I think what I like the most about Catherine Ryan Hyde books are the way that her characters process emotions and make meaning out of literally everything. I think that this style may drive some people nuts but it really, really works for me. I enjoy her novels and this was no exception. There were parts of this one that made me tear up.

Thank you to NetGalley and LakeUnion for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read so many Catherine Ryan Hyde books. This is probably one of her best. She has returned to her greatest form.
It was just so powerful and so provocative that you had to stop and reread a quote or sentence and just think about it. The novel starts with a simple premise of how a boy injured in childhood felt about his body. He thinks he’s the only one who is ashamed of how he looks and how he has hidden himself or not done certain things because of it . Now a freshman in college, he enrolls in a film class and sees that the professor is very badly burned. Each student must produce a film by semesters end. We follow the journey of Michael, the main character, through the making of the film and way beyond. I feel this is one book you will never forget. It shouldn’t be missed.

What a read. It cuts to the soul and challenges the reader to introspect. The lesson to stop apologising for things not in ones control resonared deeply with me. There are truly so many life lessons in the story that this book is timeless. Catherine Ryan Hyde you deserve all your success as no book disappoints.

“Michael Without Apology” is by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I’ll admit, while Ms. Hyde’s books aren’t an auto-read for me, I do look forward to her new book. The one thing I wished this book had (and maybe the final version will) was how/why Ms. Hyde was inspired to write this book. Anyway, when Michael is eight years old, he is badly burned by a firework. He was in the hospital for many weeks and removed from his parents. Michael’s foster family decided to adopt him. While Michael loves his adopted parents, he always felt that something was wrong with him for his birth parents to not want him to return to them. When Michael is in college, he takes a film course and meets Robert Dunning, his teacher who is also badly burned. Mr. Dunning becomes Michael’s mentor - and it’s a wonderful refreshing relationship. Michael makes a student documentary film about body issues - Michael tells his own story but there are also the stories of others, including a former US gymnast who competed in the 1936 Olympics. Michael learns more about himself - and relationships. There were so many good things in this book - the former Olympian’s story about his wife was so touching (and, yes, with one of my now passed loved ones, a five minute conversation would be wonderful). Michael’s story is told in both the past and from the ages of 19-25. While the book focuses on Michael, the story touches upon his relationship with his birth family, his adoptive family, and even Michael becoming more comfortable with himself. This was a fast read for me - and a storyline that kept me turning the pages as it was rather engrossing. Was this an easy book to read - no, some rough topics are mentioned in this book. But I’d recommend this book strongly to people who want to be seen as they are no matter what their outside looks like.

I'll read anything that Catherine Ryan Hyde writes, and she never fails to surprise me. She has such a way of making her readers experience the emotions of her characters.

This book begins with a small family at the beach: father, mother, two sons. It's cold in the ocean, and the breezes are cold too. Their parents kept going back to their car, leaving the two boys unsupervised on the crowded beach. Then the older boy coerces his younger brother into stealing some professional grade fireworks from a cordoned off area. This was the final precipitating factor that changed the lives of every family member.

Michael is the younger son, the one who was most seriously injured and scarred by the fireworks. We meet him as an adult when he goes to college. He signs up for a film workshop class, and it changes his life.

When he first saw the professor, he was shocked. Robert Dunning, the professor, also had a significant amount of scarring, including on his face and hands. Unlike Michael, he could not hide his scars. He taught Michael by example to accept his scars and to not be ashamed. Michael's whole life changes from meeting this one man. It was amazing to see the man he became.

I received an e-arc of this book from Lake Union Publishing and voluntarily read and reviewed it. These are my own opinions.

I am a huge Catherine Ryan Hyde fan. Her storylines and characters are always so very real and interesting. This book is no exception. Michael is the main character. He is just starting college and really wants to be an actor but has decided to take classes to learn how to make and edit films as a kind of fallback. About his third class of his first day was to be a film workshop class. He was excited about it and was going to get there early to be sure to get a good seat. From there, Micheal’s life changed. This is a very thought provoking story. It is a very good book. Mrs Hyde has another winner. Thank you to NetGalley and LakeUnion for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

Every six months or so I check Net Galley to see if Catherine Ryan Hyde has released another book. Why? Because she is such a prolific and wonderful writer that sometimes I just need one of her books to brighten up my life. And most of the time, she succeeds, which is why she is one of my favorites. Why again? For two reasons.

