What do you think?
Rate this book
Michael Without Apology
A film student struggling with self-acceptance finally stops looking away from his traumatic past in a powerful novel by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Michael Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma from his classmates, his adoptive family, and himself.
When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society—and 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.
As he collects these stories—and finally tells his own—Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him.
Michael Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma from his classmates, his adoptive family, and himself.
When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society—and 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.
As he collects these stories—and finally tells his own—Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2025
3360 people are currently reading
6201 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Ryan Hyde
72 books6,145 followersCatherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than 50 published and forthcoming books.
She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.
Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of ’14.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.
You can learn much more about Catherine at www.catherineryanhyde.com
She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.
Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of ’14.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.
You can learn much more about Catherine at www.catherineryanhyde.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 647 reviews
May 4, 2025
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favourite authors, and she never disappoints. This one is poignant and powerful. I loved the themes of accepting oneself, healing from hurt and the power of love and human connection. Michael is dealing with a lot; he has both physical and emotional scars from an accident in his childhood. Hyde knows how to write emotional tales that pluck at the heartstrings, but she is also wonderful at creating interesting characters that are on inspiring journeys. Her characters rarely pity themselves and always draw on their inner strength. I loved the side characters as well; the ones Michael encounters along the way added different perspectives.
Hyde's writing style is easy to read and always immersive; both the plot and the characters always have a way of drawing me into the story. She continually writes with compassion and is always inspiring. I enjoyed reading about Michael and watching him grow throughout the narrative, and facing his challenges of living with his scars both inside and out. While Hyde is sensitive about the issues, she doesn't pull any punches and is always direct and never saccharine. And while some of Michael's issues were hard to read about, Hyde managed to leave me feeling hopeful. Everyone has things they are dealing with and scars of some kind. Moving and very thought-provoking, this story is another testament to Hyde's skill. All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favourite authors, and she never disappoints. This one is poignant and powerful. I loved the themes of accepting oneself, healing from hurt and the power of love and human connection. Michael is dealing with a lot; he has both physical and emotional scars from an accident in his childhood. Hyde knows how to write emotional tales that pluck at the heartstrings, but she is also wonderful at creating interesting characters that are on inspiring journeys. Her characters rarely pity themselves and always draw on their inner strength. I loved the side characters as well; the ones Michael encounters along the way added different perspectives.
Hyde's writing style is easy to read and always immersive; both the plot and the characters always have a way of drawing me into the story. She continually writes with compassion and is always inspiring. I enjoyed reading about Michael and watching him grow throughout the narrative, and facing his challenges of living with his scars both inside and out. While Hyde is sensitive about the issues, she doesn't pull any punches and is always direct and never saccharine. And while some of Michael's issues were hard to read about, Hyde managed to leave me feeling hopeful. Everyone has things they are dealing with and scars of some kind. Moving and very thought-provoking, this story is another testament to Hyde's skill. All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 8, 2025
In a Nutshell: A contemporary fiction about a young man who finally learns the value of self-acceptance. Excellent characters, storyline, writing, and life lessons. Drags a little in the final few chapters, but overall, a beautiful and meaningful read. Much recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🎆 Michael – vulnerable and believable. Mostly written as per his age, though he is more mature thanks to his traumatic childhood experience.
🎆 Dunning, though in a relatively minor role, is my favourite character in this book. If all professors were like this, students would have a marvellous time learning.
🎆 The use of the two timelines – perfectly in sync and working slowly to create an overall picture of Michael’s life. Each timeline is labelled clearly with Michael’s age at that point in the narrative – very helpful.
🎆 The secondary characters. Don't want to go into spoilers about the people Michael meets for his documentary, but suffice it to say, their arcs encompass a wide range of human experiences and ages. All these characters are memorable.
🎆 The theme of body image issues – so beautifully handled. It resonated personally with me as I too struggle with body dysmorphia. And I am sure many others do, even if they don’t know the term for it. I also love that the book tackles both visible and invisible scars.
🎆 The various other themes, especially connected to past trauma, life-altering news, and grief. The author handles emotions really well, and except in the final quarter, the feelings don’t sound cheesy.
🎆 The abundant life lessons in the writing! So many wise words where I found myself either nodding vigorously in agreement or reflecting upon the brilliance of the thought.
🎆 Quite fast-paced and easy to read, despite the abundance of characters.
🎆 The significance of the title. Don’t want to reveal it entirely here (a part of the meaning might be guessable), but it suits the story excellently.
🎆 The discussion questions provided at the end of the book – intricate and brilliant! They went much beyond typical discussion questions found in such novels.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🔥 Though the book contains many sad events, the overall tone is a bit too positive, and most characters can be easily slotted in two clear categories: good & kind OR bad & selfish. There’s no grey area, no middle ground, no mixed personality. Then again, that’s a hallmark of this genre, so perhaps regular uplit readers would be more tolerant of this.
🔥 There's an age-gap relationship in the story. Though written mostly well, it also made me uncomfortable at times when I felt like Michael wasn’t given much choice in the decisions as he came across as too submissive. This might be more of a ME issue than a BOOK issue.
🔥 The ending took a long while coming. The final few chapters felt like extended epilogues. The finale was just as satisfying can be expected in this genre, but I do think the book would have worked better had it been stopped a few chapters before.
Bookish Nays:
💥 Insta relationships. Two times!
All in all, this is the kind of book you pick up when you are fed up with the idiots of humankind (and let's be honest, idiots are everywhere these days especially in public life) and want to restore some faith in the inherent goodness of people. Despite containing some upsetting incidents, it works excellently as a balm for the heart.
Definitely recommended to those looking for a contemporary book with thought-provoking wisdom and heartwarming emotions.
4.25 stars. (I would have happily given this 4.5 stars and rounded up had the ending been crisper.)
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing the DRC of “Michael Without Apology” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
When Michael was seven, he had a near-fatal accident that left him with severe physical scars and eventually led to foster care. Now nineteen, Michael has learnt to keep his scars hidden.
On signing up for film class, he is taken aback on seeing that his professor Robert Dunning is also disfigured, but unlike Michael, he doesn’t hide his scars. Encouraged by Dunning, Michael plans to make a documentary about body image issues in scarred people. When he places an ad seeking potential interviewees, he learns that too many people in society are unhappy with their bodies. With their stories and also his own, Michael realises some important truths about scars, whether physical or mental.
The story comes to us in Michael’s third-person POV over two broad timelines: the present and the past.
Bookish Yays:
🎆 Michael – vulnerable and believable. Mostly written as per his age, though he is more mature thanks to his traumatic childhood experience.
🎆 Dunning, though in a relatively minor role, is my favourite character in this book. If all professors were like this, students would have a marvellous time learning.
🎆 The use of the two timelines – perfectly in sync and working slowly to create an overall picture of Michael’s life. Each timeline is labelled clearly with Michael’s age at that point in the narrative – very helpful.
🎆 The secondary characters. Don't want to go into spoilers about the people Michael meets for his documentary, but suffice it to say, their arcs encompass a wide range of human experiences and ages. All these characters are memorable.
🎆 The theme of body image issues – so beautifully handled. It resonated personally with me as I too struggle with body dysmorphia. And I am sure many others do, even if they don’t know the term for it. I also love that the book tackles both visible and invisible scars.
🎆 The various other themes, especially connected to past trauma, life-altering news, and grief. The author handles emotions really well, and except in the final quarter, the feelings don’t sound cheesy.
