| Title | : | Stay |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 292 |
| Publication | : | First published December 3, 2019 |
An unforgettable novel about the power of friendship and kindness by the New York Times bestselling author of Pay It Forward.
In the summer of 1969, fourteen-year-old Lucas Painter carries a huge weight on his shoulders. His brother is fighting in Vietnam. His embattled parents are locked in a never-ending war. And his best friend, Connor, is struggling with his own family issues. To find relief from the chaos, Lucas takes long, meandering walks, and one day he veers into the woods.
There he discovers an isolated cabin and two huge dogs. Frightened, he runs. And the dogs run with him. Lucas finds unusual peace in running with the dogs, and eventually he meets their owner, Zoe Dinsmore. Closed off and haunted by a tragic past, Zoe has given up. She doesn’t want to be saved. She wants out. But Lucas doesn’t want her to go, and he sees an opportunity to bring more than one friend back into the light. It’s either the best or worst idea he’s ever had, but Lucas isn’t giving up on Zoe or Connor.
Their unexpected connection might be the saving grace that Zoe thought she’d lost, that Connor needs, and that Lucas has been running toward.
Stay Reviews
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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 endures the endless arguments of his parents and misses and worries for his older brother Roy who is in Vietnam. You think that might be enough of a burden for a fourteen year old boy, but then it gets heavier as he saves a recluse woman living in a cabin with her two dogs . It gets worse, she really doesn’t want to be saved and he worries. Just too much, I thought for this young boy, but then there’s someone else he has to worry about, his best friend Conner, who has some serious issues of his own to deal with. The summer of 1969 would be one that marks Lucas for the rest of his life, turning him into a man anyone would be proud to know.
It was hard to imagine at times that a fourteen year old boy could be this perceptive, this understanding , but yet most of the time I did. At times it felt just too much, almost a bit melodramatic with so many sad things happening to the characters. Having said that, this story covers some serious issues - drug addiction, attempted suicide, mental illness, the stress of the Vietnam War, marital problems, and debilitating guilt. It’s also full of heart and love and caring and loyal friendship of the kind that anyone of us would want in our lives. Lucas is a character I’ll remember for a long time.
I received an advanced copy of this from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. -
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 gingerly balance along the metal in the middle before you carefully step down off to the other side. It was a tipping point. The story took off in several directions all as a result of this one day.
As a character, young Lucas Painter is a very likeable one. He's a deep thinker, quite mature for his age, resourceful, compassionate and fair-minded. His parents seem to be engaged in one endless argument. He longs for peace and quiet when he's at home. Lucas's best friend from the age of three years old is Connor Barnes. Connor suffers from the exact opposite situation at his house. His parents never seem to communicate about anything. The shades are always drawn and it's a heavy, dreary atmosphere. There is the sense of a lot of unspoken negativity simmering in the background, its silence causing unbearable tension. Connor seems to have a black cloud over his head, with his sad demeanor. Lucas is his only friend. A loyal friend.
The Vietnam war is ongoing and Lucas's older brother Leroy (called Roy) was drafted. Lucas receives heavily redacted letters from Roy and worries about him returning home alive.
I was born in the sixties and I remember how the summers seemed to last forever as a child. We were able to safely leave our homes in the morning and come back home before dark, having all kinds of adventures and experiences with our friends. Well, Lucas is a very responsible and self-sufficient kid whose "tipping point" day launches the book to unravel a very moving life's story. You never know who you will meet in life. It kind of reminds me of that special thing Fred Rogers (of Mister Rogers Neighborhood) would do that could move you to tears where he'd ask you to think silently for 10 seconds about the people you'd like to thank, who had a huge, positive impact on your life. They might still be alive, or they may have already gone to heaven; but wouldn't it make them happy to know that you've thought about them? I strongly suggest you read this lovely story of a boy named Lucas who was a catalyst for saving people's lives.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley. -
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 friends Lucas and Connor, both trying to cope with dysfunctional parents. Lucas has also seemingly taken the weight of the world on his shoulders and is intensely engaged in saving said world. Finally, there is Lucas’s older brother Roy, a troubled Vietnam soldier with his own dark secrets.
The tale is told from the viewpoint of Lucas. Through conversations and their actions, we get a pretty good idea of what the other three characters are like, though it would be nice to have at least one chapter from each of their perspectives. This is minor, however, and no stars are lost. All of these four are suffering. By coming together, they begin to heal each other. At the center is Zoe, a woman racked with pain and regret, but also blessed with ton of wisdom. I loved Zoe. But Zoe needs support as well. And through her relationship with the three young men, she is also able to transform her life.
