| Title | : | Take Me with You |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1477820019 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781477820018 |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 362 |
| Publication | : | First published June 10, 2014 |
What none of them could have known was how transformative both the trip and the bonds that develop between them would prove, driving each to create a new destiny together.
Take Me with You Reviews
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Okay so when I first stumbled across this as a deal on Amazon and read the blurb I was more inclined to pass it by than to pick it up. I honestly did not think I was ready to deal with a burned out teacher and recovering alcoholic who is still dealing with the tragic loss of his son. This did not exactly sound like uplifting fare, but after reading a couple of reviews on goodreads that raved about it, I bit the bullet so to speak and grabbed it.
Thank you Goodreads!
This story is so fantastic and while yes, it does feature a burnt out school teacher who is a recovering alcoholic dealing with the loss of his son, it is so not about that, while still being about just that. Confused? What I am trying to say is that while the book does not focus on these elements, over the course of the story, amidst the trips to the national parks, culminating in Yellowstone, other life events are reflected back to the reader through the eyes of the man who is all of these things.
August Schroeder spends his summers on the road in America visiting the various national parks and outdoor nature reserves of this great land. This year he plans to go to Yellowstone, a place that both he and his late son Phillip wanted to visit. On the way, with his feisty little dog Woody as co-pilot, the RV breaks down and August fears that the cost of the repair will prohibit him from reaching Yellowstone this year. Little does he know that the mechanic who is making the repairs has problems of his own, problems that involve the care of his two sons Seth and Henry. A deal is soon struck between the two men and August, with his trusty dog Woody, together with Seth and Henry head out on the road to visit Yellowstone with other stops planned enroute.
And it is on this trip that the story soars. Seth is a very serious lad who takes his own responsibility for the things that happen around him way too seriously for his age. He is so cautious and concerned about how his own behaviour is affecting August, he can scarce relax and enjoy the bounties of the trip. Henry is another responsibility that Seth takes upon himself. Henry is quiet and shy, making himself as small as humanly possible, while still actually being with them. Point of fact is Henry does not speak at all, except perhaps maybe just to Seth but August has not seen any sign of that either.
In an effort to get these boys to relax and enjoy nature’s awesome bounty without coming across as preachy or overbearing August adapts a gentle, friendly, non confrontational approach that is ever mindful of the responsibility he has accepted. As Seth and Henry begin to unwind and become more comfortable with him and begin to actively participate in the adventure, the tables slowly turn and August finds himself gaining as much sound practical advice as he is giving. He also learns a great deal more about their home lives and how it was that their father was prepared to make the unheard of deal with August that he has.
Never preachy or maudlin and without even a hint of saccharine this camping trip builds a foundation on which the boys will build the rest of their lives while providing August with enough emotional sustenance to see him safely to shore.
An incredibly heart warming camping trip through America’s stunning parklands and outdoor reserves . An absolute must read.
5 fan freakin tastic stars! -
Got caught in my throat more than once in this story. Thank you for making me feel human. If you have another that touches me like this did, I'll be reading it soon. Hopefully many more. Like August, I want to savor every minute of this journey you've put together. It's even more impressive that you make August and the boys real feeling beings and not standardized males.
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Four and a half stars.
I fell in love in this book. Not just with Seth and younger brother Henry, but with August and felt for him in his grief at the death of his son. Woody, August’s little Jack Russell won his way into my heart too. From the first page I knew this book would hook me right in. It is simply but powerfully written and shows clearly that it is often the family that suffers along with the alcoholic. This is perhaps not a book where the reader will be wowed by the beautiful prose. It is the characters that make this story so memorable.
The story is told simply and honestly. There were some passages filled with wisdom like this from a relatively minor character, Emory. ‘I’ve see a lot of people walk a lot of roads. Some not so happy. And it makes them what they are. So if you run around putting a pillow under people to cushion their fall… well, I’m just not sure it’s quite the favor we think it is.’ And this from August, the recovering alcoholic. ‘I drove when I’d been drinking too. But I never got into an accident. And now who the hell am I to act like I’m better than her (his ex-wife) because she was sitting at a red light when someone ran it? And I wasn’t? That’s luck. That’s not to my credit. We’re responsible for everything. Everything we do. Not just when it backfires on us.’ I could have quoted plenty of others.