🎆 The abundant life lessons in the writing! So many wise words where I found myself either nodding vigorously in agreement or reflecting upon the brilliance of the thought.
🎆 Quite fast-paced and easy to read, despite the abundance of characters.
🎆 The significance of the title. Don’t want to reveal it entirely here (a part of the meaning might be guessable), but it suits the story excellently.
🎆 The discussion questions provided at the end of the book – intricate and brilliant! They went much beyond typical discussion questions found in such novels.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🔥 Though the book contains many sad events, the overall tone is a bit too positive, and most characters can be easily slotted in two clear categories: good & kind OR bad & selfish. There’s no grey area, no middle ground, no mixed personality. Then again, that’s a hallmark of this genre, so perhaps regular uplit readers would be more tolerant of this.
🔥 There's an age-gap relationship in the story. Though written mostly well, it also made me uncomfortable at times when I felt like Michael wasn’t given much choice in the decisions as he came across as too submissive. This might be more of a ME issue than a BOOK issue.
🔥 The ending took a long while coming. The final few chapters felt like extended epilogues. The finale was just as satisfying can be expected in this genre, but I do think the book would have worked better had it been stopped a few chapters before.
Bookish Nays:
💥 Insta relationships. Two times!
All in all, this is the kind of book you pick up when you are fed up with the idiots of humankind (and let's be honest, idiots are everywhere these days especially in public life) and want to restore some faith in the inherent goodness of people. Despite containing some upsetting incidents, it works excellently as a balm for the heart.
Definitely recommended to those looking for a contemporary book with thought-provoking wisdom and heartwarming emotions.
4.25 stars. (I would have happily given this 4.5 stars and rounded up had the ending been crisper.)
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing the DRC of “Michael Without Apology” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
April 28, 2025
4 thought-provoking stars!
Michael shows up early for his first college film class. His teacher, Mr. Dunning, introduces himself and their conversation marks the beginning of an incredible mentoring relationship that inspires and changes Michael’s life forever.
The story grabbed me immediately. Michael was an endearing, interesting, multi-layered character. He had so much depth and vulnerability. Searching for a sense of purpose and belonging, Michael’s character is sure to have readers sympathizing and rooting for him. His backstory brings a heaviness to the plot that had my heart aching. The plot is filled with real, raw, honest vulnerability and emotion.
Moments of the story did feel slightly preachy, especially when Mr Dunning was talking with Michael, however, this was essential in his role as mentor to Michael. And perhaps that was the authors intention. The matter-of-fact conversations had a quiet power to them that was memorable and impactful.
This novel is filled with heavy topics, some of which include addiction, child neglect, cancer, Hitler, among others. Please be sure to check trigger warnings before reading this.
Audio rating: 4 stars! The audio narrator did a great job performing this story. He gave a convincing, strong narrative that matched Michael’s character well for me. At times his narration felt slightly robotic, but it blended well with the tone of the story, the seriousness of the dialogue and Michael’s character in general. Pauses and expressions were perfectly timed. I highly recommend the audio!
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced audio copy! 🎧
Expected date of publication is May 6th!
Michael shows up early for his first college film class. His teacher, Mr. Dunning, introduces himself and their conversation marks the beginning of an incredible mentoring relationship that inspires and changes Michael’s life forever.
The story grabbed me immediately. Michael was an endearing, interesting, multi-layered character. He had so much depth and vulnerability. Searching for a sense of purpose and belonging, Michael’s character is sure to have readers sympathizing and rooting for him. His backstory brings a heaviness to the plot that had my heart aching. The plot is filled with real, raw, honest vulnerability and emotion.
Moments of the story did feel slightly preachy, especially when Mr Dunning was talking with Michael, however, this was essential in his role as mentor to Michael. And perhaps that was the authors intention. The matter-of-fact conversations had a quiet power to them that was memorable and impactful.
This novel is filled with heavy topics, some of which include addiction, child neglect, cancer, Hitler, among others. Please be sure to check trigger warnings before reading this.
Audio rating: 4 stars! The audio narrator did a great job performing this story. He gave a convincing, strong narrative that matched Michael’s character well for me. At times his narration felt slightly robotic, but it blended well with the tone of the story, the seriousness of the dialogue and Michael’s character in general. Pauses and expressions were perfectly timed. I highly recommend the audio!
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced audio copy! 🎧
Expected date of publication is May 6th!
May 1, 2025
OH, GEEZ LOUISE😭😭💔💔!!!!!! REVIEW TO COME!
May 6, 2025
I am giving this one three stars because, although I enjoyed most of it, it was not as good as the other books I have read by this author.
The story tells of Michael who was severely injured in a childhood accident. At that same time he was taken from his family and put into foster care. Luckily for him they were excellent foster parents and eventually adopted him. He is emotionally and physically scarred by his life's events until he meets a man who sets him on the path to recovery and success, and a woman he can love.
The book had highs and lows for me. There were times where it made me reach for the tissues but there were also times, particularly towards the end, when I felt the author was trying too hard to make sure I got the message.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The story tells of Michael who was severely injured in a childhood accident. At that same time he was taken from his family and put into foster care. Luckily for him they were excellent foster parents and eventually adopted him. He is emotionally and physically scarred by his life's events until he meets a man who sets him on the path to recovery and success, and a woman he can love.
The book had highs and lows for me. There were times where it made me reach for the tissues but there were also times, particularly towards the end, when I felt the author was trying too hard to make sure I got the message.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 4, 2025
the setup…
It’s the Fourth of July and seven-year old Michael and his older brother Thomas are on the beach waiting for the fireworks to start when Thomas talks him into stealing one of the rockets. It ends in a nightmare where Michael barely survives and is left with permanent scars on his chest, ending up in foster care. He’s now a nineteen year old college freshman looking to pursue studies in filmmaking. On the first day of his film class, teacher Robert Dunning, who wears his own scars on his face, does something extraordinary, unapologetic in owning his circumstances and accepting the stares without judging the audience for doing so. It inspires Michael to begin a documentary on the topic of body image with surprising revelations and insights.
the heart of the story…
I don’t know how to adequately describe the beauty of this story. Michael was a sensitive child who grew into an equally sensitive young man. His film project was eloquent in its tenderness towards the participants, who left an indelible impression on him and he on them. And on me.
the narration…
Michael Crouch seemed to understand that he needed to leave the drama behind and let the story sort of tell itself. He added to the lovely experience.
the bottom line…
This touched my soul in ways I cannot express. I’ll never ever forget this journey into self acceptance, unapologetically. Just trust me and find out for yourself.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
It’s the Fourth of July and seven-year old Michael and his older brother Thomas are on the beach waiting for the fireworks to start when Thomas talks him into stealing one of the rockets. It ends in a nightmare where Michael barely survives and is left with permanent scars on his chest, ending up in foster care. He’s now a nineteen year old college freshman looking to pursue studies in filmmaking. On the first day of his film class, teacher Robert Dunning, who wears his own scars on his face, does something extraordinary, unapologetic in owning his circumstances and accepting the stares without judging the audience for doing so. It inspires Michael to begin a documentary on the topic of body image with surprising revelations and insights.
the heart of the story…
I don’t know how to adequately describe the beauty of this story. Michael was a sensitive child who grew into an equally sensitive young man. His film project was eloquent in its tenderness towards the participants, who left an indelible impression on him and he on them. And on me.
the narration…
Michael Crouch seemed to understand that he needed to leave the drama behind and let the story sort of tell itself. He added to the lovely experience.
the bottom line…
This touched my soul in ways I cannot express. I’ll never ever forget this journey into self acceptance, unapologetically. Just trust me and find out for yourself.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
May 2, 2025
Michael was only seven years old when his older brother Thomas coerced him into something dangerous, which went horribly wrong, with Michael ending up in hospital, almost losing his life. Once out of hospital, but with a lifetime of scarring, he was placed with a foster family, who eventually adopted him. Now, at age nineteen, and beginning a film course at the college, Michael met his tutor, Robert Dunning, who became a friend and mentor. Making a film was part of his course and Robert aided Michael with his thoughts as he ventured into the unknown. Body image had always been an issue for Michael, but as he moved forward with his journey, and opening the way for others who felt the same way, he wondered if he'd ever find self acceptance - could he stop apologising for the things he couldn't fix?