Major themes include suicide, addiction, almost paralyzing guilt, family dysfunction, the importance of human care and sharing, animal-human relationships, self-worth, and redemption.
It's worth mentioning that this book has one of the very best epilogues I have ever read.
I have read a few books this year involving challenged/troubled young people and their relationships with enlightened older people. I’m digging this particular theme and will be on the lookout for more of these types of books. Recommendations welcome.
If you are looking for a gentle, poignant slice of life centered on deep personal nonromantic relationships, try Stay. I bet you will love it.
I wish to extend my thanks to Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing, and Ms. Catherine Ryan Hyde for an ARC of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. -
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 Zoe, but soon they started to form a unexpected bond. Zoe is a reclusive still dealing with the consequences of an accident that happened over 20 years ago. She’s A little rough around the edges, lonely, and wise. Always lending a listening ear and offering quiet words of wisdom to Lucas. Lucas and Zoe are soon joined by Connor Lucas‘s best friend who has been going through some depression. Later when Roy comes home from Vietnam he also joins this unlikely pair turned trio and now quad. It was quite remarkable how strong the bond was between Zoe and these three young men, a bond that lasted over three decades.
This book dealt with so many tough issues including suicide, drug addiction, and grief. Catherine Ryan Hyde does this with a loving hand and pure heart. The story is told entirely from Lucas‘s perspective. He was such an exceptional character so caring, so considerate, so wise. Even when he took a girl out on a date he seemed much older than 14, but in a very innocent way. He is one of those very special characters who wormed his way into my heart. This book just hit me right in the feels, one of the best coming-of-age stories I have read in quite some time.
This book in emojis. 🏃🏼♂️ 🐶 🐶 🌲 ☮️
*** Big thanks to Lake Union for my copy of this book *** -
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 Conner is showing signs of serious depression. While running through the woods one morning, a couple of very large dogs start running with Lucas. It becomes a morning ritual and this is how he meets and befriends Zoe (the owner of the dogs), an older woman with major problems of her own. I loved all of these characters and they are ones that I will not forget.
The author touches on quite a few serious issues: drug addiction, suicide, depression and grief. As the story unfolds, you learn how these characters all cope with these issues and learn to not only forgive others, but themselves too.
I’ve only read two other books by Ms. Hyde and cannot wait to read them all. She is such a beautiful storyteller. In the little experience that I have with her books, I can say that they are just simply divine!
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Catherine Ryan Hyde for my advanced copy to read and review. -
“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 effortlessly.
I fall into the 4 star rating group.
Don’t laugh, but my biggest criticism is the ‘title’.
There were a few times when the dialogue either matched the title, or the title match the dialogue but I felt it was a little forced.
Other than that ....
There is plenty to grip your teeth into ....
tender sweetness, love, loss, tragedy, dysfunctional parenting, friendships,
themes that include addiction, suicide, the effects of war, loneliness, forgiveness, healing, and redemption.
The standout character award goes to *Lucas Painter*...( our narrator).
....Lucas is a sensitive, mature thoughtful, astute, 14 year old kid.
He’s also vulnerable & insecure with himself (not a bad thing: he’s figuring things out about life, people, and his place in the world).
....Lucas worries about others more than the average teenage boy. (and worries about his worrying)
....He’s worried about making the wrong choices.( picking the right movie for his first date)... etc.
....Lucas worried that if joined the track team at school, which he qualified for - other kids would tease him for ‘something’.
....
The biggest worries on Lucas’ shoulders, is for everyone he loves: their struggles.
He’s tries to balance out his worry for others with healthy boundaries.
He learns to listen rather than fix everyone else’s problems.
With so much worry - what keeps this kid going?
Well....
....he’s fallen in love with a couple of dogs: running, with them early mornings in the woods ...and he grows attached to an older woman- *Zoe* - (mentor type relationship)... who becomes a valuable support in his life.
....Lucas a memorable character that many of us *mom’s* - might like to adopt.
...He is as likable as any teenage boy is.
At its core- this ‘coming of age story’ is about love.... sometimes heartbreaking, but always a strong, quiet, and powerful look at the human heart. -
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 friend, Connor is anxious and depressed and becoming more reclusive by the day. To get away from it all Lucas likes to go running with two large dogs who live with a woman in a cabin in the woods. The woman, Zoe Dinsmore has isolated herself from the rest of the town after a catastrophic event seventeen years ago, however a medical emergency brings her into contact with Lucas and they unexpectedly become friends. They form that special sort of relationship found between grandparents and their grandchildren where Zoe looks forward to her visits from Lucas and he is able to talk to her about his worries and ask for advice. Soon Zoe is helping Connor and Roy to overcome their problems and get back control of their lives.