This book relies on involving the emotions and it sure did with me. I laughed, I was teary at times and at other times downright angry. To begin with I struggled to believe a man would hand his children over so readily to someone they had just met and expect him to care for them during the summer. But then I have never been as desperate as Wes. Once you accept this fact on which the plot hinges, the rest falls into place. For me, the only part where I lost concentration a little was later in the book with the emphasis on climbing, and just a couple of things I thought could have been resolved a little better at the end. Still, well worth reading if you like a book that tugs at the emotions, makes you think and has well drawn characters that you will care about. I will definitely be seeking out more books by this author. -
The way you feel is the way you feel, and no matter how much you think you should feel some other way, you can't change that. There's some things in this life you can change and some you can't.
Maybe it's because it's Christmas, but I feel the need to have my heartstrings pulled on a little bit. Ever since I read an ARC of Have You Seen Luis Velez? earlier this year, I have wanted to experience more of Catherine Ryan Hyde's writing. A Goodreads pal recommended that her 2014 novel Take Me With You was a fine place to continue my reading journey.
August is on his way to Yellowstone to go camping when his RV breaks down and needs repairs. Nothing can prepare him for the favour that Wes, his mechanic asks of him- for August to take his sons, Seth and Henry for the summer. It's a journey of forgiveness and the bond between fathers and sons that will span long beyond that incredible summer adventure.
I have spent most of my life reading fiction and nonfiction from the perspective of women and so it was a refreshing change of pace to have a story told mainly from the male perspective and focusing on the father/son relationship through male characters. August faces many struggles including loss of a child, alcoholism and dealing with illness, but how he handles it serves as a model for Seth and Henry.
A great family drama linked with coming of age and adventure threads that did have me wanting to cry at the end.
Goodreads review published 24/12/19 -
I've had this on my bookshelf for so long and have finally had the chance to read it. With the hustle and bustle out of our daily life I have come terms that some of my books must go... It's like the guest that has overstayed their welcome... you don't have to go home but you can't stay here!
And so I am so happy I have read this and it turns out it is a keeper. This is my second Hyde book, and man, can she write! She takes these ideas of imperfect people and writes these beautiful stories on something that is inexplicable: Humanity.
August Schroeder, a high school Science teacher, lives life robotically after his 19-year-old son dies in a car accident. While his motor home breaks down towards his journey, the mechanic, a total stranger, asks for a life changing favor. Can August take his boys for the summer while he completes his prison sentence? The journey changes everyone involved inside and out.
It gave me all the feels: happiness, sadness, goosebumps, annoyance, anger, and most times pondering what I would do in such a situation as August's. 2 thumbs and toes up :D -
The main character of this book is August, a man of a certain age, a science teacher who is taking an RV trip. Just those two facts – the science and the RV meant that throughout this read I had Walter White in my head and read all of August’s dialogue in Walter’s voice.
But, to be serious, this is the second book that I have read by the author lately and, like Where We Belong, the main theme of this book is a friendship between the generations. Similarly, we have a man who is intrinsically good, doing the right thing for other people, even though he may have serious doubts about the wisdom of what he is doing.
Oh, and there is also another cute dog – this time a Jack Russell called Woody.
August, a recovering alcoholic, is mourning the death of his son Phillip two years ago, and as a memorial to him is taking an RV trip from California to Yellowstone Park. What he hasn’t bargained for is being “coerced” into taking along two young children, Seth and Henry. He unwittingly becomes a role model for the boys and, in turn, we see him learning how to move forward in his mourning of his son. I really enjoyed reading about their road trip, the scenery and places they visited. I really felt quite envious of everything they saw and experienced.
The book also studies “risk”. It encourages you to live life to the full because you never know what is around the corner, and if your passions run to activities that could be risky then to take calculated risks; enjoy the moment as safely as possible. I have a fear of heights, but I was still intrigued by the climbing section of the book. I read some of it wincing.
It is a very uplifting, feel good read with nice characters that you cannot help liking. A couple of times I did think the book was about to stray into “twee territory” but the author managed to turn it round, so it didn’t get sickly sweet, just a darn good read.
Thanks to the publishers for the copy in return for an honest review. -
If you're the type that enjoys character rich stories, and you haven't read a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, then I suggest you start right here.
