What do you think?
Rate this book
The Other Kind of Lion
7 hours, 41 minutes
A war widow and a neglected boy form a chosen family in a profoundly moving multigenerational saga about the transformative power of kindness by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
It’s 1970 in rural California where Shirley Bennett, a forty-year-old Vietnam War widow, lives with her two sons. It’s a routine life until she sees Cash Pierce, a scruffy eleven-year-old boy, trailing the fence alongside her Appaloosa, Phoenix. The horse never gave such a welcoming nicker to anyone but her late husband. Even her stubborn old dog Edsel takes to the boy. Out of curiosity and compassion, so does Shirley.
Abandoned by his father, his mother in jail, and raised by his teenage brother, Cash is lonely, bullied, but smart as a whip and starved for attention. Shirley begins inviting him for dinners, providing lunch money, sewing his shirts, and offering the maternal care he desperately needs. Neither realizes that such simple acts of kindness create a bond that will span five decades and redefine family itself. No matter where life takes Cash, he will never forget her.
Through war, loss, grief, illness, second chances, and years of separation they will meet again. Shirley was there for Cash. Now it’s his turn to be there for Shirley when she needs him the most.
A war widow and a neglected boy form a chosen family in a profoundly moving multigenerational saga about the transformative power of kindness by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
It’s 1970 in rural California where Shirley Bennett, a forty-year-old Vietnam War widow, lives with her two sons. It’s a routine life until she sees Cash Pierce, a scruffy eleven-year-old boy, trailing the fence alongside her Appaloosa, Phoenix. The horse never gave such a welcoming nicker to anyone but her late husband. Even her stubborn old dog Edsel takes to the boy. Out of curiosity and compassion, so does Shirley.
Abandoned by his father, his mother in jail, and raised by his teenage brother, Cash is lonely, bullied, but smart as a whip and starved for attention. Shirley begins inviting him for dinners, providing lunch money, sewing his shirts, and offering the maternal care he desperately needs. Neither realizes that such simple acts of kindness create a bond that will span five decades and redefine family itself. No matter where life takes Cash, he will never forget her.
Through war, loss, grief, illness, second chances, and years of separation they will meet again. Shirley was there for Cash. Now it’s his turn to be there for Shirley when she needs him the most.
Audible Audio
Published November 3, 2026
About the author
Catherine Ryan Hyde
83 books6,467 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 161 reviews
November 6, 2026
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Other Kind of Lion
Catherine Ryan Hyde
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Lake Union Publishing
286 Pages
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women's Fiction
Sometimes the smallest bit of help, at just the right moment, turns out to be huge.
Catherine Ryan Hyde writes my favourite kind of stories—the ones about human connection and chosen family. She writes realistic stories about people being kind to each other and how that can grow and reverberate for years. This story is about Shirley, a war widow living in California in 1970, who is trying to raise her sons the best she can. One day, Shirley notices eleven-year-old Cash, a scruffy-looking boy walking near her fence. When Shirley realizes her horse and her dog are friendly with the boy, she decides to welcome him as well. Seeing that he is neglected, Shirley feeds and clothes him and gives him the parental attention he is lacking. As time goes by, the book reveals a story of deep grief, plenty of hardship, and many relocations that keep Shirley and Cash apart from each other. When Shirley is decades older and needs help, Cash returns to do so and repay Shirley for everything she did for him when he was a child, proving that family isn't always blood.
Love isn't always about where you come from; sometimes it's about who steps up.
I loved this book so much. It was so moving, and the multigenerational friendship is another favourite type of story of mine. Hyde always tells her stories with so much compassion and no judgement. It wasn't hard to imagine these two characters coming together fifty years after they first met, and their connection is what made this book a five-star read for me. Hyde's character development was amazing, and both Shirley and Cash had a vulnerability that was real and full of depth. They were so authentic it hurt my heart, and I couldn't help but fall in love with them. I wanted to be Shirley's friend and Cash's mother. The way they became found family warmed my heart.
I remembered the thorn. And I remembered who pulled it out.
I loved how the author showed that you don't have to be related to be loyal, kind, and loving to someone; you just have to care, because blood isn't the only thing that can bind people together. As always, Hyde writes emotions so well—there is grief, second chances, and the power of connection. Catherine Ryan Hyde's books make me want to be a better human. This is a kindhearted read, but very powerful at the same time. It reminded me that small acts of kindness can do big things for people. This was so beautifully written and emotional for me, but also very inspiring. It also made me think of the saying, "Not all heroes wear capes." All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Other Kind of Lion
Catherine Ryan Hyde
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2026
Lake Union Publishing
286 Pages
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women's Fiction
Sometimes the smallest bit of help, at just the right moment, turns out to be huge.
Catherine Ryan Hyde writes my favourite kind of stories—the ones about human connection and chosen family. She writes realistic stories about people being kind to each other and how that can grow and reverberate for years. This story is about Shirley, a war widow living in California in 1970, who is trying to raise her sons the best she can. One day, Shirley notices eleven-year-old Cash, a scruffy-looking boy walking near her fence. When Shirley realizes her horse and her dog are friendly with the boy, she decides to welcome him as well. Seeing that he is neglected, Shirley feeds and clothes him and gives him the parental attention he is lacking. As time goes by, the book reveals a story of deep grief, plenty of hardship, and many relocations that keep Shirley and Cash apart from each other. When Shirley is decades older and needs help, Cash returns to do so and repay Shirley for everything she did for him when he was a child, proving that family isn't always blood.
Love isn't always about where you come from; sometimes it's about who steps up.
I loved this book so much. It was so moving, and the multigenerational friendship is another favourite type of story of mine. Hyde always tells her stories with so much compassion and no judgement. It wasn't hard to imagine these two characters coming together fifty years after they first met, and their connection is what made this book a five-star read for me. Hyde's character development was amazing, and both Shirley and Cash had a vulnerability that was real and full of depth. They were so authentic it hurt my heart, and I couldn't help but fall in love with them. I wanted to be Shirley's friend and Cash's mother. The way they became found family warmed my heart.
I remembered the thorn. And I remembered who pulled it out.
I loved how the author showed that you don't have to be related to be loyal, kind, and loving to someone; you just have to care, because blood isn't the only thing that can bind people together. As always, Hyde writes emotions so well—there is grief, second chances, and the power of connection. Catherine Ryan Hyde's books make me want to be a better human. This is a kindhearted read, but very powerful at the same time. It reminded me that small acts of kindness can do big things for people. This was so beautifully written and emotional for me, but also very inspiring. It also made me think of the saying, "Not all heroes wear capes." All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Is it okay if I come in? Maybe even stay for dinner?
Shirley felt a smile coming on in spite of herself.
"You don't have to ask that anymore, she said. "You're one of us now. . .
"I think that might be the best thing anybody ever told me," he said.
Then he walked into the house.
The conversation quoted above was one of my favorites in the book. Those few lines said so much about how Shirley Bennett, a widow, changed the life of a boy named Ludlow "Cash" Pierce.
While this book was not what I expected -- the horse on the cover does not get as much time with Cash as one might think -- I did find the story to be thought-provoking and heartwarming.