Such a lovely, heartwarming story, so beautifully told with wonderful characters. I especially enjoyed the epilogue showing what had happened to all the characters fifty years later - so nice to have that satisfying sense of closure.
With many thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital ARC to read -
"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 some books that just have to be read. This book is one of them!! With this book I have been introduced to another author who I feel will become a beloved one in the future.
My thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union publishing and the author Catherine Ryan Hyde for giving me an e-Arc of this book to read. Simply beautiful 💖! -
3.5 stars rounded up. This is a coming of age story about fourteen-year-old Lucas Painter that begins during the summer of 1969. Lucas’s parents fight all the time and he feels like he has to leave his house to get any peace. That’s how he comes across two huge dogs in their massive doghouse in the middle of the woods. He begins speedrunning, pumping adrenaline to get away from two dogs that weigh at least a hundred pounds each. When he falls, he makes a couple of important discoveries. The dogs are friendly, and he loves running.
This is a sentimental story with some important messages. Lucas feels a huge responsibility for his best friend, Connor, who is struggling with serious depression. When he meets the dogs’ owner, Zoe Dinsmore, he will feel some responsibility for her, too. A tragic event happened seventeen years ago and Dinsmore is still reeling. She’s an interesting character, a bit of a grump, definitely someone with her guard up, who hasn’t let anyone past those heart rails in a long time, but Lucas wades in with all the perception of a goose. He’s a needy boy. His parents are so caught up in the drama of their arguing that they hardly realize he exists. He finds some tender spot in fifty-some year old Zoe Dinsmore’s armor, and beneath the grumpy exterior lies a depth of wisdom. I have found that grumpy people often have a soft, marshmallow inside. Getting past the grump is no easy task, however.
Lucas’s brother, Roy is at war in Vietnam. How Zoe Dinsmore becomes important in Lucas, Conner, and Roy’s lives makes for an interesting story. One of the book club questions at the end of the book is “Do you think that one can ever make amends for causing a tragic event?” I sure hope so! If Dinsmore was any less a tragic character, I think the book would be too sentimental and have far less impact. It’s a fine line that Hyde trods in this one, and for me, it is Zoe Dinsmore and her background that allows her to pull it off.
I like Lucas as a character, in spite of thinking that he is too kind and too innocent. It is after all pre-internet days, and perhaps that accounts for his lack of worldliness. He is also a ‘fixer.’ It can also be called a “Savior Complex.” Dinsmore tells Lucas things straight out of a counselor’s talking points. Like how when someone has so little control in his own life, he tries to exert control in other ways, as in fixing things for his friends. Lucas has got more than just Dinsmore going for him. He’s pretty self-aware, too.
“Stay” makes me think of things I haven’t thought of in a long time, codependency and all the family roles that people play. It brings back to mind Melody Beattie’s book, "
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself," from the mid 1980’s and John Bradshaw’s book, "
Family Secrets: The Path to Self-Acceptance and Reunion” published in 1990. If anyone is suffering from serious depression, please tell someone and get the professional help that you need. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have a Zoe Dinsmore in our lives. I enjoyed this one! -
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 have to speak to each other first. Lucas sees so much pain around him and feels helpless to do anything to make things better for anyone he cares about.
I listened to the audiobook version of this, and the narrator does a wonderful job. -
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 don't come out when he comes by to see them. Lucas looks in the windows of the cabin and finds the lady who lives there in her bed, seemingly unconscious. He calls the police to check on her. After this Lucas's life begins to change.
This book is full of heart and touches on redemption, forgiveness, friendship, and caring for others. I truly enjoyed the story and hope to read more by this author. The characters are poignant and memorable. There is great wisdom to be found in the pages. I loved it!
Thanks to Catherine Ryan Hyde and Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. -
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 wandered into the nearby woods (against him mother’s orders) he stumbled across an old cabin which he hadn’t known was there. The two large dogs outside were restless and anxious, so Lucas was sure something was wrong. What he found had him rushing home to the phone…
Over the following days and weeks, Lucas found solace with those dogs. Each morning before school, Lucas and the dogs ran and while he was running, Lucas found his worries lessened. Zoe Dinsmore was the owner of the dogs and she and Lucas struck up an unlikely friendship. He felt closer to Zoe than he was to his own mother, and the advice she gave him always made sense. Could Zoe, Connor and Lucas connect, helping each other with what was drawing the darkness in? Lucas wanted both Zoe and Connor to stay – would his idea work?