I have never been disappointed in her work.
This is the story of a teacher named August who travels each summer in his RV. He meets up with 2 young boys, Seth and Henry who end up traveling with him. The 3 of them share a summer of camping, and learn quite a lot from each other.
It is a heartwarming story, that had me choked up a few times. I always feel so attached to her characters. Nothing overly dramatic happens in this book, but it doesn't need to. The characters alone create a book to love. -
Oh man. I think I only finished this book because it was the only book I had with me several times. I have never read anything by this author but many of her works have crossed my path. People seem to like her.
After finishing it, my thought are "ugh". Lowercase. I can't even give it an exclamatory "Ugh!" because the stupid book elicited almost zero feelings from me.
Almost nothing happens at all. A man takes a couple of kids on a road trip to see many of America's national parks. The children are WAY too well behaved. The man is WAY too patient and reasonable.
A huge chunk of the book consists of well mannered, thoughtful and very insightful conversation between the man and the older boy. About mostly nothing. There was not one single "poopy" and absolutely zero nose-picking humor. The man may as well have been traveling with other adults and not 7 and 12 year old boys.
Well, they do fill a bunch of the drone with discussion of how to define an alcoholic. This was boring. It also felt sort of forced. Like, the author had her own idea on this and just wanted a platform with which to share it with the world. Much of this reading occurred while I was sipping my wine.
I can't figure why so many people gave this book 5 shining stars. Almost nothing happened. It was long and preachy. It felt pathetically and screamingly unrealistic. It was boring. BORING! -
This book was a little confusing and hard to rate, for me. I'm a little suspicious of authors who release 3 or 4 books a year, thinking that surely they write to a formula. The first two thirds of the book seemed to prove me wrong, as it was a captivating story of a man who had lost his 19 year old son in an accident, and got stuck with taking a stranger's two sons on a summer long trip to several national parks. Not a romance, as there were not even any female characters in the novel, not an abuse story, but a discovery, by the boys and the man, of things they had not known before, and a relationship that became important to them all. I was pleasantly surprised, and vowed to stop pre-judging authors before giving them a chance.
Then I got to Part Three, and it completely fell apart for me. It was set eight years after the first events, the characters were different people (literally), roles were reversed, the action seemed rushed and glossed over, and melodrama and improbability ruled the day. I was really disappointed, because up to that point it had been so good. I'm going with three stars, because the majority of the book was an enjoyable read, and I'm deducting a star for the last section. -
Fantastic Book!! Another great book by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
I am very surprised that I didn't find this author long ago! I did see the movie "Pay it Forward" based on her book by the same name many years ago and loved it. When I came across this book and read the description I thought it sounded pretty good. However, it more than exceeded my expectations. I devoured it and since then I've been a huge fan.
As I read her books I often find myself nodding along and agreeing with something a character is saying....about love or life or many other things. These characters got into my heart and I have no doubt this book will stay with me a very long time. I was moved to tears on a few occasions.
The plot was fantastic as were the characters. I was gripped from the time I started until I finished the last page. I think it would also make a great movie!
I highly recommend this book!
I am excited to continue reading more from Catherine Ryan Hyde. -
Amei! Que livro lindo :)
Vai ter resenha em breve no blog <3 -
este. livro. é. tudo.
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On his way to Yosemite with the ashes of his deceased son and his small dog, August Schroeder's motor home breaks down and the mechanic asks him to take his two young sons along since he has to serve a 90-day sentence in jail. One son (Seth, age 12) is curious and talkative, and the other (Henry, age 7) has not spoken since running away from a home for abandoned children while his father served his last sentence. Turns out that the mechanic has a drinking problem, but August agrees and they head off on a wonderful trip of discovery as the boys have never left home. They learn about each other, and it is eventually revealed that the father is actually in jail for 180 days so August is going to help more than expected. Slowly, the pain of the boys is revealed as Seth attends an AA meeting with August and we learn of August's pain too. The father gets early release with an ankle monitor, Seth/Henry go home and with August's help, attempt an intervention. Sadly, there is little contact until August develops muscular dystrophy eight years later, and Seth/Henry decide they need to relive old times. Seth has become a top rock climber and August fears for him. Meanwhile Henry does not tell his father exactly where is he going, but he figures it out. Moving story, with great characters. 4.5 stars.