Some things I liked:
🐎Beginning with Phoenix, the horse on the cover, there are many perceptive and lovable animals inside the book. I think my favorite is a dog named Stu (short for Studebaker).
🧓Shirley Felton Bennett is on the pages of this book for more than fifty years. To Cash she is Mrs. Shirley and the closest thing to a mom he has ever had. Covering that many years in less than 300 pages does leave some gaps. Sometimes I felt like it moved too quickly.
📔One thing I look for in a read is a connection to the title. About halfway through we finally discover the reason this title was chosen. It all has to do with the fable we have heard about the lion who is saved at one point in his life and pays that favor back later on. (This underlying theme reminded me of my first read by the author: Pay It Forward.)
🫶There were some very sad experiences in this book and some very happy ones, too. I found the connection between Cash and Mrs. Shirley to be such a wonderful platform for deep conversations. They had such a special relationship!
As noted in the blurb, Shirley is a Vietnam widow. The first chapters are quite evocative of that era. I did not feel such a strong sense of time in much of the rest of the book -- probably due to how many years were included.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Available on November 3, 2026.
Shirley felt a smile coming on in spite of herself.
"You don't have to ask that anymore, she said. "You're one of us now. . .
"I think that might be the best thing anybody ever told me," he said.
Then he walked into the house.
The conversation quoted above was one of my favorites in the book. Those few lines said so much about how Shirley Bennett, a widow, changed the life of a boy named Ludlow "Cash" Pierce.
While this book was not what I expected -- the horse on the cover does not get as much time with Cash as one might think -- I did find the story to be thought-provoking and heartwarming.
Some things I liked:
🐎Beginning with Phoenix, the horse on the cover, there are many perceptive and lovable animals inside the book. I think my favorite is a dog named Stu (short for Studebaker).
🧓Shirley Felton Bennett is on the pages of this book for more than fifty years. To Cash she is Mrs. Shirley and the closest thing to a mom he has ever had. Covering that many years in less than 300 pages does leave some gaps. Sometimes I felt like it moved too quickly.
📔One thing I look for in a read is a connection to the title. About halfway through we finally discover the reason this title was chosen. It all has to do with the fable we have heard about the lion who is saved at one point in his life and pays that favor back later on. (This underlying theme reminded me of my first read by the author: Pay It Forward.)
🫶There were some very sad experiences in this book and some very happy ones, too. I found the connection between Cash and Mrs. Shirley to be such a wonderful platform for deep conversations. They had such a special relationship!
As noted in the blurb, Shirley is a Vietnam widow. The first chapters are quite evocative of that era. I did not feel such a strong sense of time in much of the rest of the book -- probably due to how many years were included.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Available on November 3, 2026.
November 2, 2026
This story begins in rural California in 1970 where for a short time Shirley Bennett is kind to a lonely, mistreated eleven year old boy. When he disappears she does not expect to see him again but years later he finds her in her time of need.
This lovely book is a genuine pleasure to read. The author explores human kind at its best and at its worst but always with understanding. Beautifully written, frequently tear jerking and definitely well worth reading. Five stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This lovely book is a genuine pleasure to read. The author explores human kind at its best and at its worst but always with understanding. Beautifully written, frequently tear jerking and definitely well worth reading. Five stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m drawn to stories centered on belonging and connection, and I can always count on Catherine Ryan Hyde to pen an emotionally resonant story about found family. This one, also showcasing the transformative power of kindness, will stay with me for a long time.
The story begins in California in 1970 and follows a five-decade bond between a war widow and a neglected 11-year-old boy from the neighbourhood.
Shirley Bennet and her two sons befriend Ludlow ‘Cash’ Pierce and form a found family. Putting her own grief aside, Shirley creates a safe place for Cash by offering him an environment of safety, significance, and belonging. He remembers this kindness his whole life and returns the favour when she needs him.
Hyde’s novel focuses on how we respond to loss. Shirley had every right to bemoan her circumstances, but I love that she chose to reach out to help others. There’s a lesson in that for us. War stole from her, but because Shirley didn’t stop being free with her heart and just kept going, she was ‘saved’ when she needed it most.
Hyde also reminds readers of the importance of creating sanctuary for others. Giving Cash the space to heal emotionally and set down his burden came back to Shirley tenfold. The author shows us that we’ll all face circumstances that push us out of our comfort zone, but having someone to catch us makes the experience easier and helps us “write our own silver lining”.
Grab some tissues and make time in your schedule to binge this one.
I’m still mulling over how the title connects to the story….
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The story begins in California in 1970 and follows a five-decade bond between a war widow and a neglected 11-year-old boy from the neighbourhood.
Shirley Bennet and her two sons befriend Ludlow ‘Cash’ Pierce and form a found family. Putting her own grief aside, Shirley creates a safe place for Cash by offering him an environment of safety, significance, and belonging. He remembers this kindness his whole life and returns the favour when she needs him.
Hyde’s novel focuses on how we respond to loss. Shirley had every right to bemoan her circumstances, but I love that she chose to reach out to help others. There’s a lesson in that for us. War stole from her, but because Shirley didn’t stop being free with her heart and just kept going, she was ‘saved’ when she needed it most.
Hyde also reminds readers of the importance of creating sanctuary for others. Giving Cash the space to heal emotionally and set down his burden came back to Shirley tenfold. The author shows us that we’ll all face circumstances that push us out of our comfort zone, but having someone to catch us makes the experience easier and helps us “write our own silver lining”.
Grab some tissues and make time in your schedule to binge this one.
I’m still mulling over how the title connects to the story….
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
1970 in rural California and Shirley Bennett, a war widow of more than fifteen years, lived in the farmhouse with her two sons, Curtis & Reid. One morning she heard her horse, Phoenix, nicker, in a way he hadn't done since Hal's death. And there was a young boy, skinny, unkempt, sad and lonely. Cash Pierce's mother was in jail, his father long gone and his big brother, Jace, worked full time. Cash was eleven, was bullied at school, always hungry - Shirley couldn't help but take him under her wing. Helping Cash was a life defining interval in Shirley's life; then one day he was gone, across to the other side of the country without saying goodbye.
As Shirley's life evolved, she went through many years of varying emotions - loss, grief, illness - until one day Cash was by her side again. Shirley thought she was hallucinating - it'd been over thirty years. But Cash had never forgotten his Mrs Shirley, and now it was his turn to be there for the kindest woman he'd ever known; the woman who had changed his life immeasurably...
The Other Kind of Lion is another exceptional novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, who is now a favourite author after the many I have read by her. Her writing is perfect; her characterisation is brilliant. Many emotions flow through this book, but hope, second chances and love stand out. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.
As Shirley's life evolved, she went through many years of varying emotions - loss, grief, illness - until one day Cash was by her side again. Shirley thought she was hallucinating - it'd been over thirty years. But Cash had never forgotten his Mrs Shirley, and now it was his turn to be there for the kindest woman he'd ever known; the woman who had changed his life immeasurably...