Stay is the 2nd novel I’ve read by Catherine Ryan Hyde and once again I loved it. This author has a beautiful way with words; poignant, memorable and enlightening. Set in the summer of 1969, Stay has four main characters – Zoe, a broken but inspiring woman of fifty five, whose past was a tragedy; Lucas and Connor, both fourteen with a friendship that knew no boundaries; and Lucas’ brother Roy, whose time in Vietnam was heartbreaking. A brilliant read, and I’m now convinced I need to check out more of this author’s work. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. -
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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...📚 -
Anything less than 5 stars to this amazing, amazing novel would be criminal. I'd give it a thousand if Goodreads would let me.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a special author. She brings characters and stories to life in a way that is practically inexplicable. It's like she just... Gets people. She writes such tender, nuanced individuals going through some monumental things that somehow also feel like the most relatable things in the world.
Lucas Painter and his found family will stay in my heart for a long time. The dialogue and the dynamics of this protagonist and the other characters were excellent. I felt so moved that I was actually a little crushed when I closed the book and realized they were all fictitious. They felt too real; I loved them too much for them not to be.
This book touched many corners of my soul. It's a feeling unlike any other when a book can do that. I don't know that there's much more I need to say than that. -
A beautiful story written with heart and depth about 14 year old Lucas Painter’s coming of age during the summer of 1969.
While his parents fight loudly everyday, his dad coming home later and later at night, Lucas’ last letter from his brother in Vietnam has him seriously worried, thanks to it’s mostly being blacked out by censors. What was his brother trying to tell him?
Out in the woods walking one day to clear his mind, Lucas sees two dogs, they spot him and begin chasing him. He’s relieved that they’re not actually chasing him but are enjoying running with him (they belong to Zoe Dinsmore, a woman he soon rescues and befriends.) Lucas finds running with the two dogs, now daily, offers wonderful peace from his troubles. It tugged at my heartstrings reading of the heavy burdens Lucas carries. Family life is lonely with his parents arguing daily, his brother Roy finally returns home safe from Vietnam but different and with afflictions, his friend Connor is depressed and withdrawn, and he worries about his new older friend Zoe. A loner and an outcast in their community, she lives in the middle of the woods still mourning over an accident twenty years earlier she’s never forgiven herself for, feeling she’s to blame. After Zoe returns home from the hospital Lucas checks on her welfare during his daily runs. He eventually begins sharing his troubles with her and learns valuable life lessons through Zoe that helps his brother, friend, and even Zoe herself.
“Stay” is a powerful story of family, friendship, helping others, forgiveness and healing. Another compelling, thoughtful novel from author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. -
Summer 1969 Lucas Painter has more than a few concerns. His parents are always angry and hurling loud angry words at each other, and his brother Roy is over fighting in Vietnam. Lucas misses his older brother. Meanwhile his best friend Connor is battling his own family issues and feelings of depression. One day while one of his long walks to get out of the house, Lucas ends up in the woods, where he had been told not to venture. He finds an isolated cabin and two huge dogs. Fearful, he starts to run and the dogs run with him, not chasing him but as though enjoying a game. After a time Lucas meets the owner of the cabin and the dogs. Zoe Dinsmore is haunted by events from her past. She has given up on life. But Lucas saves her and finds a way, he hopes, to help her and his friend Connor.
I freely admit Catherine Ryan Hyde is a favourite author. I have loved a number of her books. This was no exception. I was captivated from the outset. It helps that I like stories that cross inter-generational boundaries and feature those who are marginalised for one reason or another by society at large. Lucas is a sensitive, thoughtful and caring teenager who worries about those he cares about and takes their problems on himself. Zoe and Connor also are characters I cared about.
This is a story of friendship, family, the effects of war, depression, addiction and suicidal inclinations, but it is not depressing. Far from it. I adored it from start to finish. A hopeful, thought provoking book. Do yourself a favour and read this one. Literally one I never wanted to have to put down. here is a reason why Catherine yan Hyde is a favourite author. She writes authentic stories with great heart. -
Deserving of 10 STARS! 🙌
Top Books of 2019.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 +++++
Catherine Ryan Hyde has a rare gift of storytelling and grabs you by the heartstrings in a way no other author can. No words can adequately describe my feelings about STAY. This book was compelling, beautifully written, moving, and every person on this planet should read this book! This world would be a better place.
Quick notes. More coming. I am so blown away by the spellbinding power and meaning of this book. It is captivating.
