist.
Edited 3/18/20 - I finally was able to finish this book. Wow, SO much emotion involved - my heart felt like a basketball in a pro game most of the time. I'm upgrading my rating to five stars, the first ever book to get that. Heads up: some people may find that several of the three plot points are personal emotional triggers. Bravo, CRH!

Catherine Ryan Hyde always writes about topical issues, in this case homelessness and motherhood. Sometimes I can find her books a bit predictable but this one was, I think, her best for a while.

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy.

Thank you for allowing me to read the book for my honest opinion.
I found Brave Girl, Quiet Girl a very touching story. I loved that it was a very touching story that brought entangled the lives of two very strong women. The story involves two women, Brooke and Molly, how are both unknowingly at a crossroads. The book is told from both Brooke and Molly’s perspectives. I enjoyed the book a lot and will suggest it for our book club.

I had a hard time getting into this book, but once I did it was worth it. The dynamic between the 2 main characters, who meet up under different circumstances makes the book more interesting as you get into the depth of the book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my honest thoughts.

Another good read by a favorite author, who is so good at writing about feelings and different issues that life can throw at you.
In this story, she breaches on the subject, of homeless people, gender identity, parent child relationships and a carjacking that brought it all together.
Brooke is a single mom, who one night after having taken her young daughter to a movie had her car carjacked with her baby still inside. Her daughter Etta, who is two years old disappears into the night.
That night a young homeless girl Molly finds the baby strapped in her car seat by the side of the road.
Scared and hungry she hid with the baby, until she felt is was safe enough to call the police. A lot goes on before she can reunite the mother with her child, and once that happens there is a lot of emotions and misunderstandings, before trust can be built between Brooke and Molly.
Great story of human fragility, strength and unbreakable spirit.
I cannot wait to read her next story.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. The book begins with the taking of a small child, but the story is mainly about the relationship between a young teen girl and a woman who learns to accept someone she never thought she would into her heart and home. Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde for another wonderful book!
Brooke is a divorced single mom, financially strapped, living with her mother, and holding tight to the one thing that matters most: her two-year-old daughter, Etta. Then, in a matter of seconds, Brooke’s life is shattered when she’s carjacked. Helpless and terrified, all Brooke can do is watch as Etta, still strapped in her seat, disappears into the Los Angeles night.
Miles away, Etta is found by Molly, a homeless teen who is all too used to darkness. Thrown away by her parents, and with a future as stable as the wooden crate she calls home, Molly survives day to day by her wits. As unpredictable as her life is, she’s stunned to find Etta, abandoned and alone. Shielding the little girl from more than the elements, Molly must put herself in harm’s way to protect a child as lost as she is.
Out of one terrible moment, Brooke’s and Molly’s desperate paths converge and an unlikely friendship across generations and circumstances is formed. With it, Brooke and Molly will come to discover that what’s lost—and what’s found—can change in a heartbeat. #BraveGirlQuietGirl #NetGalley

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

I truly enjoyed this story. It made me think, and feel many emotions. I highly recommend it.

This book was better than expected. I didn’t think I could hold it out but the way it was written made it more interesting

I’m a big Catherine Ryan Hyde fan. I know when I get a opportunity to read one of her books, that I’m in for a treat. I fell in love with this book on page one. Brooke is a young mother of a baby girl named Etta. Without giving too much of the story away, they meet a young teenager named Molly. Molly is only 16 and living on the streets. This book is a lot about relationships between mothers and daughters. And also it’s about love and acceptance. The characters are very well developed and the storyline is gripping, thought provoking, captivating. I realize those words are similar but they describe Ms. Hyde’s writing and this book in particular. I’m sorry to see that the book has ended. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

If you was to look on my kindle, you’d realize that I really enjoy reading books by author Catherine Ryan Hyde as I have purchased 15 of them so far. She doesn’t just write stories, she writes stories with a purpose! I always seem to take something away from reading them. It’s like they hold a type of life lesson for me. And Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is like that too. The characters are down to earth people just like the majority of us and I like that about her books. This particular story covers several different topics such as homelessness and living on the streets, being gay and not being accepted by family and learning to trust in others. This book just like her others really made me stop and think. I always feel like I come away with a better knowledge of the way the world is after reading her stories. This is another great book and one I think everyone will enjoy and learn from. I’d like to thank NetGalley for gifting me the e-arc to read and review. All opinions here are my own. I give this a 5 star rating!