Michael Without Apology by Catherine Ryan Hyde is another powerful novel by an author who can't do any wrong in my opinion. Michael is a well written character, and those who are placed beside him - his tutor, his parents, his girlfriend - are exceptionally done as well. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.
Michael Without Apology by Catherine Ryan Hyde is another powerful novel by an author who can't do any wrong in my opinion. Michael is a well written character, and those who are placed beside him - his tutor, his parents, his girlfriend - are exceptionally done as well. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.
January 6, 2025
✰ 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 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. 😞 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. And 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 necessary for Michael to reclaim the missing pieces of his heart. 🫂 ❤️🩹 Michael's relationship with his adoptive parents vs his real ones was a stark contrast; one that made him fully realize his own misjudgment 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.”
While I did enjoy how rewarding and enriching his relationship with his mentor was portrayed, I did feel that the romance was a bit too quick, but still a bittersweet one. It certainly paved the way for Michael's heart to embrace what it means to love. 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 still 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 hopeful and uplifting 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 a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“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 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. 😞 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. And 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 necessary for Michael to reclaim the missing pieces of his heart. 🫂 ❤️🩹 Michael's relationship with his adoptive parents vs his real ones was a stark contrast; one that made him fully realize his own misjudgment 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.”
While I did enjoy how rewarding and enriching his relationship with his mentor was portrayed, I did feel that the romance was a bit too quick, but still a bittersweet one. It certainly paved the way for Michael's heart to embrace what it means to love. 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 still 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 hopeful and uplifting 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 a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2025
I listened to the audiobook of this one and I thought the narrator matched the story well even if it was a little flat for my personal tastes. This was a really beautiful story even if it was also full of tragedy. I thought the events/relationships all moved more quickly than was naturally, but I did still enjoy. The story quite a bit. Michael is in college and so excited to start his first film class. He’s taken off guard when he sees his professor, a man visibly covered in burn marks. Michael is beyond fascinated by the way that his professor is so up front about it especially because his torso is covered in scars of his own from an accident when he was just a child. This was a quick story, but it was full of emotions and all kinds of connections. The story was well written and it was a fun ride.
May 24, 2025
Michael Woodbine’s life changed when he was seven years old, now he’s a freshman in college and Michael thinks it’s best to continue hiding his scars. Until he meets Professor Robert Dunning, he’s teaching film classes and his own scars are visible and he tells everyone to have a good look and get it over and done with.
He encourages Michael to make a body image documentary, focusing on how people feel about their flaws and he places an advertisement on a notice board seeking others who feel unattractive and rejected by society and he’s surprised to learn it’s almost everyone.
Six people including himself agree to bare all and no private parts, one man is over a hundred and another too thin, a lady has had a double mastectomy and a second has given birth to children and two show their burn scars. As Michael collects these stories, he shares his own, how he was given up for adoption at eight and his feelings towards his birth parents and his kind and caring mum and dad.
I received a copy of Michael Without Apology from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing and in exchange for an unbiased review. I have lost track of how many books I have read by Catherine Ryan Hyde, she writes stories that make you think and what’s it’s like to walk in the main protagonists shoes.
This time the narrative is about one young man’s journey to self-acceptance, coming to terms with his birth parents giving him up for adoption, scars or imperfections, some can cover them with clothing and others can’t and what it’s like to be stared at every single day and why are people so curious and judgemental.
I highly recommend this thought provoking coming of age story, and Michael starts a different kind of me too movement and five stars from me.
He encourages Michael to make a body image documentary, focusing on how people feel about their flaws and he places an advertisement on a notice board seeking others who feel unattractive and rejected by society and he’s surprised to learn it’s almost everyone.
Six people including himself agree to bare all and no private parts, one man is over a hundred and another too thin, a lady has had a double mastectomy and a second has given birth to children and two show their burn scars. As Michael collects these stories, he shares his own, how he was given up for adoption at eight and his feelings towards his birth parents and his kind and caring mum and dad.
I received a copy of Michael Without Apology from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing and in exchange for an unbiased review. I have lost track of how many books I have read by Catherine Ryan Hyde, she writes stories that make you think and what’s it’s like to walk in the main protagonists shoes.
This time the narrative is about one young man’s journey to self-acceptance, coming to terms with his birth parents giving him up for adoption, scars or imperfections, some can cover them with clothing and others can’t and what it’s like to be stared at every single day and why are people so curious and judgemental.
I highly recommend this thought provoking coming of age story, and Michael starts a different kind of me too movement and five stars from me.
December 15, 2024
If I could give this 10 stars I would! Another fabulous book by the great Catherine Ryan Hyde. She’s the perfect storyteller and this one was fabulous!!!! Thank you NetGalley for this early copy in exchange for my honest review. To be published May 2025.
September 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have always loved reading Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books. Hyde’s book “Michael Without Apologies”
is absolutely outstanding. The story line and the characters captured me right from the first page to the very last page.
I highly recommend reading this incredible story.
I have always loved reading Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books. Hyde’s book “Michael Without Apologies”
is absolutely outstanding. The story line and the characters captured me right from the first page to the very last page.
I highly recommend reading this incredible story.
April 28, 2025
When I read a book that really impacts me, I have a hard time reviewing it. This is one of those books. There is so much to absorb with this one.
In a nutshell, it is a book about scarred people—not just physically but also emotionally or both. It is about self-worth and acceptance.
As a young boy, Michael is critically injured in a fireworks accident. He carries scars for the rest of his life. While in college he decides to make a documentary about scarred people. He realizes (as does the reader) that almost everyone carries some kind of scars. And, everybody deals with them differently. With the help of an incredibly kind and intuitive instructor, Michael makes the impactful documentary.
This book really makes me think. Catherine Ryan Hyde has the ability to pull the reader right into the story. She picks intense subjects to write about. And, she writes about them in depth.
This book will stay with me for a very long time.
What I got out of the book: Live life without apologies, unless I actually owe one.
The book will explain.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
In a nutshell, it is a book about scarred people—not just physically but also emotionally or both. It is about self-worth and acceptance.
As a young boy, Michael is critically injured in a fireworks accident. He carries scars for the rest of his life. While in college he decides to make a documentary about scarred people. He realizes (as does the reader) that almost everyone carries some kind of scars. And, everybody deals with them differently. With the help of an incredibly kind and intuitive instructor, Michael makes the impactful documentary.
This book really makes me think. Catherine Ryan Hyde has the ability to pull the reader right into the story. She picks intense subjects to write about. And, she writes about them in depth.
This book will stay with me for a very long time.
What I got out of the book: Live life without apologies, unless I actually owe one.