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A special thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for introducing me to such a talented author, and providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Take Me With You was totally Amazing!! This is one of those rare books you will want to Pre-Order or purchase the day it is released.
From the first page, this heartwarming story, grabs you and pulls you in, with a strong hold until the ending, and thereafter in your thoughts. My only issue was having to stop and finish work – and this is the type of book, you want to savor every word, as it will transform your life, as you cry and laugh with characters you learn to love and care for.
My favorite part was learning to “Just BE.” We all are guilty of rushing to arrive at our destination and do not enjoy the journey, and the experience of the present time.
This engaging story begins with a guy named August (a former alcoholic) divorced, school teacher, still grieving his teenage son Philip who died in a car accident. Now he is taking his motorhome, alone for the summer to visit the national parks, hike, and scatter his son’s ashes for his final goodbye.
However, fate steps in when he has problems with his RV and calls a towing company (man named Wes, also an alcoholic raising two small boys). Little does August know, while he is awaiting the repair of his RV, in order to get back on the road, this connection with this man and these two small boys, will change the course of his life forever, as well as the lives and destiny of these two small boys (Seth and Henry).
An unexpected twist of fate lands August with two extra passengers for his journey, two half-orphans with nowhere else to go. This poignant novel reaches to the heart and soul with love, redemption, trust, transformation, and rediscovery, as the impact of this profound relationship will forever bond and shape the lives of two boys and a man, which nothing can break.
There are so many takeaways from this book, as would be ideal for book clubs or discussions. If you are a hiker, camper, or a nature lover you can appreciate this well researched book. If you are an alcoholic, a friend, parent, or family member involved, this book will give you much insight into the importance of support and mentors. (could see a sequel to followup with characters Seth and Henry, as they are too good to end)
I was blown away by this newfound author, Catherine Ryan Hyde, with her incredible attention to detail with places, moods, facial expressions, and rich character development. After I finished the book, discovered she actually hikes, kayaks, and visits national parks, as well as doing her research for Take Me With You, in her own 22’ motorhome. Wow, this made the book even more special, as her passion for nature is reflective throughout the book.
As an avid hiker and cycler, I have traveled most of the places in the book and can definitely appreciate the beauty of mountain areas and waterfalls (even though I have never taken up rock climbing). I have even stayed at a few of the campground cabins along a bike trail, which is quite relaxing—ah, this book was so for me. (I wanted to adopt these boys) and take a road trip.
I highly recommend Take Me With You, as an inspiring, compelling, and heartfelt story which will change your life. Catherine Ryan Hyde has been added to my favorite author list, and looking forward to reading more of her work!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
TOP 30 BOOKS OF 2014 -
I was engaged and interested in the beginning of "Take Me With You." The conversations felt natural and genuine; I believed what the characters said and their behavior began to express their personalities. But then I began to lose interest and the story lost a lot of its magic. I liked Seth, the 12-year-old, but once August begins his summer excursion with him and his little brother, Henry, Seth's conversation sometimes becomes unnatural (it didn't sound like a 12-year-old speaking) and repetitive. When Seth kept saying certain emotional things over and over again the words lost their meaning and Seth didn't come across as genuine. It seemed like the words' only purpose was to evoke pity or sympathy - they didn't add anything to the story nor move the plot forward. The children and their situation naturally demand readers' concern and sympathy - I can't comprehend how anyone with a heart wouldn't feel deeply for these children (and August), so the repetition only succeeded in distracting and distancing me from the story.
I know it's petty, but the overuse of the sigh (the title should be, "Take Me With You, and Sigh Every Step of the Way") made me a little crazy, also. Is there truly no other way to describe a character's reaction to a frustrating or difficult situation?
Despite being annoyed, I did stick with this book and read all of it. I admit to being a fan of Henry, the younger brother, who at 7 would go long periods of time without speaking at all. It was very satisfying when he takes a stand and speaks up for himself. I also understood the value of several other issues (how do you know when you're an alcoholic? how do you make a difference in a child's life when you're not a blood relative and the adult doesn't want you around? how do you stage an intervention, and what do you do if it doesn't work?) that were discussed rather well: I particularly liked what was said in one of the AA meetings, about if one goes around with a pillow trying to break others' falls, it might not be the great thing one thinks it is. Issues are handled with compassion and a strong dose of reality: It was nice to see how someone might deal with a problem that persists.