This book is phenomenal! The first half had me turning pages so quickly to see what happens next. The writing is fast paced at just the right times and slows down perfectly as well.

The characters are so well developed that you truly get a sense of who they are. Their feelings, their pain and their hopes.

While it starts off as more of a thriller, this book ultimately comes down to relationships. How we forge them and how we break them.

Because of the powerful message behind the book, I 100% believe everyone should read it! It is an emotional rollercoaster though. So grab some tissues.

5 stars! I loved this new book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I love all of her books and this was no exception. I loved the character development and would recommend this book to anyone.

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl begins with a mother's worst nightmare and ends with a young girl's dreams coming true, despite the odds against her. Hyde's ability to bring the reader to both highs and lows through real-life circumstances and situations shines through once again. Fiction that mirrors reality, Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is a thought-provoking glimpse into "family," in its various shapes and forms -- the good, the bad, and the ugly -- leaving the reader with a message of hope and the inspiration to help make the world a better place.

I enjoyed this book so much. I finished it in 2 days! It was believable and emotional. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Molly has had a rough life, through no fault of her own. To begin with, she comes from a somewhat dysfunctional family, gets put out of the house by her mother and ends up living on the street. Then one day, she finds a baby, yes, a baby! She does her best to mother and care for the young little girl which sets in motion the series of changes in her life that take her places she never expected to go. A struggling reluctant hero, so to speak, does the best she can to help Molly out after a rough start to the relationship. Although slightly predictable, this book was an enjoyable quick read that I would recommend for anyone who needs to see how life can be on the other side. No matter your situation, this book will make you thankful for the things that you have. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

This novel tugged on my heartstrings from the very first pages. Brooke loves her daughter fiercely and with her whole heart. When a crime separates her from her daughter her whole world is upended. When homeless teen Molly finds baby Etta, her instinct is to protect this beautiful sweet child above all else.
As the story unfolds Brooke and Molly meet and an unlikely relationship evolves. This poignant tale looks at motherhood from multiple lenses and makes the reader wonder: What makes a good mother? Are some people just born to be mothers? Are we all destined to become a version of our own mothers? I could not put the story down until I knew how Brooke, Molly and Etta's story would be resolved.

This was my first book by Catherine Ryan Hyde and I really enjoyed Brave Girl, Quiet Girl. This turned out to be a story that gave you all the feels. Brooke is a single mom with a small child, Etta. She is not in the best place in life. Brooke is living with her mom and feeling down on herself after her divorce. One day, she is carjacked and the thief gets away with her mom's Mercedes and her daughter in the backseat. In comes Molly, a homeless teen, who finds Etta still strapped in her car seat on street in West LA. And from there is a 24 hour survival for Molly and Etta, trying not to succumb to the dangers on the LA streets. Hyde shows you the side of living on the streets and what put poor Molly there. This world needs more people like Brooke and Molly!
Overall, This book is well written and keeps you interested from page one to the end. I will be recommending this book to others and will be looking for other works by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Special thanks NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

#BraveGirlQuietGirl #NetGalley

Brave Girl, Quiet Girl is a touching story about two very different, strong women. If I were to classify this novel, I would explain that it is partly a coming of age book combined with a light thriller or suspense novel. Truly though, it is much more than that. Two characters who each share their own point of view that are connected from one senseless night.

Brooke is a single mom running an errand with her cute little daughter, Etta. Her car is taken along with her child and her world will never be the same again. Molly is a teenager who also happens to be homeless and she is the one who finds Etta, abandoned on the side of the road in a bad area of town in her car seat.

The book begins with the desperation that Brooke feels and the care that Molly takes for someone's little girl but it winds up spotlighting deep issues including how we treat the homeless. There are other issues that author Catherine Ryan Hyde handles with skill and grace as we get to know Molly, Etta, and Brooke better. I will say that Hyde has a way of drawing characters that are visible to the naked eye through the words and paragraphs on the pages of Brave Girl, Quiet Girl. I was not ready for the novel to be over or to say goodbye to these lovely women (and little Etta too). Why? Because somehow I wound up drawn into their imperfect world with all their mistakes and insecurities...into the hearts deep within. Truly a touching book!! So Highly recommend!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde, and Lake Union Publishing for this temporary, digital advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own.

Amazing, heartwarming book! The story about the bond between a single mother who was car-jacked with her baby still in the car, and the homeless teenage girl who finds the baby and protects her until she can turn her into the police department..