The book will explain.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
May 4, 2025
Michael Without Apology is a novel by award-winning, best-selling American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. Ever since a nasty firework accident when he was seven, Michael Woodbine has kept his scarred body covered. At nineteen, he’s an attractive young man with an interest in making films, and his first college film class is a revelation that has an unanticipated impact on his attitudes.
His teacher, Robert Dunning, has visible scarring which he doesn’t try to cover: “He tells people to look. He invites them to talk about it. He won’t be ashamed of it, and he won’t let anybody else be ashamed because of their reaction to it”.
The first assignment that Professor Dunning gives the class is a short film. Michael’s unusual idea, to film people talking about their body image problems, gets Dunning’s tick of approval, but he needs subjects to interview. The flier he puts on the college noticeboard is a little vague, with an unexpected result: people who call his number, interested in participating, aren’t scarred the way he is, but Dunning tells him “you can never go far wrong by following the direction in which the universe is pushing you.”
He learns a lot about life from his interview subjects, even though some of their problems seem less of a big deal; he decides he should listen to the other person’s reality, not mitigate it or minimize it or try to shape it in any way. “Our problems are our problems, and I think sometimes they get compared to other people’s problems in a way that makes us feel like we don’t have a right to feel the way we feel about them.”
Telling his own story: his parents giving up their eight-year-old son for adoption when they kept their older son, elicits from one subject, this insight “It must have made you feel like they thought you were damaged goods” and he sees that “it explains why I kept the scarring a secret. I guess I thought if people knew, they’d reject me”. She also offers “Sometimes people have scars. It’s not a deal-breaker for anyone who’s not shallow as hell. It just is.”
He makes his film, a powerful little piece, and what it has to say attracts the attention of others in the business. But including his own story, as it does, when it is more widely seen, it gets a reaction from those who knew him then, including his birth family. Can he confront this head on?
Again, his teacher has good advice: “almost without exception our regrets are made up of the things we didn’t do. Almost any mistake can be lived with, because you gave it a shot. But we regret the chances we let go by.”
As always, Ryan Hyde gives her characters wise words and insightful observations: “Whenever I hear anybody tell anybody else they’re too sensitive, all I hear is ‘I want to feel free to say offensive things to you and it really inconveniences me when you mind’” and “I don’t completely believe what I can’t prove, and I don’t completely rule out what I can’t disprove” merely two. Topical, thought-provoking and heart-warming: classic Catherine Ryan Hyde.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
His teacher, Robert Dunning, has visible scarring which he doesn’t try to cover: “He tells people to look. He invites them to talk about it. He won’t be ashamed of it, and he won’t let anybody else be ashamed because of their reaction to it”.
The first assignment that Professor Dunning gives the class is a short film. Michael’s unusual idea, to film people talking about their body image problems, gets Dunning’s tick of approval, but he needs subjects to interview. The flier he puts on the college noticeboard is a little vague, with an unexpected result: people who call his number, interested in participating, aren’t scarred the way he is, but Dunning tells him “you can never go far wrong by following the direction in which the universe is pushing you.”
He learns a lot about life from his interview subjects, even though some of their problems seem less of a big deal; he decides he should listen to the other person’s reality, not mitigate it or minimize it or try to shape it in any way. “Our problems are our problems, and I think sometimes they get compared to other people’s problems in a way that makes us feel like we don’t have a right to feel the way we feel about them.”
Telling his own story: his parents giving up their eight-year-old son for adoption when they kept their older son, elicits from one subject, this insight “It must have made you feel like they thought you were damaged goods” and he sees that “it explains why I kept the scarring a secret. I guess I thought if people knew, they’d reject me”. She also offers “Sometimes people have scars. It’s not a deal-breaker for anyone who’s not shallow as hell. It just is.”
He makes his film, a powerful little piece, and what it has to say attracts the attention of others in the business. But including his own story, as it does, when it is more widely seen, it gets a reaction from those who knew him then, including his birth family. Can he confront this head on?
Again, his teacher has good advice: “almost without exception our regrets are made up of the things we didn’t do. Almost any mistake can be lived with, because you gave it a shot. But we regret the chances we let go by.”
As always, Ryan Hyde gives her characters wise words and insightful observations: “Whenever I hear anybody tell anybody else they’re too sensitive, all I hear is ‘I want to feel free to say offensive things to you and it really inconveniences me when you mind’” and “I don’t completely believe what I can’t prove, and I don’t completely rule out what I can’t disprove” merely two. Topical, thought-provoking and heart-warming: classic Catherine Ryan Hyde.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
May 5, 2025
I was excited to be able to read Catherine ryan Hyde's new book. She is one of my very favorite authors and i have loved the books she has previously written. I recommend her books to all my friends.
Description:
Michael Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma from his classmates, his adoptive family, and himself.
When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society—and 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.
As he collects these stories—and finally tells his own—Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him.
My Thoughts:
Hyde delves deep into characters and brings them alive. Michael's scars were terrible and he was so careful to hide them from everyone. I loved his journey of revelation through making his documentary and how it affected his own life and many others. As with all of Hyde's books this one makes you think about how you react to the situation and question how to do better - how to be a better person. I cheered Michael on throughout and loved the plot and the characters. Once again, I will be recommending to my friends.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Michael Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma from his classmates, his adoptive family, and himself.
When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society—and 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.
As he collects these stories—and finally tells his own—Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him.
My Thoughts:
Hyde delves deep into characters and brings them alive. Michael's scars were terrible and he was so careful to hide them from everyone. I loved his journey of revelation through making his documentary and how it affected his own life and many others. As with all of Hyde's books this one makes you think about how you react to the situation and question how to do better - how to be a better person. I cheered Michael on throughout and loved the plot and the characters. Once again, I will be recommending to my friends.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy.
August 21, 2025
Rating 3.60
I stumbled across this while browsing the new fiction section at the library. Since I enjoy reading author bios I realized I'd read Pay It Forward some time ago having loved the Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt film adaptation.
We meet Michael Woodbine at age 7 when he joins his older brother Thomas at a park where a fireworks display will begin. A risk taker, Thomas dares Michael to sneak to the fireworks platform and steal one. This is a stretch for young Michael since he's the innocent type, while his brother is anything but. Theft complete, he hands the rocket to his brother who unbeknownst has lit the fuse and does nothing when he observes Michael hide it beneath his body. When it bursts into flame, his brother runs for the hills. Michael is hospitalized for months due to numerous surgeries. Here we learn his parents are alcoholic drug addicts; when he's released, his foster parents request adoption rights without resistance or regret from his own.
The story fast forwards to a film making class he's enrolled as a freshman college student. Robert Dunning, is the professor who suffers with scars on his body and face. Having been in this condition for years, he's accustomed to unsavory reactions and is confident with Who He Is. His knowledge of film production, editing and acting invaluable
Since Michael shares a somewhat similar condition, they form a mentor/father-like bond during the shooting of "Here I Am" his first film. In order to produce it, he needs candidates who have suffered physical and emotional 'scars'. In an effort to find them he posts notices with a phone number. One of the first is 30-year-old Madeleine who'd had a mastectomy and wants to tell her story. While Michael has body scars, he's extremely handsome; she's so attracted she puts age difference aside.