First in every one of her novels, she introduces a character who is genuinely good. Sometimes it's a curmudgeon with a heart of gold and sometimes it is even a young child with an innate sense of what is the right thing to do. Second is the fact that in each and every one of her books I learn something I never knew before. Sometimes it's medical, sometimes equine, occasionally it is artistic. In one novel it was free climbing. In every one. I am left with a lesson, a thoughtful philosophy, a determination to be a better person. But this is supposed to be my review of Michael without apologies.

Michael is 19 and living with his adopted family. He was severely burned in a fireworks explosion at age 7 and given up by his birth parents. In college, he decides to produce a short documentary about body image and the covering up of scars. He meets s and falls in love with one of his subjects. It's also about a beautiful relationship between a Film Studies teacher and a young student. It's about not being ashamed or embarrassed by physical scars, It's about love and grief and the making of short documentary films.

This book will make you want to go back and read all 50 of Catherine Ryan Hyde's previous novels. Each one will leave you reflecting on it for a long time. Don't be surprised if you can recall it forever.

Thanks to Net Galkley and Lake Union for another wonderful early copy from Hyde.

This is the best book Catherine Ryan Hyde has ever written. Knowing the depth and breadth of her body of work, that might seem like a broad statement, but having read most of her books, it's either a matter of personal opinion, or if you read this book, you might just consider it to be fact.

We all have flaws, whether those others can see, or those we carry internally. Be it illness, injury or occurrences at birth, we carry marks, scars and often, shame. With shame often comes the need to apologize for not measuring up, one way or another. Hyde takes us through the need to stop feeling shame and to stop apologizing for things over which we have no control, and she does it with care in this story. The realizations I took away from this book kept me nodding in agreement and understanding, as I read page after page.

Michael was injured as a child, and to shorten down this part of the story, for the rest of his life, he thought his parents didn't want an imperfect child, and that's why he was given up for adoption. Fortunately, his new parents were good and loving people who were able to care for Michael and love him, make sure he was educated and accept him.

With the help of a film professor in college, Michael makes a life-changing decision to tell the stories of others who have a myriad of things about themselves they feel have kept them from being the whole person they would like to be.

Despite some of the harshness the reader meets from Michael's biological parents, most of the rest of this book is pure love. Michael learns that he is a person who deserves acceptance and he learns to give it to others. He learns we are all imperfect in one way or another.

I couldn't put this magnificent book down.

Appreciation to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

This is a story about the struggle for self acceptance, friendship, love and ultimately about the redemptivepower of stories.. I really enjoyed it and would recommend.

I would actually give this book a 4 1/2 stars-
What a fabulous story about a young boy who lived through a terrible accident and in college had a great professor who had horrible burns on his body that told his new students to take a good look ask questions about him and basically get it out of your system so we can get down to business and learn about film making.
Michael has a direct connection with his professor Dunning and actually shows him his own chest and body scars and the bond between the two is formed.
Professor Dunning has each student direct a film that reflects something about you and your life.
Michael decides to film his on your body with No Apologies and asks for volunteers who aren’t happy with their body. His volunteers take Michael in a totally different direction than what he was thinking about doing but his work was a life changing experience.
I highly recommend this book and thank you to NetGalley for receiving ARC.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Every book I read by Catherine Ryan Hyde quickly becomes my favorite, and Michael Without Apology, is no exception. I loved how we learned Michael’s thoughts as they developed and changed. I appreciated how he often slowed down and thought about what was being said to him, and what he said in response, and how it was all shown in the dialogue between the characters in the novel. I felt like Michael was a friend of mine, and I wanted him to not only do well, but accept himself in the process.