Hyde's characters come alive on the page, and if I could choose my favorite type of book, this would be it. A cross between coming-of-age, historical, and literary fiction. My sweet spot.
It checks all the boxes. In our world of gloom and trouble, I think more and more readers will be drawn to this genre. It is like the hit show "This Is Us." (a huge fan). I would give up reading thrillers if I could read more books like this. It resonates.
I admire and enjoy how the author takes ordinary people and places them in extraordinary situations. There is an impact. I have always felt children can learn more from other adults than they can from their parents, grandparents, or other members of their family. I find intriguing and wish I had someone like Zoe in my life growing up (or today).
There are people you least expect, as indicated in the novel, that serves a purpose in changing others' lives. At the same time, they change their own.
Hands down, STAY, and
Have You Seen Luis Velez? are both my Top Books of 2019! Also, the best audiobook of 2019. (tie)
I cannot express how both these books touched me.
Take Me with You is another favorite. Do yourself a favor and read these three books and tell me they did not touch you, change you, or inspire you.
For fans of
Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens,
The Guardians and
This Tender Land. These are Tops for me this year.
In addition, you will note how in STAY and Nothing More Dangerous features a wiser neighbor adult: flawed, outcast, tragic past, rough around the edges —becomes a mentor and savior for two young boys (best friends) and more. She changes the course of their lives. At the same time, they save her. I loved the ZOE💕 and the dogs. Reminds me a bit of Clint Eastwood in the movie, Gran Torino.
Thank you for the ending. Priceless. You can see the full impact of this relationship. Move this to the top of your list. I loved it so much. I read the ARC (thank you Lake Union and NetGalley) and purchased the hardcover and the audiobook. A keeper and a classic for any home library. This would make for a great movie, TV series, and an ideal book club pick.
Will dive more into the story and the characters later. I am a huge CRH Fan . . . READ this book!
#JDCMustReadBooks -
Catherine Ryan Hyde has written a delightful book with a perfect blend of characters, setting and story.
SUMMARY
Lucas 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 isolated cabin, two large dogs and Zoe Dinsmore. Zoe, a prickly and reclusive fifty-five year old woman with a tragic past, may be just the friend that Lucas, Connor and Roy need.
“When somebody holds a view that seems to make no sense, know that it makes sense to them, but for reasons you don’t know anything about yet.”
REVIEW
STAY is an endearing and engrossing coming of age story. Lucas is trying hard to understand the world around him. He wants everyone to stay put, but first he must learn that he is not in control of everyone else’s life. You will fall in love with Lucas, who is trying so hard to keep everyone happy. My favorite thing about the book was the beautifully descriptive writing.
The story is impressively direct and tackles some serious issues such as drug addiction, attempted suicide, and mental illness. But the book is really about friendship, kindness forgiveness and redemption.
STAY is my first CATHERINE RYAN HYDE book and I was delighted with the writing, the characters and most of all, the story. My favorite character was Zoe Dinsmore, when you peeled away her prickly layers she was wise, astute and compassionate. This was definitely a book I did not want to end. I loved this book so much I have just started listening to Have a You Seen Luis Velez? Which was published May 21, 2019. Watch for that review coming soon too!
“People need help with perspective sometimes. If they’re all alone in their own head, they can lose perspective. Sometimes you need to use somebody else like a mirror. Let them reflect back to you the way the world really is.”
Publisher Lake Union
Published December 3, 2019
Narrated Nick Podehl
Review
www.bluestockingreviews.com -
I’ve now read about eight books by this author and loved almost all of them, and this is no exception. A moving, thought-provoking story about the kindest teenager ever, his friends and family and how a single decision can change your life. The wonderful thing is that Ms Hyde has written so many other books that I have loads more to look forward to!
It’s 1969 and Lucas Painter is fourteen and living in a small American town in an unspecified state. His parents fight all the time, his best friend is miserable and his revered older brother Roy is away fighting in Vietnam. When he finds an old cabin in the woods, with two huge dogs outside, his first instinct is to run, but when he realises that they are running with him rather than chasing him, a new passion is born. When he meets their owner, the surly Zoe Dinsmore, he doesn’t know about her tragic past, but Lucas’ determined compassion leads to them becoming friends, with consequences for all their lives.
Had I been guaranteed a child as wonderful as Lucas, even I might’ve been almost tempted to have children - he would seem too good to be true if this wasn’t told in first person past style - although in reality it was still the description of the kitten that tugged most at my heart-strings! His thoughtful view of the world, and overwhelming need to look after others, made such a nice change. I’m not sure I would’ve persevered with someone as prickly as Zoe, but her no-nonsense wisdom made her another fabulous character.