The Other Kind of Lion is another exceptional novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, who is now a favourite author after the many I have read by her. Her writing is perfect; her characterisation is brilliant. Many emotions flow through this book, but hope, second chances and love stand out. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.
November 7, 2026
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Catherine Ryan Hyde you have never disappointed me with your incredible writing skills and extensive research while writing your books. I can honestly say “The Other Kind of Lion” is definitely your best book yet.
Catherine Ryan Hyde you have never disappointed me with your incredible writing skills and extensive research while writing your books. I can honestly say “The Other Kind of Lion” is definitely your best book yet.
November 3, 2026
What a lovely, heartwarming story, typical CRH.
Plot summary: Shirley is a widow with two sons. She is still grieving over the loss of her husband and can't let go of his house, car, or horse. One day a young boy passes by, and the horse likes him. Shirley goes to see who he is and develops a motherly relationship with Ludlow, an 11-year old boy who the family nicknames Cash.
The rest of the story deals with their bond over time, but I don't want to go into spoilers.
It's heartbreaking and beautiful, with moments that made me tear up. Kindness is given without condition but is rewarded anyway.
However, it was fairly straightforward and predictable. Not a lot of tension.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union, and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the opportunity to review an advance copy.
Plot summary: Shirley is a widow with two sons. She is still grieving over the loss of her husband and can't let go of his house, car, or horse. One day a young boy passes by, and the horse likes him. Shirley goes to see who he is and develops a motherly relationship with Ludlow, an 11-year old boy who the family nicknames Cash.
The rest of the story deals with their bond over time, but I don't want to go into spoilers.
It's heartbreaking and beautiful, with moments that made me tear up. Kindness is given without condition but is rewarded anyway.
However, it was fairly straightforward and predictable. Not a lot of tension.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union, and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the opportunity to review an advance copy.
November 5, 2026
I have always found November to be such a greyish month, and curling up with a Catherine Ryan Hyde this evening was just the ticket for some relaxation.
Spanning from 1970 - 2026, this is the story of a bond between war widow Shirley and a neglected boy, Cash. It explores grief, found family, and how acts of kindness are worth their weight in gold.
There's plenty of opportunity for reflection when cracking open a CRH title. Her characters may have experienced terrible losses, but there are always glimmers throughout the story of human resilience and defying the odds. The bond between Shirley and Cash was something that took hold of my heart, and I was glad to experience all their ups and downs together.
Lovely story!
#TheOtherKindofLion #NetGalley
Publication Date 03/11/26
Goodreads Review 04/11/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Spanning from 1970 - 2026, this is the story of a bond between war widow Shirley and a neglected boy, Cash. It explores grief, found family, and how acts of kindness are worth their weight in gold.
There's plenty of opportunity for reflection when cracking open a CRH title. Her characters may have experienced terrible losses, but there are always glimmers throughout the story of human resilience and defying the odds. The bond between Shirley and Cash was something that took hold of my heart, and I was glad to experience all their ups and downs together.
Lovely story!
#TheOtherKindofLion #NetGalley
Publication Date 03/11/26
Goodreads Review 04/11/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 22, 2026
Another fantastic novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde. One of my favorite “go to” authors who is one of the best storytellers out there! Heartwarming, loving and I certainly fell in love with Shirley and Cash! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy. To be published November 3, 2026. A new favorite by Catherine and this is # 19 I’ve read by her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Nobody should tell a child that everything is fine when they can see the truth with their own eyes. It puts them in a position where they have to disbelieve either the adult or their own perceptions, and unfortunately they tend to do the latter. Being children.”
The Other Kind Of Lion is a novel by award-winning bestselling American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. The audio version is narrated by Eva Kaminsky. When their lives first intersect, in the autumn of 1970, Shirley Bennett is a forty-year-old widow with two sons; Ludlow Pierce is eleven, and being cared for by his eighteen-year-old brother.
Ludlow’s father left a year ago; his mother is now in prison; his brother Jace works at the Texaco and tries to make ends meet, but he’s hardly cut out to be a mother. Ludlow is whip-smart, but bullied at school, and he’s really hungry because the cupboards are mostly bare, and Jace often forgets to give him lunch money. And he hates his name.
On her small California farm, since husband Hal died in Vietnam fifteen years earlier, Shirley has raised two sons alone on his military pension, and she worries she may lose her eldest, Reid, to the same fate: believing he is honouring his father’s memory, he refuses to try to dodge the draft. She can’t bear to get rid of Phoenix, the ageing appaloosa that was Hal’s, and it’s the horse’s uncharacteristic nickering as the boy passes that draws her attention to Ludlow.
Sent out on a fact-finding mission, sixteen-year-old Curtis Bennett comes home from school with some disturbing information, and a hungry boy. Over the next few months, the boy comes to see the Bennett farm as a safe haven: Shirley is generous with hot dinners, lunch money, a listening ear, and better care than his mother ever had in her; Curtis provides the nickname Cash, and protection from bullies.
Situations change and, suddenly, Cash is too far away and, eventually, contact ceases. Over the intervening years, there are losses of different kinds while, about Cash, Shirley and Curtis are left to wonder. It’s another three decades before their paths cross again, this time with the roles reversed.
When Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author, wise words and insightful observations are a given, but this novel also has quite a few lump-in-the-throat moments. Shirley observes: “it was not a shortcoming to acknowledge that there was a lot in this world you didn’t know. It was a shortcoming to think you knew everything, since no one person possibly could”; she tells her son “People will always say stupid things. That’s just life. It doesn’t give you permission to try to solve your problems with violence”; while a disconsolate Cash is reassured with “There might be a time in the future when you like your life and are glad you have it.”
As they often do, Ryan Hyde features horses and dogs to be loved, and even a cat. Quite a few of her characters, for all their very human flaws, will endear themselves to the reader, although there are a few bigots to keep it interesting. This is Catherine Ryan Hyde at her best.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing.
The Other Kind Of Lion is a novel by award-winning bestselling American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. The audio version is narrated by Eva Kaminsky. When their lives first intersect, in the autumn of 1970, Shirley Bennett is a forty-year-old widow with two sons; Ludlow Pierce is eleven, and being cared for by his eighteen-year-old brother.
Ludlow’s father left a year ago; his mother is now in prison; his brother Jace works at the Texaco and tries to make ends meet, but he’s hardly cut out to be a mother. Ludlow is whip-smart, but bullied at school, and he’s really hungry because the cupboards are mostly bare, and Jace often forgets to give him lunch money. And he hates his name.
On her small California farm, since husband Hal died in Vietnam fifteen years earlier, Shirley has raised two sons alone on his military pension, and she worries she may lose her eldest, Reid, to the same fate: believing he is honouring his father’s memory, he refuses to try to dodge the draft. She can’t bear to get rid of Phoenix, the ageing appaloosa that was Hal’s, and it’s the horse’s uncharacteristic nickering as the boy passes that draws her attention to Ludlow.
Sent out on a fact-finding mission, sixteen-year-old Curtis Bennett comes home from school with some disturbing information, and a hungry boy. Over the next few months, the boy comes to see the Bennett farm as a safe haven: Shirley is generous with hot dinners, lunch money, a listening ear, and better care than his mother ever had in her; Curtis provides the nickname Cash, and protection from bullies.