“Michael Without Apology” by Catherine Ryan Hyde is a story that touched my soul deeply. The story is about Michael, who as a seven year old very nearly dies after a horrible fireworks accident. He has spent his young life trying to hide the trauma of both his severe physical and mental scars because of the accident and because he was given up for adoption by his birth parents. Now as a college freshman, in his first film class he meets his teacher who is also cruelly facially scared and wears his scars “unapologetically”! The teacher encourages Michael to make a documentary about people who feel rejected and unattractive. Through his powerful mentorship we are taken on a journey from the past to the present where real life lessons of aging, loss, and self acceptance are taught. Everyone needs to read this book, it is the most remarkable heartfelt lesson in gratitude and perseverance I have ever read! This is going to be the best book of 2025!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When Michael signs up for a film class and is introduced to his professor Robert Dunning, he is surprised when Dunning addresses his scars the first day of class. He tells his students it is normal to be curious then states –‘Let’s get it out of the way so we can focus on filmmaking’. Michael, at the age of 7, was permanently disfigured in a fireworks accident. The story was written beautifully, captivating me from beginning to end. Love takes many forms and the initial love story of Madeline and Michael was heartbreaking. His next love story with Caroline gives the reader that despite tragedy, there is hope.
Thanks NetGalley for an ARC. Beautiful story and one that will stick with me for a long time.

I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it was written well from Catherine Ryan Hyde. I was invested in what was happening with Michael and going on this journey with them. The rest of the characters worked overall and was engaged with the plot of the book.

✰ 3 stars ✰

​​​“​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.​”​

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Twelve years ago, nineteen-year-old college freshman and aspiring filmmaker, Michael Woodbine was heavily scarred in a near-fatal fireworks accident that ultimately led to him being placed in foster care away from his parents and older brother - scars so deep that he's spent his entire life trying to hide the trauma he's carried with himself since. But, when he meets his new film teacher, Robert Dunning, a man who is unashamed and unapologetic about his own scars, Michael is inspired to make a documentary that explores body image and how one perceives themselves. But, when a misspoken ad gets mistaken for something else - one that goes beyond just the visible physical scars, but a perception of how one perceives their body with any physical attribution - be it age or weight, his film takes an unexpected, but welcome turn, one that gives Michael the chance to not only finally accept his own scars and not hide away, but finally put to rest the lingering doubts that have stayed with him all these years.

​​“​You’re freaking alive, and you’re scared because everything is real and you can feel it all. Take it from someone who doesn’t get to have enough of the alive thing. Run with that feeling. Have a real life and take the risks. Live like living means something. Like you’re lucky to have the chance.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Michael Without Apology is a poignant and heartfelt journey of a young man's journey to embrace himself and life. To finally shed away the questions and challenges he's buried inside, convincing himself that because of how badly he's been scarred, he is never quite capable of love. But his chance meetings and interviews with those who approach him help him understand just how worthy he is of it; that there are those lacking on other counts, but still capable of finding it and living. ‘Being a person takes practice.’ His new relationships made him accept his body and not be ashamed to keep them a secret, and by doing so he was able to help others, as well.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ There are some beautiful intimate moments; ones that capture how we are most vulnerable when we are honest, ones that evoke empathy and sympathy and compassion. How we are defiant in who we are, despite the shame and rejection they've faced, only to learn to embrace it wholeheartedly - 'scars are a fact of life'. The search for closure about his parents' decisions and choices was also deeply cathartic, but painfully so. Michael's relationship with his adoptive parents vs his real ones was a stark contrast; one that made him fully realize his own misjudgement and give way for forgiving himself. In quick succession he learned what it means to love and to lose it , even if 'the love two people share has a life of its own'. He braved the storms of showing his most honest self that resonated deeply with his viewers. And he learned the importance of simply being himself - unapologetically so. Here I Am, This Is Me.

​​“​And yet in another way it felt right. More than right, actually. It felt triumphant. Like some wonderful thing he could have done ages ago if only someone would have told him he could.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I did find that the story dragged towards the end; as much as I appreciated the need to show that Michael was able to succeed and find more ground to cover, I also did not feel that it added to the initial story. It felt a bit reaching, in my opinion, but I do appreciate how it did tie into his initial video, so it was not entirely out of the blue. And yes, one scene was uncomfortable, for sure, but it was smoothed over, deservedly so. I also struggled a bit with the dialogue; I know it's unfair to say that I need a way for the conversation to have some descriptive detail to how it's said, considering life itself is devoid of it. But, then I just feel like I'm reading a script and it lacks warmth; the tone runs very flat then, and almost robotic. Some authors succeed in capturing the inflictions in the tone, but I didn't quite feel that here.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Despite these complaints, my fourth go with CRH was not a solid one. Michael's accident was harrowing enough, but the way he grew as a person from these challenges was heartwarming and deserving. 'You’re better off being you.' It was a touching story with a beautiful and important message. One that makes you take stock of the things we take for granted, and realize where the true importance of the joy and beauty is to simply be grateful to be alive. Otherwise, you don't know what you'll be missing out on.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Michael Without Apology
Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde
Publisher: Lake Union Publishers
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: May 6, 2025
My Rating: 4.4 Stars
Pages: 293