It’s been quite some time since I read a book set against the backdrop of the Vietnam war, but the way this focussed on those left behind gave me a new perspective. In some ways this story could have taken place in the present, but the more innocent world that Lucas inhabits would seem unrealistic now - relying on letters from Roy and second hand news to learn about a conflict he doesn’t understand, while trying to block out the equally confusing war at home. Having had parents who also fought non-stop, and just as pointlessly, I identified strongly with him. I escaped into books, rather than running.
While there are sad moments, and dark themes, this is ultimately a very hopeful story about friendship and loving people for who they are, not what they’ve done. Oh and the cover is gorgeous. All the stars. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. Stay is available now. -
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 heavy weight of responsibility on his shoulders, an anchor for troubled friends and family. A powerful, inspirational and lovely story. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. -
This book really made an impact on me. It featured a brave young teenager, Lucas Painter, amongst a number of broken people like his best friend Connor and Zoe Dinsmore. This story was set during Vietnam so the author addressed issues such as depression, physical disability issues and addictions.
Lucas was the real MVP in this story, along some pets (2 dogs and a cat). Despite his own issues, he tried his best to be supportive of those around him who had serious issues.
The biggest thing that I took from this book is that it takes strength to keep going. When a tragedy occurs, there are two types of forgiveness that we look for: Forgiveness from the ones we hurt, and Forgiveness from ourselves. It focused on how connection to others as well as ourselves. Forgiving yourself for hurting someone or punishing yourself for hurting someone is part of many people's journey after a traumatic event. This book dealt with it in a humane yet emotionally intense way.
This is a well written and poignant story life, the good, the bad and the ugly. Even the ending wasn't perfectly wrapped up with a pretty bow. But for all the people in the story, their redemption was due to the relationships and connections they formed with others. A very thought provoking story. -
Lucas Painter's fourteen in the summer of 1969, America’s fighting in the Vietnam War and Luke’s brother Leroy has been drafted. Luke’s parent's marriage isn’t a happy one, they argue a lot and it’s worse since Roy left home. Luke has a best friend Connor, they have been friends since they were three and he likes to visit his peaceful house. After Luke receives a letter from Roy, even though most of it has been censored out and Luke’s really worried about his brother.
Luke looks for an escape, he starts exploring the nearby woods, and running. He notices a log cabin in the woods, two large dogs from the cabin start chasing him and Luke thinks he’s going to get bitten. The complete opposite happens, the dogs are friendly and he starts taking them for a run every morning. Two things take place, and they change Luke’s outlook on life, Connor’s parents separate and his friend’s completely devastated. He meets the owner of the cabin, Zoe Dinsmore, she’s struggling as well, and she has a tragic past and has lost all hope. She’s a real loner, lives in the isolated woods, Luke tries to help her and they eventually become friends. Luke, Connor and Zoe form a special bond, it gives both Connor and Zoe hope, and a reason to not give up during tough times.
Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde, is a moving, emotional, inspiring and uplifting story. You read about teenagers growing up during the Vietnam War, the effect on their families and on the young men who were sent to fight, many were only boys, the terrible injuries and mental trauma they suffered from. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I highly recommend reading Stay and five stars from me. -
Who is Zoe Dinsmore, and why does she live as a recluse in the woods with her two dogs? Why is Lucas Painter, a 14-year-old boy, drawn to this strange woman?
Stay is the second fiction novel I have read by
Catherine Ryan Hyde. In some ways, it reminded me of the first one,
Have You Seen Luis Velez?, which I loved. A boy, an adult woman who is not his mother, a relationship that seems unlikely at first, but which grows into something unimaginably wonderful for both of them.
Lucas comes across Mrs. Dinsmore’s cabin one day while roaming the woods – forbidden by his mother – and, fearing her large dogs, runs away as fast as he can. When he discovers that the dogs are enjoying this, he relaxes and returns, day after day. His first meeting with their person is less than cordial, but he keeps coming back. Zoe – Mrs. Dinsmore – needs saving, he feels, and he seems to think it’s his duty to convince her. “Stay,” he says.
Lucas has a friend named Connor. Both boys come from homes with parents who seem emotionally absent from their sons. Lucas’ mom and dad fight constantly, which is how he came to be roaming the woods that day when he came upon the cabin. Connor’s parents simply do not speak to each other much at all. Their sons have known one another since they were three and lean on each other for companionship. They tell each other everything, don’t they? Yes, and no. Lucas wants to save him, too. He introduces him to Mrs. Dinsmore. Why? She says she has nothing to offer. “Stay,” Lucas says.