Situations change and, suddenly, Cash is too far away and, eventually, contact ceases. Over the intervening years, there are losses of different kinds while, about Cash, Shirley and Curtis are left to wonder. It’s another three decades before their paths cross again, this time with the roles reversed.
When Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author, wise words and insightful observations are a given, but this novel also has quite a few lump-in-the-throat moments. Shirley observes: “it was not a shortcoming to acknowledge that there was a lot in this world you didn’t know. It was a shortcoming to think you knew everything, since no one person possibly could”; she tells her son “People will always say stupid things. That’s just life. It doesn’t give you permission to try to solve your problems with violence”; while a disconsolate Cash is reassured with “There might be a time in the future when you like your life and are glad you have it.”
As they often do, Ryan Hyde features horses and dogs to be loved, and even a cat. Quite a few of her characters, for all their very human flaws, will endear themselves to the reader, although there are a few bigots to keep it interesting. This is Catherine Ryan Hyde at her best.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a favorite author of mine and The Other Kind of Lion did not disappoint! This novel deals with some heavy topics - grief, abandonment, wartime hardship and aging challenges but is also filled with love, found family and the connections that are possible with our 4 legged family members. This one was different than her other novels I have read with it spanning over 40 years. It publishes on 11/3/2026 and I highly recommend.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a favorite author of mine and The Other Kind of Lion did not disappoint! This novel deals with some heavy topics - grief, abandonment, wartime hardship and aging challenges but is also filled with love, found family and the connections that are possible with our 4 legged family members. This one was different than her other novels I have read with it spanning over 40 years. It publishes on 11/3/2026 and I highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my absolute favorite authors, and once again, she reminds me why. There is something incredibly special about the way she writes people. She doesn’t simply create characters and tell us their stories; she gets inside their minds. She explores their conscious and subconscious thoughts, the emotions they don’t always understand themselves, the things said and what is left unsaid. Her writing feels so intentional, as though every word has been carefully considered and chosen for a reason.
At the heart of this story is the relationship between Shirley and Cash, which begins with a lonely, neglected little boy lingering near a fence, and a woman who notices him. Shirley doesn’t set out to change his life. She simply recognizes that a child needs something he isn’t getting and quietly makes room for him in hers. A meal, a mended shirt, a safe place, and the feeling of being welcomed and wanted. These seemingly ordinary gestures become something extraordinary.
What I love is how this relationship develops over time. It isn’t rushed and it’s built through everyday moments and gestures. As the years pass and life takes them in different directions, we see just how deeply those early connections can stay with us.
The story spans five decades, and that passage of time adds so much emotional depth. There is abandonment, loneliness, war, devastating loss, grief, and the realities of growing older. What makes their story so meaningful is the way life eventually brings them back together, with their roles in each other’s lives changing. The woman who once offered a vulnerable little boy a place to feel safe eventually finds herself in a position where he can be there for her. Sometimes the things we do for someone, without expecting anything in return, stay with them for an entire lifetime. And sometimes the people we help along the way become the very people who help carry us through our own hardest moments.
Hyde captures the complexity of relationships, not just what people say and do, but why they do it, what they’re thinking but can’t express, and what they’re carrying beneath the surface. She makes you feel connected to these people in a way that makes their happiness matter to you and their heartbreak genuinely hurt. And that’s what makes her books so memorable to me. I don’t just finish one of her stories and move on to the next. I find myself thinking about the characters, their relationships, their motivations, and all the little emotional details long after I’ve turned the last page.
Another beautiful, thoughtful, emotionally layered story from an amazing author.
At the heart of this story is the relationship between Shirley and Cash, which begins with a lonely, neglected little boy lingering near a fence, and a woman who notices him. Shirley doesn’t set out to change his life. She simply recognizes that a child needs something he isn’t getting and quietly makes room for him in hers. A meal, a mended shirt, a safe place, and the feeling of being welcomed and wanted. These seemingly ordinary gestures become something extraordinary.
What I love is how this relationship develops over time. It isn’t rushed and it’s built through everyday moments and gestures. As the years pass and life takes them in different directions, we see just how deeply those early connections can stay with us.
The story spans five decades, and that passage of time adds so much emotional depth. There is abandonment, loneliness, war, devastating loss, grief, and the realities of growing older. What makes their story so meaningful is the way life eventually brings them back together, with their roles in each other’s lives changing. The woman who once offered a vulnerable little boy a place to feel safe eventually finds herself in a position where he can be there for her. Sometimes the things we do for someone, without expecting anything in return, stay with them for an entire lifetime. And sometimes the people we help along the way become the very people who help carry us through our own hardest moments.
Hyde captures the complexity of relationships, not just what people say and do, but why they do it, what they’re thinking but can’t express, and what they’re carrying beneath the surface. She makes you feel connected to these people in a way that makes their happiness matter to you and their heartbreak genuinely hurt. And that’s what makes her books so memorable to me. I don’t just finish one of her stories and move on to the next. I find myself thinking about the characters, their relationships, their motivations, and all the little emotional details long after I’ve turned the last page.
Another beautiful, thoughtful, emotionally layered story from an amazing author.
November 12, 2026
the setup…
Shirley Bennett is a forty-year old widow living in rural California with her two teen sons, Reid and Curtis. It’s 1970 and the Vietnam War continues, a war that claimed her husband Hal. One morning she hears her horse Phoenix, an aging Appaloosa, nicker and he’d only done that for her husband. There at the fence was a young boy who was unkempt and thin but obviously connecting with the cranky horse. Eleven-year old Ludlow Pierce was indeed in need of care, his father long gone and mother in jail, despite his brother’s best efforts. Shirley and son Curtis take him under their wings, even giving him the nickname Cash, which he quickly adopted. Thus began a relationship for life spanning five decades.
the heart of the story…
This is Shirley’s story and she takes us on her journey from a young widow to her senior years. It’s a tender saga as she manages grief, tragedy, joy and fulfillment. But at its center is her relationship with Cash Pierce, her found son and how a moment in time transformed both of them. I admired how she handled what life dealt her, the good and the more tough times.
the narration…
Eva Kaminsky is one of my most favorite narrators and she honored the character and her story. I loved the voice she gave her and how she quietly delivered the performance. Outstanding.
the bottom line…
This touched me deeply, the important moments and characters so eloquently crafted. I always know that a Hyde story will be meaningful and this follows that pattern. But, its tenderness is so lovely and the transformative relationship between Shirley and Cash is something special, providing new meaning to family.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Shirley Bennett is a forty-year old widow living in rural California with her two teen sons, Reid and Curtis. It’s 1970 and the Vietnam War continues, a war that claimed her husband Hal. One morning she hears her horse Phoenix, an aging Appaloosa, nicker and he’d only done that for her husband. There at the fence was a young boy who was unkempt and thin but obviously connecting with the cranky horse. Eleven-year old Ludlow Pierce was indeed in need of care, his father long gone and mother in jail, despite his brother’s best efforts. Shirley and son Curtis take him under their wings, even giving him the nickname Cash, which he quickly adopted. Thus began a relationship for life spanning five decades.
the heart of the story…
This is Shirley’s story and she takes us on her journey from a young widow to her senior years. It’s a tender saga as she manages grief, tragedy, joy and fulfillment. But at its center is her relationship with Cash Pierce, her found son and how a moment in time transformed both of them. I admired how she handled what life dealt her, the good and the more tough times.
the narration…
Eva Kaminsky is one of my most favorite narrators and she honored the character and her story. I loved the voice she gave her and how she quietly delivered the performance. Outstanding.
the bottom line…
This touched me deeply, the important moments and characters so eloquently crafted. I always know that a Hyde story will be meaningful and this follows that pattern. But, its tenderness is so lovely and the transformative relationship between Shirley and Cash is something special, providing new meaning to family.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"A quiet multigenerational look at the loudest kind of kindness."