One 4th of July when Michael Woodbine was seven years old and under his brother Thomas’ watch he takes a fireworks rocket., they light it and when Michael see authorities he dives to hide the rocket which explodes which sends him to the hospital. He survives but is scarred forever both physically and emotionality. His parents are arrested for child endangerment and he is placed in foster care and later adopted by his foster parents. Now a college freshman, he is still trying .to hide the effects of his trauma.

When Michael signs up for a film class and is introduced to his professor Robert Dunning, he is surprised when Dunning addresses his scars the first day of class. He tells his students it is normal to be curious then states –‘Let’s get it out of the way so we can focus on filmmaking’

Another thing great about Prof is when he tells Michael -"Being a person takes practice."
I was a school guidance counselor for over thirty years. And wish I had this statement handy as most teens are busy trying to be what their parent’s want- others want to do the opposite but neither realizes that that they still need more practice being themselves.

Okay now ~ BACK TO THE STORY ~
Once Prof Dunning realizes that Michael is suffering from his own disfigurement, He asked if he would be willing to participate in making a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Once Michael accepts he places an ad seeking anyone who feels rejected by society —Michael 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.
One of his first volunteers is Madeline~ who become a very important person in Michael’s life.

Catherine Ryan Hyde| never disappointed- great story!!!!

This is only my tenth ninth -Catherine Ryan Hyde| novel. She has had 40+ book published. As well fifty of her short stories have been published in professional Reviews and Journals.
I got on the Catherine train when I read "Brave Girl, Quiet Girl” in May 2020 and I have been a big fan ever since!
Since then I have been willing to read anything she writes! When I saw this I knew I wanted to read it without knowing anything about it!

Catherine Ryan Hyde]'s writing style is different than any other author I read and I love it! Her stories are character driven but there is always a message and thoughts that linger with me and I am sure with other readers as well.

Want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for this wonderful early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 6, 2025.

I will start by saying this is my favorite author so I may have been predisposed to like the book.. Regardless of that, it totally blew me away. It's suddenly become my favorite of her books. Beautifully written; it feels like it carries important messages for us all. I'm ready to reread it immediately because I probably have missed something really meaningful.

“Being a person takes practice”

This book and these characters I am not going to forget anytime soon, I think part of this story, is mine, and will stay with me for a long time.

We meet Michael as a college student, and we get his story as the book goes back-and-forth, we get to experience his growth, compassion, forgiveness, and love as he goes through it. The Michael we meet at the beginning of the story is not the same Michael we get at the end of the story and I think throughout every page we have all cheered him on and applauded him.!

Every time I read a book by this author, I learn more about human nature and myself, and she always makes me want to strive to be a better person, this was an extremely personal book for me and one of the best books I have ever read!

I love all of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books, but this one is a 10 star WOW!
Every single person should read this story; from high school age to the elderly. This is a definite MUST read!
There is something that we all need to learn or perhaps remember in life each and every day.
"Being a person takes practice." Yes, indeed, it surely does.
Michael Woodbine, main character has not had an easy life and after meeting his college teacher for a film class, decides he needs to help the world understand that maybe, just maybe he can help people to stop judging a book or person by its cover.

The emotion within these pages are raw, real and mixed with love, anger, hurt,humiliation and courage.

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Lake Union Publishing for this ARC and allowing me the opportunity to read and provide my own review.

A remarkable tale of resilience and determination. It reminds us that we are not what you see on the outside. I loved the lessons that it has taught me. The impact it has had on my own mental health has been resourceful and innovative. A story that will leave you with a lot to absorb!