As the plot unfolds we meet four others; among them a 103-year old-man and former Olympic star from the 1936 Berlin Olympics, his story beyond belief. This is both a coming of age and film maker story that includes the dysfunction of his birth parents and brother, deepening relationship with Madeleine and those who participated in the film. After the shooting with Madeleine, she bears her soul and we experience an unexpected outcome. Since I refrain from spoilers, I'll leave it at that. Once the film is completed, Dunning is so impressed he contacts a former colleague who's well connected in the industry.
Well written and evocative, I felt the plot predictability took away from engagement was a bit disappointed having thoroughly enjoyed "Pay It Forward". That said, its an injustice to compare anything in life, but honesty is important as well.
Ms. Hyde is incredibly talented and prolific as well. I put her books in similar category to Mitch Ablom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson and countless others which is a compliment in itself. Highly recommended and worth adding if you enjoy evocative stories such as this.
I stumbled across this while browsing the new fiction section at the library. Since I enjoy reading author bios I realized I'd read Pay It Forward some time ago having loved the Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt film adaptation.
We meet Michael Woodbine at age 7 when he joins his older brother Thomas at a park where a fireworks display will begin. A risk taker, Thomas dares Michael to sneak to the fireworks platform and steal one. This is a stretch for young Michael since he's the innocent type, while his brother is anything but. Theft complete, he hands the rocket to his brother who unbeknownst has lit the fuse and does nothing when he observes Michael hide it beneath his body. When it bursts into flame, his brother runs for the hills. Michael is hospitalized for months due to numerous surgeries. Here we learn his parents are alcoholic drug addicts; when he's released, his foster parents request adoption rights without resistance or regret from his own.
The story fast forwards to a film making class he's enrolled as a freshman college student. Robert Dunning, is the professor who suffers with scars on his body and face. Having been in this condition for years, he's accustomed to unsavory reactions and is confident with Who He Is. His knowledge of film production, editing and acting invaluable
Since Michael shares a somewhat similar condition, they form a mentor/father-like bond during the shooting of "Here I Am" his first film. In order to produce it, he needs candidates who have suffered physical and emotional 'scars'. In an effort to find them he posts notices with a phone number. One of the first is 30-year-old Madeleine who'd had a mastectomy and wants to tell her story. While Michael has body scars, he's extremely handsome; she's so attracted she puts age difference aside.
As the plot unfolds we meet four others; among them a 103-year old-man and former Olympic star from the 1936 Berlin Olympics, his story beyond belief. This is both a coming of age and film maker story that includes the dysfunction of his birth parents and brother, deepening relationship with Madeleine and those who participated in the film. After the shooting with Madeleine, she bears her soul and we experience an unexpected outcome. Since I refrain from spoilers, I'll leave it at that. Once the film is completed, Dunning is so impressed he contacts a former colleague who's well connected in the industry.
Well written and evocative, I felt the plot predictability took away from engagement was a bit disappointed having thoroughly enjoyed "Pay It Forward". That said, its an injustice to compare anything in life, but honesty is important as well.
Ms. Hyde is incredibly talented and prolific as well. I put her books in similar category to Mitch Ablom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson and countless others which is a compliment in itself. Highly recommended and worth adding if you enjoy evocative stories such as this.
May 4, 2025
Michael Without Apology tells the story of a college student struggling with self-acceptance, and who finally stops looking away from his traumatic past. When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. As he creates his documentary called "Here I Am," Michael learns that honesty, though often painful, can be profoundly freeing.
There was so much I loved about Michael Without Apology, but there was one thing that started to grate on me a little, and that was the fact that many characters in the book spoke in the same, perfect manner. It felt a little strange.
Don't get me wrong. This beautiful book about self-acceptance touched my heart. One of my favorite parts was when Michael was told he was too sensitive and he responded "Whenever I hear anybody tell anybody else they're too sensitive, all I hear is 'I want to feel free to say offensive things to you and it really inconveniences me when you mind.'" (I want a sign that states that!)
I believe there is something for everyone in Michael Without Apology and I recommend it to one and all!
Big thanks, #LakeUnionPublishing, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Michael Without Apology should be available for purchase in just two more days!
#CatherineRyanHyde #SelfAcceptance
There was so much I loved about Michael Without Apology, but there was one thing that started to grate on me a little, and that was the fact that many characters in the book spoke in the same, perfect manner. It felt a little strange.
Don't get me wrong. This beautiful book about self-acceptance touched my heart. One of my favorite parts was when Michael was told he was too sensitive and he responded "Whenever I hear anybody tell anybody else they're too sensitive, all I hear is 'I want to feel free to say offensive things to you and it really inconveniences me when you mind.'" (I want a sign that states that!)
I believe there is something for everyone in Michael Without Apology and I recommend it to one and all!
Big thanks, #LakeUnionPublishing, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Michael Without Apology should be available for purchase in just two more days!
#CatherineRyanHyde #SelfAcceptance
December 15, 2024
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A beautiful, unique story about love, self-image, difference and, above all, living unapologetically, “Michael Without Apology”, by Catherine Ryan Hyde, is also a journey of discovery and acceptance.
I loved the approach to scars, ugliness/beauty, age, difference, and how to accept our ageing, decaying, not beautiful, mutilated body: unapologetically, that is. No shame.
There’s a great message in characters like Michael, Robert Dunning, and Madeleine, and a lot to learn from them.
I also loved Michael’s character and personality: his honesty, humbleness and selflessness. The way his talent and creativeness develop and work is wonderful to watch.
I liked the relationships that develop in the story, particularly the non-romantic ones, with people that Michael befriends.
The relationship with professor Dunning is so interesting to watch, as they become more than student/mentor and develop a strong friendship.
There's loss and sadness in the story, but also a lot of love, tenderness and a very sweet romance.
I found the romance between Michael/Madeleine was too quick and the dialogue felt a bit forced sometimes.
A beautiful, unique story about love, self-image, difference and, above all, living unapologetically, “Michael Without Apology”, by Catherine Ryan Hyde, is also a journey of discovery and acceptance.
I loved the approach to scars, ugliness/beauty, age, difference, and how to accept our ageing, decaying, not beautiful, mutilated body: unapologetically, that is. No shame.
There’s a great message in characters like Michael, Robert Dunning, and Madeleine, and a lot to learn from them.
I also loved Michael’s character and personality: his honesty, humbleness and selflessness. The way his talent and creativeness develop and work is wonderful to watch.
I liked the relationships that develop in the story, particularly the non-romantic ones, with people that Michael befriends.
The relationship with professor Dunning is so interesting to watch, as they become more than student/mentor and develop a strong friendship.
There's loss and sadness in the story, but also a lot of love, tenderness and a very sweet romance.
I found the romance between Michael/Madeleine was too quick and the dialogue felt a bit forced sometimes.
May 17, 2025
A bit stunned at all the rave reviews.
It was definitely more of a 2 star review for me.
Although the premise was indeed a good one, and the message one we can all benefit from hearing, I felt it was not executed all that well. It felt scripted and at times a bit forced? The writing style seemed somewhat elementary. I’ve read this author previously and did not expect this at all.
Michael was wise beyond his years and quite forgiving of all that he had endured. No mention of therapy or lingering feelings which seemed unrealistic to me.
The entire story just felt to be too good to be true.
It was definitely more of a 2 star review for me.
Although the premise was indeed a good one, and the message one we can all benefit from hearing, I felt it was not executed all that well. It felt scripted and at times a bit forced? The writing style seemed somewhat elementary. I’ve read this author previously and did not expect this at all.
Michael was wise beyond his years and quite forgiving of all that he had endured. No mention of therapy or lingering feelings which seemed unrealistic to me.