Why Catherine Ryan Hyde’s 1970s rural drama delivers a classic found-family story.
Intro
The Other Kind of Lion by Catherine Ryan Hyde focuses beautifully on the signature dynamic she is famous for: an unconventional, multigenerational bond that serves as the foundation for a profound coming-of-age journey. Set against a quiet rural backdrop, it explores how a single season of deliberate maternal kindness can anchor a drifting child's life.
The Hook
A stubborn old dog and a skittish Appaloosa horse both instantly trust an eleven-year-old intruder—forcing a grieving war widow to look past his scruffy exterior and open her home to a boy who has nowhere else to turn.
Elevator Pitch
In rural 1970 California, a Vietnam War widow struggling to raise her two sons crosses paths with an abandoned, bullied eleven-year-old boy. Brought together by the uncanny reaction of her animals, she steps in to provide the steady maternal care and stability he lacks. It is a gentle multigenerational drama about chosen family and the subtle, quiet moments of coming of age under the umbrella of safety.
Setting
Rural California, 1970
Vibe
Heartwarming, melancholic, reflective, and deeply grounded.
Genre
Historical Fiction / Multigenerational Drama / Coming-of-Age
Themes
Coming of age through chosen family, healing from grief, and the quiet impact of domestic stability.
Standout Characters
~Shirley Bennett: A forty-year-old war widow balancing her own immense grief with a boundless capacity for compassion that bridges the gap between her family and an outsider.
~Cash Pierce: A lonely eleven-year-old raised by his teenage brother. His coming-of-age journey is the heartbeat of the narrative as he finds safety and guidance under Shirley's roof.
Author Writing Standout
Catherine Ryan Hyde excels at capturing the tight, internal perspective of a child discovering what it feels like to be safe. Her dialogue is sparse and deliberate, letting the everyday domestic interactions—lunches, hand-sewn shirts, and quiet spaces—build a comforting emotional framework.
Takeaway
True family is defined by who steps in to offer stability when your own foundation crumbles, proving that maternal care doesn't require a biological tie to reshape a child's future.
Title Significance
The title hints at an internal, quiet courage. While the traditional "lion" symbolizes overt ferocity and strength, the "other kind" represents the bravery it takes for a boy to stay gentle, to choose vulnerability, and to maintain an open heart.
Metaphor
The horse, Phoenix, acts as a living bridge between Shirley's past and Cash's future, showing that animal intuition often mirrors the unspoken, protective instincts of the human heart.
Why You Should Read
You should read this if you look for character-centric stories that spotlight complex, multigenerational relationships and authentic coming-of-age arcs. It is a grounded look at found family that values quiet, developmental milestones over fast-paced drama.
My Thoughts
"A quiet coming-of-age story that reminds us how a single moment of maternal stability can anchor a drifting child."
The premise builds beautifully on the unique multigenerational connections Hyde is celebrated for, making for a solid, well-crafted uplifting read. Rather than relying on high-stakes drama, the narrative shines in its subtlety. It unfolds through quiet, understated gestures, delivering a deeply comforting reading experience that celebrates the steady, predictable routines that help a child heal.
Verdict
"A gentle, beautifully paced coming-of-age multi-generational story about found family that delivers a reliable, comforting, and uplifting read. The true magic of Hyde’s storytelling lies in the everyday, domestic spaces where an unconventional family is built."
Audio Standout
"Eva Kaminsky’s narration delivers a steady, dignified voice to a narrative rooted in quiet grief and resilience." Her deliberate narration perfectly mirrors the slow, meditative rhythm of the 1970 rural setting. She captures Shirley’s weary dignity and Cash’s youthful vulnerability with incredible grace, offering a reserved and soothing performance that emphasizes the gentle nature of the text.
Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for providing an advance reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithD.Collins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
#LitLitMiniAuthorChats | #AuthorElevatorSeries
#AudioElevatorSeries
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 3, 2026
Nov 2026 Must-Read Books
Why Catherine Ryan Hyde’s 1970s rural drama delivers a classic found-family story.
Intro
The Other Kind of Lion by Catherine Ryan Hyde focuses beautifully on the signature dynamic she is famous for: an unconventional, multigenerational bond that serves as the foundation for a profound coming-of-age journey. Set against a quiet rural backdrop, it explores how a single season of deliberate maternal kindness can anchor a drifting child's life.
The Hook
A stubborn old dog and a skittish Appaloosa horse both instantly trust an eleven-year-old intruder—forcing a grieving war widow to look past his scruffy exterior and open her home to a boy who has nowhere else to turn.
Elevator Pitch
In rural 1970 California, a Vietnam War widow struggling to raise her two sons crosses paths with an abandoned, bullied eleven-year-old boy. Brought together by the uncanny reaction of her animals, she steps in to provide the steady maternal care and stability he lacks. It is a gentle multigenerational drama about chosen family and the subtle, quiet moments of coming of age under the umbrella of safety.
Setting
Rural California, 1970
Vibe
Heartwarming, melancholic, reflective, and deeply grounded.
Genre
Historical Fiction / Multigenerational Drama / Coming-of-Age
Themes
Coming of age through chosen family, healing from grief, and the quiet impact of domestic stability.
Standout Characters
~Shirley Bennett: A forty-year-old war widow balancing her own immense grief with a boundless capacity for compassion that bridges the gap between her family and an outsider.
~Cash Pierce: A lonely eleven-year-old raised by his teenage brother. His coming-of-age journey is the heartbeat of the narrative as he finds safety and guidance under Shirley's roof.
Author Writing Standout
Catherine Ryan Hyde excels at capturing the tight, internal perspective of a child discovering what it feels like to be safe. Her dialogue is sparse and deliberate, letting the everyday domestic interactions—lunches, hand-sewn shirts, and quiet spaces—build a comforting emotional framework.
Takeaway
True family is defined by who steps in to offer stability when your own foundation crumbles, proving that maternal care doesn't require a biological tie to reshape a child's future.
Title Significance
The title hints at an internal, quiet courage. While the traditional "lion" symbolizes overt ferocity and strength, the "other kind" represents the bravery it takes for a boy to stay gentle, to choose vulnerability, and to maintain an open heart.
