Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Contemporary Literary Fiction, 318 pages
Published May 4th 2021 by Lake Union Publishing
Thirteen-year-old Abby Hubble lives in an unhappy home in the Sierra Nevada foothills where her father makes life miserable for her and her mother, Mary. One day Abby witnesses a man dump a litter of puppies into the nearby river. Diving in to rescue all seven, she knows she won’t be able to bring them home. Afraid for their fate at the pound, she takes them to an abandoned cabin, where all she can offer is a promise that she’ll be back the next day.
To grieving widower Elliot Colvin, life has lost meaning. Looking for solace, he retreats to the hunting cabin he last visited years ago, before his wife’s illness. What he discovers is not at all what he expected: seven puppies and one determined girl with an indomitable heart.
As Abby and Elliot’s friendship deepens, Abby imagines how much better her life—and the puppies’ lives—would be if her mother were married to Elliot instead of her father. But when Abby’s father moves the family hundreds of miles away, Abby and her mother must decide how long they’re willing to defer happiness.
Seven Perfect Things is a story about joy, where to find it, how to know it when you see it, and the courage it takes to hang on to it once you have it.
My thoughts about Seven Perfect Things ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"When Elliot opened the door, the woman on his welcome mat struck him as bizarrely young. For a moment he doubted whether she was the volunteer he'd been waiting for."
Everyone loves puppies, right? So how can you not fall in love with this cover with these adorable puppies? I know I did!
And I always know when I start a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, that I'm going to love it too. Seven Perfect Things is the perfect story about love, friendship, respect, growth, determination, and plenty of puppy love. I love and admire the character of Abby, such a mature 13 year old. She rescues those seven adorable puppies even while she and her mom need rescuing too.
This is a book filled with caring, kind, and considerate people (well, except for one), which is trademark for Catherine's stories. This one will not disappoint if you are looking for more of her standard fare, full of goodness, growth, and love.
Catherine is a must-read author for me and I highly recommend Seven Perfect Things!
I received an ARC of Seven Perfect Things via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
About the author
I am the author of more than 30 published and forthcoming books, including ALLIE AND BEA, SAY GOODBYE FOR NOW, LEAVING BLYTHE RIVER, ASK HIM WHY, WORTHY, THE LANGUAGE OF HOOFBEATS, TAKE ME WITH YOU, WHERE WE BELONG, WHEN I FOUND YOU, WALK ME HOME, SECOND HAND HEART, DON'T LET ME GO, and WHEN YOU WERE OLDER.
I'm an avid hiker, traveler, equestrian, and amateur photographer, and have released my first book of photos, 365 DAYS OF GRATITUDE: PHOTOS FROM A BEAUTIFUL WORLD.
I am co-author, with fellow author and publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of HOW TO BE A WRITER IN THE E-AGE: A SELF-HELP GUIDE.
My novel PAY IT FORWARD was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than 23 languages for distribution in over 30 countries. The paperback was released in October 2000 by Pocket Books and quickly became a national bestseller. Simon & Schuster released PAY IT FORWARD: YOUNG READERS' EDITION in August of '14. It is suitable for kids as young as eight. A special Fifteenth Anniversary Edition of the original PAY IT FORWARD was released in December of '14. ~ Goodreads
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