The entire story just felt to be too good to be true.
December 14, 2024
I love when Catherine Ryan Hyde comes out with a new book. Something about her writing and storyline that always touch you right there in the heart. A story that you can relate too . We all have scars of one kind or another and we should embrace them. I loved everyone of the characters. I'm sad this book is over
Definitely a book hangover.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.
Definitely a book hangover.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.
May 2, 2025
Michael Without Apology is a thought-provoking coming-of-age novel that explores themes of trauma, self-acceptance, heartbreak, and defying the odds. The story follows Michael Woodbine, a 19-year-old college freshman who’s spent much of his life hiding his physical & emotional scars from a near-fatal fireworks accident at age 7. The accident placed him in foster care, leaving him with abandonment issues. In college, Michael enrolls in a film class taught by Robert Dunning, a professor who bears visible scars on his face without shame. Inspired by Dunning, Michael begins filming a documentary of interviews with individuals facing various physical and emotional challenges.
Like all of Hyde’s novels, this emotionally resonant story dives deep into the complexities of the human experience. There are many meaningful subjects featured in this story: healing after trauma, fatal illness, heartbreak, abandonment, self-acceptance, and most prominently, speaking one's truth without apology. Societal pressures around physical appearance and the struggles people of all ages face around their self-image are profoundly analyzed through Michael’s struggles and the people he interviews.
Catherine Ryan Hyde has an amazing ability to write characters and relatable stories that touch a reader’s heart—and Michael's story is precisely that! He is a very introspective, intelligent character, wise beyond his years. The relationship between Michael and Professor Dunning is a focal point of the story, and it emphasizes the profound impact that mentorship and deep understanding can have. Before meeting Dunning, Michael had never processed his emotional trauma and harbored a lot of pent-up anger towards his birth parents. Through the fascinating interviews he conducts, Michael learns that almost everyone has an internal conflict and insecurities. His high sensitivity and intuition allow him to soak up all the information he hears to transform him. By the end, his character arc is so pronounced that it seems like he’s decades older when only a few years have passed. There is also a romantic subplot in the story between Michael and an older woman who has a fatal illness. Although their love story isn’t overly developed, their dialogue is very compelling and heartfelt—so be sure to have some tissues on hand!
The story is told over multiple timelines. The main storyline occurs during the year when Michael is 19 years old, with flashbacks to the time around his near-fatal injury. The timeline shifts are seamless and greatly enhance the story without causing any confusion, and they give readers a satisfying and comprehensive picture of Michael’s coming-of-age story. With every Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, there’s always something new for readers to learn! Her stories are also very well researched—in this book, there is interesting medical information during Michael’s hospital stay and later on, insight into documentary filmmaking and the film festival circuit. In addition, there are so many meaningful lines of dialogue that readers will want to bookmark and use in their own lives. For all these reasons and because of the compelling characters, this story lingers and prompts readers to consider its themes long after finishing!
Overall, Michael Without Apology is another standout novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde, filled with profound messages and life lessons. Anyone who has struggled with self-acceptance, societal expectations, or abandonment issues will especially relate to Michael’s story. If you haven’t read any of Hyde’s previous books, this book is a great book to start with, and afterwards you’ll be compelled to check out her amazing catalog of 40+ titles! Anyone who enjoys thought-provoking, emotionally satisfying stories with characters that defy the odds shouldn't hesitate to grab a copy of this book!
🎙️ Narrator Performance 🎙️ (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Narrator Michael Crouch delivers a heartfelt & captivating performance. He portrays protagonist Michael with an intelligent sounding, inquisitive voice, perfectly capturing the character’s willingness to learn and high sensitivity. Crouch demonstrates his top notch acting skills and impressive vocal range not only by giving the characters unique voices, but also by shifting his performance of Michael during the most intense scenes. In particular, Michael’s dialogue with his dying girlfriend is so emotionally heartbreaking that readers will need to have tissues on hand! The scenes between Michael and his birth parents are equally intense to listen to—the near explosive anger is palpable and readers will be holding their breath with tension! With such a powerful, authentic performance, it’s highly recommend to listen to this story on audio—and you’ll be elated to know that Crouch has narrated several of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s previous books!
Like all of Hyde’s novels, this emotionally resonant story dives deep into the complexities of the human experience. There are many meaningful subjects featured in this story: healing after trauma, fatal illness, heartbreak, abandonment, self-acceptance, and most prominently, speaking one's truth without apology. Societal pressures around physical appearance and the struggles people of all ages face around their self-image are profoundly analyzed through Michael’s struggles and the people he interviews.
Catherine Ryan Hyde has an amazing ability to write characters and relatable stories that touch a reader’s heart—and Michael's story is precisely that! He is a very introspective, intelligent character, wise beyond his years. The relationship between Michael and Professor Dunning is a focal point of the story, and it emphasizes the profound impact that mentorship and deep understanding can have. Before meeting Dunning, Michael had never processed his emotional trauma and harbored a lot of pent-up anger towards his birth parents. Through the fascinating interviews he conducts, Michael learns that almost everyone has an internal conflict and insecurities. His high sensitivity and intuition allow him to soak up all the information he hears to transform him. By the end, his character arc is so pronounced that it seems like he’s decades older when only a few years have passed. There is also a romantic subplot in the story between Michael and an older woman who has a fatal illness. Although their love story isn’t overly developed, their dialogue is very compelling and heartfelt—so be sure to have some tissues on hand!
The story is told over multiple timelines. The main storyline occurs during the year when Michael is 19 years old, with flashbacks to the time around his near-fatal injury. The timeline shifts are seamless and greatly enhance the story without causing any confusion, and they give readers a satisfying and comprehensive picture of Michael’s coming-of-age story. With every Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, there’s always something new for readers to learn! Her stories are also very well researched—in this book, there is interesting medical information during Michael’s hospital stay and later on, insight into documentary filmmaking and the film festival circuit. In addition, there are so many meaningful lines of dialogue that readers will want to bookmark and use in their own lives. For all these reasons and because of the compelling characters, this story lingers and prompts readers to consider its themes long after finishing!
Overall, Michael Without Apology is another standout novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde, filled with profound messages and life lessons. Anyone who has struggled with self-acceptance, societal expectations, or abandonment issues will especially relate to Michael’s story. If you haven’t read any of Hyde’s previous books, this book is a great book to start with, and afterwards you’ll be compelled to check out her amazing catalog of 40+ titles! Anyone who enjoys thought-provoking, emotionally satisfying stories with characters that defy the odds shouldn't hesitate to grab a copy of this book!
🎙️ Narrator Performance 🎙️ (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Narrator Michael Crouch delivers a heartfelt & captivating performance. He portrays protagonist Michael with an intelligent sounding, inquisitive voice, perfectly capturing the character’s willingness to learn and high sensitivity. Crouch demonstrates his top notch acting skills and impressive vocal range not only by giving the characters unique voices, but also by shifting his performance of Michael during the most intense scenes. In particular, Michael’s dialogue with his dying girlfriend is so emotionally heartbreaking that readers will need to have tissues on hand! The scenes between Michael and his birth parents are equally intense to listen to—the near explosive anger is palpable and readers will be holding their breath with tension! With such a powerful, authentic performance, it’s highly recommend to listen to this story on audio—and you’ll be elated to know that Crouch has narrated several of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s previous books!