Metaphor
The horse, Phoenix, acts as a living bridge between Shirley's past and Cash's future, showing that animal intuition often mirrors the unspoken, protective instincts of the human heart.
Why You Should Read
You should read this if you look for character-centric stories that spotlight complex, multigenerational relationships and authentic coming-of-age arcs. It is a grounded look at found family that values quiet, developmental milestones over fast-paced drama.
My Thoughts
"A quiet coming-of-age story that reminds us how a single moment of maternal stability can anchor a drifting child."
The premise builds beautifully on the unique multigenerational connections Hyde is celebrated for, making for a solid, well-crafted uplifting read. Rather than relying on high-stakes drama, the narrative shines in its subtlety. It unfolds through quiet, understated gestures, delivering a deeply comforting reading experience that celebrates the steady, predictable routines that help a child heal.
Verdict
"A gentle, beautifully paced coming-of-age multi-generational story about found family that delivers a reliable, comforting, and uplifting read. The true magic of Hyde’s storytelling lies in the everyday, domestic spaces where an unconventional family is built."
Audio Standout
"Eva Kaminsky’s narration delivers a steady, dignified voice to a narrative rooted in quiet grief and resilience." Her deliberate narration perfectly mirrors the slow, meditative rhythm of the 1970 rural setting. She captures Shirley’s weary dignity and Cash’s youthful vulnerability with incredible grace, offering a reserved and soothing performance that emphasizes the gentle nature of the text.
Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for providing an advance reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithD.Collins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
#LitLitMiniAuthorChats | #AuthorElevatorSeries
#AudioElevatorSeries
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 3, 2026
Nov 2026 Must-Read Books
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Nobody should tell a child that everything is fine when they can see the truth with their own eyes. It puts them in a position where they have to disbelieve either the adult or their own perceptions, and unfortunately they tend to do the latter. Being children.”
The Other Kind Of Lion is a novel by award-winning bestselling American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. When their lives first intersect, in the autumn of 1970, Shirley Bennett is a forty-year-old widow with two sons; Ludlow Pierce is eleven, and being cared for by his eighteen-year-old brother.
Ludlow’s father left a year ago; his mother is now in prison; his brother Jace works at the Texaco and tries to make ends meet, but he’s hardly cut out to be a mother. Ludlow is whip-smart, but bullied at school, and he’s really hungry because the cupboards are mostly bare, and Jace often forgets to give him lunch money. And he hates his name.
On her small California farm, since husband Hal died in Vietnam fifteen years earlier, Shirley has raised two sons alone on his military pension, and she worries she may lose her eldest, Reid, to the same fate: believing he is honouring his father’s memory, he refuses to try to dodge the draft. She can’t bear to get rid of Phoenix, the ageing appaloosa that was Hal’s, and it’s the horse’s uncharacteristic nickering as the boy passes that draws her attention to Ludlow.
Sent out on a fact-finding mission, sixteen-year-old Curtis Bennett comes home from school with some disturbing information, and a hungry boy. Over the next few months, the boy comes to see the Bennett farm as a safe haven: Shirley is generous with hot dinners, lunch money, a listening ear, and better care than his mother ever had in her; Curtis provides the nickname Cash, and protection from bullies.
Situations change and, suddenly, Cash is too far away and, eventually, contact ceases. Over the intervening years, there are losses of different kinds while, about Cash, Shirley and Curtis are left to wonder. It’s another three decades before their paths cross again, this time with the roles reversed.
When Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author, wise words and insightful observations are a given, but this novel also has quite a few lump-in-the-throat moments. Shirley observes: “it was not a shortcoming to acknowledge that there was a lot in this world you didn’t know. It was a shortcoming to think you knew everything, since no one person possibly could”; she tells her son “People will always say stupid things. That’s just life. It doesn’t give you permission to try to solve your problems with violence”; while a disconsolate Cash is reassured with “There might be a time in the future when you like your life and are glad you have it.”
As they often do, Ryan Hyde features horses and dogs to be loved, and even a cat. Quite a few of her characters, for all their very human flaws, will endear themselves to the reader, although there are a few bigots to keep it interesting. This is Catherine Ryan Hyde at her best.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
The Other Kind Of Lion is a novel by award-winning bestselling American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. When their lives first intersect, in the autumn of 1970, Shirley Bennett is a forty-year-old widow with two sons; Ludlow Pierce is eleven, and being cared for by his eighteen-year-old brother.
Ludlow’s father left a year ago; his mother is now in prison; his brother Jace works at the Texaco and tries to make ends meet, but he’s hardly cut out to be a mother. Ludlow is whip-smart, but bullied at school, and he’s really hungry because the cupboards are mostly bare, and Jace often forgets to give him lunch money. And he hates his name.
On her small California farm, since husband Hal died in Vietnam fifteen years earlier, Shirley has raised two sons alone on his military pension, and she worries she may lose her eldest, Reid, to the same fate: believing he is honouring his father’s memory, he refuses to try to dodge the draft. She can’t bear to get rid of Phoenix, the ageing appaloosa that was Hal’s, and it’s the horse’s uncharacteristic nickering as the boy passes that draws her attention to Ludlow.
Sent out on a fact-finding mission, sixteen-year-old Curtis Bennett comes home from school with some disturbing information, and a hungry boy. Over the next few months, the boy comes to see the Bennett farm as a safe haven: Shirley is generous with hot dinners, lunch money, a listening ear, and better care than his mother ever had in her; Curtis provides the nickname Cash, and protection from bullies.
Situations change and, suddenly, Cash is too far away and, eventually, contact ceases. Over the intervening years, there are losses of different kinds while, about Cash, Shirley and Curtis are left to wonder. It’s another three decades before their paths cross again, this time with the roles reversed.
When Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author, wise words and insightful observations are a given, but this novel also has quite a few lump-in-the-throat moments. Shirley observes: “it was not a shortcoming to acknowledge that there was a lot in this world you didn’t know. It was a shortcoming to think you knew everything, since no one person possibly could”; she tells her son “People will always say stupid things. That’s just life. It doesn’t give you permission to try to solve your problems with violence”; while a disconsolate Cash is reassured with “There might be a time in the future when you like your life and are glad you have it.”
As they often do, Ryan Hyde features horses and dogs to be loved, and even a cat. Quite a few of her characters, for all their very human flaws, will endear themselves to the reader, although there are a few bigots to keep it interesting. This is Catherine Ryan Hyde at her best.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another wonderful book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. This one follows Shirley through the turbulent 1960s to present day. Shirley’s story is one of tremendous losses, but also one filled with kindness and caring. How one act of kindness can change so many lives is a lesson we all should learn. The story itself is absorbing and interesting. The characters are people you want to root for. A winner of a story from an outstanding author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Shirley’s old neighbor Gloria had a theory about people - ”Four out of five of the people you meet are people you really wouldn’t want to know at all.” Later, she shares this with her son. He immediately comes back with the rejoinder - “Meet ten people. There’ll be two good ones in there.”