Overall, there was some good stuff here, but (sigh), I struggled to get through it. -
I can't for the life of me remember why this was something I wanted to read and now that I've read it, I still can't figure it out. It started out okay - a teacher who hates teaching heads out on a national parks summer vacation in his RV. When the RV breaks down a jail bound mechanic offers to fix it for free if August - the teacher - will take his two boys with him for the summer while he does his stint in jail for yet another DUI. A bit unlikely, but okay. August is divorced following a tragic accident in which his teenage son, his only child, was killed while riding in the car with his buzzed mother. August never took another drink and started attending AA.
So August and the two boys set off on a summer long national park adventure that goes predictably well until summer's end starts looming large on the horizon and the realization that the boys must return to jailbird/alcoholic dad sets in. From this point, the book degenerates into just too much self-pitying melodrama. The book is surprisingly emotionless considering how emotional everyone is. It had a very brittle feel. Everyone was always on edge, too much conflict, and no one ever seemed to grow or flourish. Even the ending - which, I believe, was meant to offer a glimmer or two of hope only depressed me. Maybe it was just too real for me. -
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book but my enthusiasm waned as the book dragged on, and on, with nothing really ever happening except travelogues of national parks. I found it to be a depressing & somewhat sappy tale of redemption that just didn't live up to its potential.
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Once in a blue moon one encounters a book that just demands to be read and for me this was such a book. The storyline involves Alcoholism, coming of age, grieving the death of a child, and camping in an RV. The description of scenes from Joshua Tree, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands brought back memories and the other parks a desire to see new lands. With all the grammar and spell-checking software available today I’m mystified as to why so many errors still evade publishers and authors but this volume is better than most. Highly recommended. Kudos to Goodreads for directing me to this book.
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This was a nice story even though a little far fetched. Two boys spend a summer with an elderly gentleman teacher who had tragically lost his son fairly recently. They travel in a motorhome through well known campgrounds exploring and learning about life, love and forgiveness. It is a coming of age story that touches on alcoholism and how each individual deals with it. By the end of the summer they had formed a lifelong friendship. The characters were well developed and the landscape descriptions were accurate.
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I don't know if it's fair to review a book before finishing but I can't take one more page of this drivel. It reads like a Highlights magazine story for grade school children. The premise is unrealistic, which most times I can overlook, but the author seems to be banging you over the head with her "lessons" about alcoholism, abandonment and letting go. This would be fine if she was reading to small children in a library, not enjoyable if you're over age 12.
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August is a middle-aged science school-teacher on a summer break. He used to travel in the motorhome every year with his family, but since his divorce and his son's death, this was going to be his first solo road trip. Plans change though, and he is charged with temporarily caring for two young boys. So they travel along around all the National parks for 3 months. We see this relationship develop and flourish.
Take Me with You had a feeling of a TV drama for some reason - it was so, you know, dramatic, but also heartwarming and cute. It deals with death and loss, alcoholism, aging, disability, having an unreliable adult in one's life, the challenges and joys of caring for children, the challenge of having to receive care etc. Seems like it would be heavy, packed as it was with complex issues. But no. It had a glossed-over Chicken Soup for the Soul feel. The problems have solutions, lies are contrasted with truths, troubled children who had no one to lean on find a great father-figure, a strong, honorable, responsible man who puts their needs first, even though he's not even a relative. A lonely, heartbroken man is brought back to life and finds new meaning. All of this on a backdrop of roads and mountains. The great outdoors. Straight to the heart.
The book is dialogue-heavy, most of the story and character development is contained in their talks along the way. So reading it in audiobook format felt authentic and fitting. The author did a great job creating realistic children characters.
It's the kind of book that makes one tear up in a good way. I don't think I've ever read a novel where the relationship between children and their caregiver is at the center. Refreshing and unusual for me. -
Reading again with my granddaughter July 2019.
After reading
When I Found You and
Pay It Forward I was eager to read more of Catherine Ryan Hyde's work. She writes flawed characters who seek better relationships and try to do the right thing. Sound simplistic? Yes. It's also refreshing. Many of her books revolve around family and inter-generational relationships. writing. She uses words sparsely and concisely. The premises of her books are wholesome. I will be reading more!