Lucas has a brother named Roy who is 19. He was drafted and is fighting in Vietnam. One day he returns, unexpectedly. He’s not the same as when he left.
Something happened in Zoe Dinsmore’s life that has had a deep, lasting effect upon her and others. Lucas is at an age where he is trying to figure out how to “be” in the world, to understand how relationships work, and how he should fit. He tends to try to take too much on his own shoulders, to want to fix things he cannot fix. He has a very big heart, and it’s Zoe who listens to him and slows him down. She listens to Connor, too, and it turns out that she forms a bond with Roy also. Can Zoe learn from these young men as well?
"Stay." It is a statement of worth. It is an invitation, a heartfelt desire for companionship, for a type of intimacy that each of these characters lacks in his/her world. This novel touches on so many aspects of human experience: trust, forgiveness, communication, suicide, addiction, dysfunctional relationships, healing through sharing – not just with other human beings, but with our animal friends as well.
I loved Zoe. Her pain and guilt is palpable at times. She does this “go away -come close” thing a lot, where she seems to crave interaction, yet fears it. Connor does too. Zoe is so wise, yet she takes little credit for having overcome so much ostracism, hatred, and self-loathing, probably because she still struggles. It is difficult to accept that these guys look up to her for guidance and advice.
Most of all, this book is about relationships, good and bad. Some die a sudden death. Some die a much slower death. The good ones grow and flourish. It’s beautiful to see. In the epilogue we find out so much more about how things turn out. Thanks, Catherine Ryan Hyde, for that. This story captivated me, and I am so ready to continue reading more works by this author.
5 stars -
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Lucas Painter is fourteen years old in the summer of 1969. His big brother is fighting in Vietnam, his parents are fighting each other, and his best friend is fighting depression. To escape, Lucas starts running daily through the forest near his home. When he comes across a cabin in the middle of nowhere that appears abandoned Lucas almost lets it be, until two massive dogs belonging to the cabin’s owner join him on his run. Lucas runs daily with the strangers’ dogs, and begins to form a bond with the dogs’ owner, a self-proclaimed recluse named Zoe. Throughout the summer, Lucas’ life is drastically changed by having Zoe in it, as is the life of his friend and brother, but it takes Zoe to teach Lucas how much he has changed her life for the better as well.
“Stay” by Catherine Ryan Hyde has its moments of beauty, and poignant, thought-provoking events that will stick with you. The novel portrays the darkest parts of depression and addiction with honesty and humility.
The problem I couldn’t get over is that young Lucas is fourteen, however he reacts to extreme circumstances in his life with utter maturity and gumption that adults many years older (myself included) would be unable to portray. Also, he knows three people in his life (parents excluded) and all of them have some form of mental illness or addiction. Now, it is obvious that mental illness and addiction are everywhere, and many struggle in silence, but to have the only people in one person’s life suffering from similar afflictions—poor Lucas draws them to him like moths to a flame. Admirable and charming though his character is, I got stuck a bit on believability.
I really enjoyed
Have You Seen Luis Velez? and perhaps that is what got my expectations up so high. I wanted the same heartwarming story that I got with Velez, and although the powerful message was there, “Stay” played out much slower. I did enjoy the dogs and their healing role throughout the novel—this part was the most believable of the entire novel.
A good read to be sure, full of important messages, but I found it lacking in believability, and incomparable to “Luis Velez”; and not necessarily in a good way. -
“I felt as though Mrs. Dinsmore had pressed a key into my hand, and that key had just opened up some secret part of the universe that had always been a mystery to me. Sounds like an exaggeration, but I guess you’d have to know how utterly baffled I’d been by life up until then.”
Stay is the twenty-ninth novel by award-winning American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. Lucas Painter comes across the cottage in the woods by accident. The large dogs sitting outside shock him into fleeing, even though he knows he can’t outrun them. But it turns out not only to be non-lethal, but to actually be a positive experience, one that allows him to clear his mind of everything that bothers him.
And Lucas has a lot on his mind. His brother is away at war; his parents argue all the time; and his troubled best friend Connor’s house isn’t the refuge a home should be. Lucas returns to the woods and repeats it, running with the dogs, regularly, until one day when the dogs are behaving strangely.
Lucas ends up saving a life, but the old woman he saves, Zoe Dinsmore is anything but appreciative. She’s the most anti-social person he’s ever met, and he needs to know why. What he learns doesn’t deter him from the cottage. He finds that with Zoe Dinsmore, he can ask questions about life that he simply can’t ask his parents, and he gets decent answers, even when she comments: “Whew,” she said. “It really is a tough place inside that brain of yours, isn’t it?”