This beautiful book demonstrates courage, strength and connection. In 1970, Shirley Bennett, a widowed mother raising her two sons alone, had slowly rebuilt her life after losing her husband in the Vietnam War. Still missing him and holding on to their memories, she maintained a special attachment to his horse, Phoenix. One day, she noticed a remarkable connection between Phoenix and a young boy. Learning of the sadness and neglect surrounding the boy’s life, Shirley found herself drawn to him. His name was Ludlow, but she gave him a nickname, and from then on, he would be known as Cash.
Although Shirley did much more than that for the broken young boy, their time together was short, and they eventually lost touch. Five decades later, after Shirley experiences a serious medical trauma, they reconnect. This is where the message of the story really shines: acts of kindness have a way of coming full circle. The novel beautifully explores how found family can create bonds as strong as those we share with our own families, while touching on grief, resilience, and loyalty.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It resonated with me in ways I hadn’t expected, and the narration made me feel especially connected to the characters and their story. Catherine Ryan Hyde has a wonderful ability to create memorable characters and emotional connections between people who might otherwise remain strangers. A beautiful reminder that a single act of kindness can have a lasting impact.
Many thanks to Brilliance Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
This beautiful book demonstrates courage, strength and connection. In 1970, Shirley Bennett, a widowed mother raising her two sons alone, had slowly rebuilt her life after losing her husband in the Vietnam War. Still missing him and holding on to their memories, she maintained a special attachment to his horse, Phoenix. One day, she noticed a remarkable connection between Phoenix and a young boy. Learning of the sadness and neglect surrounding the boy’s life, Shirley found herself drawn to him. His name was Ludlow, but she gave him a nickname, and from then on, he would be known as Cash.
Although Shirley did much more than that for the broken young boy, their time together was short, and they eventually lost touch. Five decades later, after Shirley experiences a serious medical trauma, they reconnect. This is where the message of the story really shines: acts of kindness have a way of coming full circle. The novel beautifully explores how found family can create bonds as strong as those we share with our own families, while touching on grief, resilience, and loyalty.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It resonated with me in ways I hadn’t expected, and the narration made me feel especially connected to the characters and their story. Catherine Ryan Hyde has a wonderful ability to create memorable characters and emotional connections between people who might otherwise remain strangers. A beautiful reminder that a single act of kindness can have a lasting impact.
Many thanks to Brilliance Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
November 4, 2026
Thank you to netgalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde, and Lake Union Publishers for allowing me to read this book. I am always happy to read a book by this author it brings me a comfort book. Shirley is a mom who sees a youngster 11 years old struggling with life and takes him under her wing. This book takes place in the 70s life isn't easy talks about the Vietnam War. This book is a breath of fresh air and proves humanity at the best, You may need tissues as you read this book. I am looking forward to reading another book by this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is another endearing story from this author. This time, we follow the lives of Mrs. Shirley and Cash from 1970 through the years to 2026.
Shirley is a widow who meets Cash, an 11-year-old boy who has a home but is in desperate need of love and guidance. He is a special child, and they develop an instant bond.
Because the book covers so many years, there sometimes seem to be huge time gaps. At first, this bothered me, but I realized that the author quickly catches us up on what we missed. Otherwise, the book would have to be much longer to cover 56 years.
Ms. Hyde explores the need to nurture and be nurtured. This is a common theme in most of her books, but somehow, I never get tired of it. She creates such wonderful and unique characters that her books never seem formulaic. She often gives animals an important role in her books.
This book contains sadness, but it is well balanced with happiness. It is definitely character-driven. There isn’t a lot of action, and the story is a bit of a slow burn. That’s OK… there are plenty of feelings and emotions.
CRH books are always the bright spot in my reading life. I can depend on them to make me smile. And sometimes, I might even shed a tear.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Finished reading: October 3rd 2026
"People are a whole other kind of lion. With the real lion there's the danger that he'll kill you and eat you. But with people, the danger is that they just won't care. That when it comes time to return the favor they'll be comfortable enough seeing your troubles as none of their concern."
REVIEW
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Other Kind of Lion AUDIO and digital by Catherine Ryan Hyde is a heart-breaking, yet positive, book about kindness and where it will take you. I began when Phoenix, Hal’s horse whinnied. The only time he had ever whinnied was at Hal, who had been dead for fifteen years...killed in war. As she looked out the window, she saw a young boy with shaggy hair, whom she didn’t know. She sent her sixteen-year-old son, Curtis, out to offer him a ride to school and find out who he was. Thus started several years of Shirley having an additional son. Then one day he was gone. After a while he wrote a letter and explained it all. They corresponded for a while until one day a letter was returned: Sender Unknown. Shirley worried about Cash for years, even leaving her address in case he showed up when she moved years later. Nothing. Shirley aged, as one does, and one day had a stroke. Fortunately she was outside and the neighbor saw and called 911. Then life changed, dramatically. I cried for the last third of the book.
I am not normally a crier. Shirley was a regular woman, she was just kind. She was not rich; she had never worked, but lived on her widow’s pension. That, and the money her two sons contributed, kept them going. She had tragedy in her life, as many do, but she kept moving. She was simply a good person. And it paid off. It doesn’t always. An amazing story, one only Ryan would write. Perfect pacing and tone. Good plot, carefully written. And, excellent characters. Please read this book.
Eve Kaminsky is the narrator and her voice is perfect. The only complaint I have is the slightly too long pause after each period. I think, in this case, I preferred to read rather than listen, although the narration was pleasant and appropriate.
I was invited to listen to The Other Kind of Lion by Brilliance Publishing and to read by Lake Unions Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley @BrilliiancePublishing @LakeUnionPublishing #EveKaminsky #CatherineHydeRyan #TheOtherKindOfLion
I am not normally a crier. Shirley was a regular woman, she was just kind. She was not rich; she had never worked, but lived on her widow’s pension. That, and the money her two sons contributed, kept them going. She had tragedy in her life, as many do, but she kept moving. She was simply a good person. And it paid off. It doesn’t always. An amazing story, one only Ryan would write. Perfect pacing and tone. Good plot, carefully written. And, excellent characters. Please read this book.
Eve Kaminsky is the narrator and her voice is perfect. The only complaint I have is the slightly too long pause after each period. I think, in this case, I preferred to read rather than listen, although the narration was pleasant and appropriate.
I was invited to listen to The Other Kind of Lion by Brilliance Publishing and to read by Lake Unions Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley @BrilliiancePublishing @LakeUnionPublishing #EveKaminsky #CatherineHydeRyan #TheOtherKindOfLion
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Other Kind of Lion by Catherine Ryan Hyde was such a lovely audiobook and exactly the kind of pick-me-up I needed. It's a bittersweet story with plenty of heart, but what I appreciated most was how realistic it felt about grief, loss, and the challenges life throws at us.
I especially loved the relationship between Shirley and Cash. Here's this little boy who's had such a difficult start in life, and Shirley simply decides to care about him. She feeds him, gives him lunch money, and makes sure he knows somebody is looking out for him. Nothing particularly grand, but to Cash, those little things mean everything.
And that was really my favorite part of this book. I think we sometimes underestimate how much our smallest acts of kindness can matter to somebody else. We may never even know the difference we've made in another person's life.