May 27, 2025
WOAH!! I just had the BEST experience listening to this book!! The MC Michael will forever be a part of my heart now. I think I extra loved this book because I can relate to it so much. I love the premise of living unapologetically. And that doesn't mean not apologizing when ur in the wrong or whatever. But being 100% unapologetically urself. I've always loved the quote to thy own self be true. This book relates to that quote so much. I was able to relate to being ashamed about ur appearance and any physical scars you might have on ur body. For one, I have struggled with self-harm since age 11, and im now 40. So my body is covered in scars. I don't mind my scars showing for the most part, but when I notice people staring at them, I feel ashamed. I feel like I should hide my body cuz a lot of people don't understand it and like I should be ashamed of myself for letting all the trauma I've been thru effect me in such a way. There's other reasons of why I relate so much to feeling ashamed of or as though I should apologize for my appearance and it has to due with always either feeling like I weigh too much or too little and other things that have to do with me being non-binary in my gender identity. I know this is a lot of full disclosure, but I had to explain why I related to this book so much. The story also talks about what Michael went thru regarding being in foster care and then being adopted and how he felt about his biological parents. That, too, I can relate to cuz I was in foster care and then adopted and then was put back in the system. It's crazy what we all go through in the short time we're alive. The story helped me see even more how much one's perspective can shape one's self and their life. Also, how other people's perspectives can impact us. This story is going in my near and dear to me shelf cuz it was just an awesome experience and different things about being ourselves unapologetically and accepting ourselves and things regarding love were just so beautiful and brilliantly told!! I highly recommend this book and this author in general! I've read other books by her, and so far, they have all touched my heart!
February 4, 2025
Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I love Catherine Ryan Hyde and I was so excited to learn she had a new book on Netgally! This book has everything that i have loved in every book of hers that I've read. The heart break, the overcoming of obstacles, new perspectives, and putting your heart back together without you even realizing it happened.
This is a book about love and loss and overcoming things that are holding you back from living your best life. I loved it.
I love Catherine Ryan Hyde and I was so excited to learn she had a new book on Netgally! This book has everything that i have loved in every book of hers that I've read. The heart break, the overcoming of obstacles, new perspectives, and putting your heart back together without you even realizing it happened.
This is a book about love and loss and overcoming things that are holding you back from living your best life. I loved it.
February 6, 2025
Catherine Ryan Hyde is so underrated. She really knows how to tell a story. I loved this book so much!
The book talks a lot about body image and accepting yourself. A great message! I highly recommend this one!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book talks a lot about body image and accepting yourself. A great message! I highly recommend this one!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2025
This is a poignant, heartfelt story about a young man with both physical and emotional scars. After an almost fatal fireworks accident when he was seven, Michael is adopted by his foster parents. He was left with serious scarring on his torso and legs and was always very self-conscious about them.
In college, he meets a professor who has scars he cannot hide, and he encourages Michael to live his life without apology, to challenge people to accept him as he is. When Michael makes a film about body image, he surprised at how many people think negatively about themselves for things that Michael would never consider a problem: old age, being too thin, the effects of multiple pregnancies on a woman’s body, Mastectomy scars. One woman challenges Michael about his motives for the film because, from the neck up, Michael is incredibly handsome. His forced to literally bare himself to her, something he has never done to another person except his parents. These two forge a relationship that affects Michael profoundly for the rest of his life.
Michael’s success as a filmmaker brings his biological parents out of the woodwork as they want to reconnect with him now after having given him up for adoption after his accident. This gives Michael the opportunity to work through his feelings about them and close that chapter of his life, which is very freeing on so many levels.
All the characters are wonderfully portrayed, even those were flaws (His mom can be very smothering, and his father has to run interference at times to rein her in.) The writing is beautiful, and the issues addressed in the story are treated with compassion and delicacy.
This book just grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go until the last sentence.
A definite recommend.
Good quotes :
“ ‘Try not to go through life being sorry,’ he said.”
“‘And there was the adjustment to the look on peoples faces when they saw me. My aunt was hugely helpful with that, I must say. She’s the one who taught me the completely shame free approach. She would say, ‘Bobby boy, scars are a fact of life. Some people managed to avoid them. Others might incur only the smaller, more subtle varieties. Then there’s the vast majority of us who wear their scars on the inside, the truly unlucky souls. They’re the ones who come to believe that no one must see their scars. But a scar is not a shameful thing, Bobby. It’s just a fact of living, your proof of life, so to speak.’ As a result, I grew up defiant. But still, I have to say…. to this very day, it affects me. That initial wince. That little jump, as if the person has seen a ghost, or a glimpse of their own death. I don’t know that a person can ever choose to be entirely unaffected by that. All I can say is that it doesn’t grow less troubling, it only grows less new.’”
“ ‘You know what? I was just about to say no. But I’m not sure why. Force of habit maybe, because I just realized I could say yes. And it feels like a kind of freedom.’ ”
“ ‘It is a kind of freedom,’ Jonah said. ‘One of the best kinds there is. The freedom to be exactly as you are with no secrets and no apologies. Too bad more people haven’t tried it out.’ ”
“ ‘Or maybe you’re not sensitive enough’, Michael said, heady with the freedom of being able to say what he felt. ‘Whenever I hear anybody tell anybody else they’re too sensitive, all I hear is ‘I want to feel free to say offensive things to you and it really inconveniences me when you mind.’ “
“ ‘You made love into a living thing. I don’t mean you made it that, exactly. You didn’t change love. You’re not that powerful, who is? But what I got out of the film was not so much about whether a deceased person still has any kind of presence in our world, but more that the love two people share has a life of its own. That when two people love each other and one of them dies, the love goes on living. And that’s a powerful message. People are going to respond to that on a deep level.’ ” (This quote really got to me. It’s so true.)
In college, he meets a professor who has scars he cannot hide, and he encourages Michael to live his life without apology, to challenge people to accept him as he is. When Michael makes a film about body image, he surprised at how many people think negatively about themselves for things that Michael would never consider a problem: old age, being too thin, the effects of multiple pregnancies on a woman’s body, Mastectomy scars. One woman challenges Michael about his motives for the film because, from the neck up, Michael is incredibly handsome. His forced to literally bare himself to her, something he has never done to another person except his parents. These two forge a relationship that affects Michael profoundly for the rest of his life.
Michael’s success as a filmmaker brings his biological parents out of the woodwork as they want to reconnect with him now after having given him up for adoption after his accident. This gives Michael the opportunity to work through his feelings about them and close that chapter of his life, which is very freeing on so many levels.
All the characters are wonderfully portrayed, even those were flaws (His mom can be very smothering, and his father has to run interference at times to rein her in.) The writing is beautiful, and the issues addressed in the story are treated with compassion and delicacy.
This book just grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go until the last sentence.
A definite recommend.
Good quotes :
“ ‘Try not to go through life being sorry,’ he said.”
“‘And there was the adjustment to the look on peoples faces when they saw me. My aunt was hugely helpful with that, I must say. She’s the one who taught me the completely shame free approach. She would say, ‘Bobby boy, scars are a fact of life. Some people managed to avoid them. Others might incur only the smaller, more subtle varieties. Then there’s the vast majority of us who wear their scars on the inside, the truly unlucky souls. They’re the ones who come to believe that no one must see their scars. But a scar is not a shameful thing, Bobby. It’s just a fact of living, your proof of life, so to speak.’ As a result, I grew up defiant. But still, I have to say…. to this very day, it affects me. That initial wince. That little jump, as if the person has seen a ghost, or a glimpse of their own death. I don’t know that a person can ever choose to be entirely unaffected by that. All I can say is that it doesn’t grow less troubling, it only grows less new.’”