A burned out science teacher develops an usual bond with two boys he meets while on summer vacation. He travels in an RV and takes us on an informative tour of many national parks in the southwest.
Read with Clara 2019.
She has just re-issued Pay It Forward in an edition appropriate for middle school children.
I borrowed this book from the Kindle Lending Library. -
2.5 - 3 “I liked some parts better than others” stars. The beautiful cover of my edition and the title perfectly fit the eight-year span of this emotional story about a grieving man named August Schroeder who loses his only child in a car accident and sets out with his dog in a well-traveled RV to visit Yellowstone National Park in his son’s honor. He picks up some unexpected company for the trip when his RV breaks down and needs repair.
The characters here are well drawn, particularly motherless young brothers Seth and Henry and the loving, loyal Jack Russell terrier mix named Woody. Hyde’s descriptions of the magnificent national parks in the western U.S. made me want to buy my own RV and set off on a road trip. But the plot, for me, suffered from too much focus on the agenda of Alcoholics Anonymous and entirely too much sentiment at the end. Overall a bit too soft for my hard-edged reading taste, but Hyde inspired me to add Utah and Wyoming to my burgeoning bucket list. -
Another one I came into blind. (I read the synopsis when I originally put it on my To Read list, but had completely forgotten by the time I read it.)
August is a grieving high school teacher using his summer off to take a road trip from San Diego to Yellowstone, just him and his Jack Russell Terrier, Woody.
His plan starts to go off course when vehicle trouble puts a wrench in his time line and in his travel budget. He reluctantly gets some new traveling companions and his pilgrimage is adjusted.
This was a beautifully written road trip book. The growth of the characters through their relationships with one another was credible and heartwarming.
I noticed afterward that this author also wrote Pay it Forward, which my 6th grader read and enjoyed this year. -
Take me with you is a coming of age story, a healing story, and very rich is it's characters! The story follows August as he takes on 2 boys.....from a stranger....and brings them along on his summer RV trip. The scenery is so vivid, as is the awe and amazement of seeing America through children's eyes. For me the book lacked a fast moving, wow type of plot - it was more of a slower journey!! A good 3 stars, not gonna brag about it.
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Moving relationship story with foundation of AA principles to live by that tracks relationship bonds formed by male teacher with two young boys strangely forced on him by their auto mechanic father.
A good deal of US National Parks play their part in this story of friendship, as well as AA meetings, a faithful dog and many adventures. Uplifting tale.
Kindle Unlimited -
The first half of this book was amazing and I enjoyed every word of it. I was completely absorbed in the story and the characters, feeling such a sweetness coming from Seth especially. And the visits to the AA meetings were fascinating to me, especially seeing how Seth was trying to come to terms with his dad's alcoholism. When August returns the boys to their father at the end of the summer, I wondered what would happen in the rest of the book, since it felt like the story was over and there was still half to go. This is why I give it 3 stars. The last half felt contrived and false, like two stories stuck together just to get the word count in to make what would have made a fabulous novella into a novel. In fact, the last half just kind of ruined the magic of the first half for me.
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Another great book by Catherine Ryan Hyde! Even though this is only the second book I've ever read by her, I already know I'm gonna love all of her books and can't wait to get my hands on them. The stories are heartwarming, funny, sad and just plain good! Highly recommended.
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Every now and I then I like to take a break from all the murders/psychological thrillers and crime books and read a book that takes me on a different journey altogether. Take Me With You was certainly that book! August Schroeder is a grieving father on his way to Yellowstone Park in his motorhome with his son's ashes when he breaks down in the middle of nowhere and Wes the mechanic tows him to his garage. Finding himself agreeing to look after the mechanic's 2 young boys for the summer the trio set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Seth is the most adorable 12 year old, eager to please, polite, thoughtful and so observant and little 7 year old Henry who has chosen to not speak to anyone due to his childhood trauma's broke my heart in two. This is a wonderfully descriptive and emotional novel which proves that even wrong turns can change your life for the better. This is a real story of love, friendship, forgiveness and understanding. I also shed a couple of tears during this beautiful journey too.