Lucas finds that talking to Zoe gives him insight and empathy, and he’s a good enough friend to Connor that he can share. He comes to realise: “It’s really important,” I say, “when you’re thinking bad thoughts about yourself, to remember that they might turn out to be wrong.” Later he recalls: “…we had her when we needed her the most— when we were scared and lost and all the grown -ups around us were letting us down.”
Ryan Hyde has an extraordinary talent for conveying the feelings and emotions of a fourteen-year-old boy, and she succinctly and beautifully describes the situation. She tackles some big topics: suicide and addiction, and how they are managed. And she gives her characters lots of wise words: “If something works, I figure … just leave it alone. Let it be a thing that worked. Not everything needs to be picked apart for better understanding. Sometimes it’s okay to just say thank you in the quiet of your head and move along.” A wonderful, uplifting read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing. -
A beautiful story written with heart and depth about 14 year old Lucas Painter’s coming of age during the summer of 1969.
While his parents fight loudly everyday, his dad coming home later and later at night, Lucas’ last letter from his brother in Vietnam has him seriously worried, thanks to it’s mostly being blacked out by censors. What was his brother trying to tell him?
Out in the woods walking one day to clear his mind, Lucas sees two dogs, they spot him and begin chasing him. He’s relieved that they’re not actually chasing him but are enjoying running with him (they belong to Zoe Dinsmore, a woman he soon rescues and befriends.) Lucas finds running with the two dogs, now daily, offers wonderful peace from his troubles. It tugged at my heartstrings reading of the heavy burdens Lucas carries. Family life is lonely with his parents arguing daily, his brother Roy finally returns home safe from Vietnam but different and with afflictions, his friend Connor is depressed and withdrawn, and he worries about his new older friend Zoe. A loner and an outcast in their community, she lives in the middle of the woods still mourning over an accident twenty years earlier she’s never forgiven herself for, feeling she’s to blame. After Zoe returns home from the hospital Lucas checks on her welfare during his daily runs. He eventually begins sharing his troubles with her and learns valuable life lessons through Zoe that helps his brother, friend, and even Zoe herself.
“Stay” is a powerful story of family, friendship, helping others, forgiveness and healing. Another compelling, thoughtful novel from author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. -
You can't always judge a book by its cover, but while checking in the novel Stay, I noticed the cover depicts a boy, a tree, a sunset, and two dogs. I was intrigued, checked it out, and judged correctly.
The story takes place in Ashby, a little town that is backed up by undeveloped forest land, in the summer of 1969. The protagonist is fourteen-year-old Lucas Painter, whose brother is fighting in Vietnam, his parents are always arguing, and his best friend Connor is also struggling with family issues. Lucas takes solace in the woods behind his house, and one particularly tough day follows a deer path and gets lost, thus fulfilling his mother's warnings. He stumbles upon an isolated cabin and encounters two one-hundred pound dogs with spooky blue eyes. This chance encounter will change Lucas' life and may be the saving grace for Lucas, Connor, and the occupant of the cabin.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a prolific author whose novel Pay It Forward was chosen by the American Library Association for its "Best Books for Young Adults" list and was adapted into a major motion picture. I've also read two of her other titles: Have You Seen Luis Velez? and Brave Girl, Quiet Girl. Catherine weaves her characters into the story so seamlessly that I found myself invested in their lives. Her characters have flaws, are very relatable, face challenges, but are capable of doing extraordinary things. I highly recommend this author; her books will keep you engaged and reading into the wee hours of the night!
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When Catherine Ryan Hyde comes out with a new book, I immediately get it. When I saw this on NetGalley as a Read Now, I downloaded it right away. Wow! What a wonderful story! It’s heartbreaking, honest, and a gentle story. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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This is a character-driven novel about ordinary people in ordinary lives doing ordinary things. The principal character is a 14-year-old boy who goes through adolescence as though he is a 40-year-old professor of psychology.
This is the second book by Ms Hyde I have read, the first being ‘Have You Seen Luis Velez?’ The only merit I found with that book was the style of writing, which is natural and a joy to read. So I thought I’d give her another try.
The two stories, however, are almost identical. A sugar-sweet adolescent boy saves the lives of depressed old ladies, drug addicts, the suicidal, and any other who cross his path in need of a lifeline.
Sorry, but not a book for me. -
A beautiful story about friendship, loss, and healing.
Highly recommend.