“ ‘You know what? I was just about to say no. But I’m not sure why. Force of habit maybe, because I just realized I could say yes. And it feels like a kind of freedom.’ ”
“ ‘It is a kind of freedom,’ Jonah said. ‘One of the best kinds there is. The freedom to be exactly as you are with no secrets and no apologies. Too bad more people haven’t tried it out.’ ”
“ ‘Or maybe you’re not sensitive enough’, Michael said, heady with the freedom of being able to say what he felt. ‘Whenever I hear anybody tell anybody else they’re too sensitive, all I hear is ‘I want to feel free to say offensive things to you and it really inconveniences me when you mind.’ “
“ ‘You made love into a living thing. I don’t mean you made it that, exactly. You didn’t change love. You’re not that powerful, who is? But what I got out of the film was not so much about whether a deceased person still has any kind of presence in our world, but more that the love two people share has a life of its own. That when two people love each other and one of them dies, the love goes on living. And that’s a powerful message. People are going to respond to that on a deep level.’ ” (This quote really got to me. It’s so true.)
August 14, 2025
I've never read an author who develops her characters and leaves you feeling faith in people doing better in their lives. Michael suffers an injury and turns it into a way to help others deal with trauma ultimately helping himself in the process.
April 25, 2025
“Time only goes one way. What’s done can’t been undone. If only we could take that one second over.”…… since you can’t live that moment over, one needs to learn how to only look forward and accept what happened the second before.
Catherine Ryan Hyde always touches on themes people can relate to. Michael Without Apology is a book about learning to love yourself, living life without regret, without shame, without apology but with courage and self acceptance.
I loved Michael’s naive character. How can he be so handsome yet have such low self esteem. We never know what scars people are hiding inside and out. Michael grows so much from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. He was so lucky to meet his teacher and mentor Robert Dunning. Professor Dunning changed Michael’s life for the better. Everyone should have a person like Professor Dunning who they can look up to.
This was a tender, sweet story that can be read in one night. it will touch your heart and you might even shed a tear or two.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Catherine Ryan Hyde always touches on themes people can relate to. Michael Without Apology is a book about learning to love yourself, living life without regret, without shame, without apology but with courage and self acceptance.
I loved Michael’s naive character. How can he be so handsome yet have such low self esteem. We never know what scars people are hiding inside and out. Michael grows so much from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. He was so lucky to meet his teacher and mentor Robert Dunning. Professor Dunning changed Michael’s life for the better. Everyone should have a person like Professor Dunning who they can look up to.
This was a tender, sweet story that can be read in one night. it will touch your heart and you might even shed a tear or two.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
May 24, 2025
just because you have a point to make, doesn’t mean you can write a book
I blame myself for continuing to read this when it was so poorly written, but I’m a little bit obsessive compulsive that way… AnyWho, I like in this book to someone make their own clothing out of designer fabric. Let’s say they have the talent to choose some really beautiful pieces and they know how to cut those pieces out, but they have no idea how to assemble them into a beautiful piece of clothing. The author reminded us of so many life truths and the beauty and acceptance, but this book was absolutely horrible and the narration didn’t help any. I applaud the author’s outlook and the message. they desired to communicate, but it was lost in their inabilities.
I blame myself for continuing to read this when it was so poorly written, but I’m a little bit obsessive compulsive that way… AnyWho, I like in this book to someone make their own clothing out of designer fabric. Let’s say they have the talent to choose some really beautiful pieces and they know how to cut those pieces out, but they have no idea how to assemble them into a beautiful piece of clothing. The author reminded us of so many life truths and the beauty and acceptance, but this book was absolutely horrible and the narration didn’t help any. I applaud the author’s outlook and the message. they desired to communicate, but it was lost in their inabilities.
August 17, 2025
Another thought-provoking novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This book does deal with a lot of heavy topics so suggest looking into trigger warnings before starting this one.
This story will take you on an emotional roller-coaster, so hang on tight and keep the tissues handy because as you get to know Michael your heart will break. Highly recommended.
This story will take you on an emotional roller-coaster, so hang on tight and keep the tissues handy because as you get to know Michael your heart will break. Highly recommended.
April 21, 2025
A favorite author of mine. This book is such a good one. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Catherine Ryan Hyde always gives you something to think about and makes you shed lots of tears. I've read so many of her books and will continue too.
There are a few characters that you will love. Each has a story. Tim is the janitor and has always been stick thin. He hates how he looks. Rex, who is 103 years old, was an olympic silver medalist during Hitler's reign. At the start of it. Rex was only fifteen at that time. Tanya is the mother of five and has a lot to say also. Madeleine is an older women who had a double mastectomy and whom Michael has a fling with. Then there is the professor who started it all, Robert Dunning. He is the professor of Michael's film class he's taking. The one who has scars of his own. Very visible scars that he calls attention to the first day. He refuses to hide them. Michael has scars too. He's kept them hidden though. He was afraid of people's reaction. Until he met Mr Dunning...
This book takes you through each of the of each people lives I named. How they came to meet Michael and how he interacted with each. Though he really only met them briefly they all left a huge imprint on his life. Made him into the adult and husband he was to be.
Michael is raised from age eight up by his adoptive parents. They were his foster parents and they loved him so unconditionally and adopted him. His birth parents gave them full freedom to do so. It hurt Michael and he felt like it was because of what happened to him. He loved his adoptive parents unconditionally also. He didn't want to see his birth parents ever. Michael had a good life. He was loved and loved his parents.
You find out everything about what happened to Michael and each of the people he interviewed and why he did this interview. How it developed and ended. All you need is there. No questions left unanswered.
This is a very emotional story that had me weeping in parts. You just never know what scars a person is carrying. Be wary of judgement as it could be something that can't be helped.
Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnion, #Brillance, for this ARC.
There are a few characters that you will love. Each has a story. Tim is the janitor and has always been stick thin. He hates how he looks. Rex, who is 103 years old, was an olympic silver medalist during Hitler's reign. At the start of it. Rex was only fifteen at that time. Tanya is the mother of five and has a lot to say also. Madeleine is an older women who had a double mastectomy and whom Michael has a fling with. Then there is the professor who started it all, Robert Dunning. He is the professor of Michael's film class he's taking. The one who has scars of his own. Very visible scars that he calls attention to the first day. He refuses to hide them. Michael has scars too. He's kept them hidden though. He was afraid of people's reaction. Until he met Mr Dunning...
This book takes you through each of the of each people lives I named. How they came to meet Michael and how he interacted with each. Though he really only met them briefly they all left a huge imprint on his life. Made him into the adult and husband he was to be.
Michael is raised from age eight up by his adoptive parents. They were his foster parents and they loved him so unconditionally and adopted him. His birth parents gave them full freedom to do so. It hurt Michael and he felt like it was because of what happened to him. He loved his adoptive parents unconditionally also. He didn't want to see his birth parents ever. Michael had a good life. He was loved and loved his parents.
You find out everything about what happened to Michael and each of the people he interviewed and why he did this interview. How it developed and ended. All you need is there. No questions left unanswered.
This is a very emotional story that had me weeping in parts. You just never know what scars a person is carrying. Be wary of judgement as it could be something that can't be helped.
Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnion, #Brillance, for this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 647 reviews