There's plenty of sadness along the way, but there's also a lot of goodness here. I loved the reminder that family isn't always about the people we're related to, and sometimes just showing up for somebody can change everything.
I really enjoyed spending time with these characters, and Eva Kaminsky's narration was spectacular. She made an already lovely story that much better. I finished this one feeling a little better about the world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the complimentary audiobook! All opinions are my own.
I especially loved the relationship between Shirley and Cash. Here's this little boy who's had such a difficult start in life, and Shirley simply decides to care about him. She feeds him, gives him lunch money, and makes sure he knows somebody is looking out for him. Nothing particularly grand, but to Cash, those little things mean everything.
And that was really my favorite part of this book. I think we sometimes underestimate how much our smallest acts of kindness can matter to somebody else. We may never even know the difference we've made in another person's life.
There's plenty of sadness along the way, but there's also a lot of goodness here. I loved the reminder that family isn't always about the people we're related to, and sometimes just showing up for somebody can change everything.
I really enjoyed spending time with these characters, and Eva Kaminsky's narration was spectacular. She made an already lovely story that much better. I finished this one feeling a little better about the world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the complimentary audiobook! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another awesome book by Hyde
I believe I've read almost all of Catherine Ryan Hyde books - quite a feat based on the fact that she has written so many excellent books. I have been a fan since she wrote Pay It Forward and I have been following her diligently ever since then.
This book was another heart wrencher - in many places. Hyde is good at letting the reader FEEL her books. In this offering Shirley Bennett opens up her arms and her home to young 11 year old boy Ludlow "Cash" Pierce, a neglected boy who is starved for not only attention but for food. His home life a shambles, Mrs. Shirley (as Cash calls her) and her sons welcome Cash into their home for meals and comfort.
This story follows Shirley from the early 1970s through to current 2026, with Cash popping in and out. It talks about her sons also and her late husband and the Vietnam War.
An underlying theme of the book is that of the old tale of Androcles and the lion about the slave boy who removes the thorn from the paw of the lion so in turn the lion doesn't eat him when he has a chance to.
There's a lot of good messages in this story - kindness to strangers, love, gratitude for all that we have in life, tolerance.
I highly recommend this book and this author. I read her books before even reading the description of what they're going to be about. I just trust her that much.
I received this Digital Review Copy from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Thank you.
I believe I've read almost all of Catherine Ryan Hyde books - quite a feat based on the fact that she has written so many excellent books. I have been a fan since she wrote Pay It Forward and I have been following her diligently ever since then.
This book was another heart wrencher - in many places. Hyde is good at letting the reader FEEL her books. In this offering Shirley Bennett opens up her arms and her home to young 11 year old boy Ludlow "Cash" Pierce, a neglected boy who is starved for not only attention but for food. His home life a shambles, Mrs. Shirley (as Cash calls her) and her sons welcome Cash into their home for meals and comfort.
This story follows Shirley from the early 1970s through to current 2026, with Cash popping in and out. It talks about her sons also and her late husband and the Vietnam War.
An underlying theme of the book is that of the old tale of Androcles and the lion about the slave boy who removes the thorn from the paw of the lion so in turn the lion doesn't eat him when he has a chance to.
There's a lot of good messages in this story - kindness to strangers, love, gratitude for all that we have in life, tolerance.
I highly recommend this book and this author. I read her books before even reading the description of what they're going to be about. I just trust her that much.
I received this Digital Review Copy from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Thank you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
{Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC. All opinions are my own.}
Title: The Other Kind of Lion
Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde
Format: 🎧
Pub date: November 3, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shirley Bennett is a 40-year-old Vietnam War widow living with her two sons.
One day, Shirley notices an 11-year-old neglected boy walking by her fence and interacting with her Appaloosa horse, Phoenix, who normally only nickered for her late husband.
Shirley is intrigued by her horse’s interest in the boy. She begins treating the boy, who goes by Cash, as one of her own, mending his clothes and feeding him dinner every night.
Cash never forgets Shirley’s kindness and hopes to repay it one day.
The simple acts of kindness spark a found family relationship that spans five decades through grief, loss, war, and time apart.
This book put me through all the emotions. It’s a book full of profound loss and tragedy, but it’s also one full of love and hope. I love the way Catherine Ryan Hyde weaves an emotional story.
🎧 Eva Kaminsky narrated this story and held my attention through the whole book. This was one that was hard to put down once I started listening to it.
Title: The Other Kind of Lion
Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde
Format: 🎧
Pub date: November 3, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shirley Bennett is a 40-year-old Vietnam War widow living with her two sons.
One day, Shirley notices an 11-year-old neglected boy walking by her fence and interacting with her Appaloosa horse, Phoenix, who normally only nickered for her late husband.
Shirley is intrigued by her horse’s interest in the boy. She begins treating the boy, who goes by Cash, as one of her own, mending his clothes and feeding him dinner every night.
Cash never forgets Shirley’s kindness and hopes to repay it one day.
The simple acts of kindness spark a found family relationship that spans five decades through grief, loss, war, and time apart.
This book put me through all the emotions. It’s a book full of profound loss and tragedy, but it’s also one full of love and hope. I love the way Catherine Ryan Hyde weaves an emotional story.
🎧 Eva Kaminsky narrated this story and held my attention through the whole book. This was one that was hard to put down once I started listening to it.
November 2, 2026
A heart warming,story, a family that choose to be family. Filled with wonderful characters,
Shirley lost her husband at an early age to the war 15 years ago, then some years later looses a son in the same way. She has extra love to give free, therefore when an 11 year old hungry boy turns up at her door he finds compassion and care.. Her old dog and horse both approve of the boy, her son finds a nickname for him and he becomes Cash Pierce.
Cash’’s own mother was in jail and his brother works long hours. Shirley not only sees him, he feels safe with her and he loves having dinner at her house.
Then unexpectedly he disappears and it is many years before their pass cross again, though Cash had never forgotten his Mrs Shirley, it is his turn now to look out for her., the woman who changed his life.
This is a beautiful story of lasting friendship, grief, loss, hope, illness, courage, second chances and love.
Catherine Ryan-Hyde is well known for her brilliant storytelling, she paints the picture so vividly.
A top 2026 read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review..
Shirley lost her husband at an early age to the war 15 years ago, then some years later looses a son in the same way. She has extra love to give free, therefore when an 11 year old hungry boy turns up at her door he finds compassion and care.. Her old dog and horse both approve of the boy, her son finds a nickname for him and he becomes Cash Pierce.
Cash’’s own mother was in jail and his brother works long hours. Shirley not only sees him, he feels safe with her and he loves having dinner at her house.
Then unexpectedly he disappears and it is many years before their pass cross again, though Cash had never forgotten his Mrs Shirley, it is his turn now to look out for her., the woman who changed his life.
This is a beautiful story of lasting friendship, grief, loss, hope, illness, courage, second chances and love.
Catherine Ryan-Hyde is well known for her brilliant storytelling, she paints the picture so vividly.
A top 2026 read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review..
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I can always count on a heartwarming human-interest story when I read a novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The Other Kind of Lion follows her formula of the benefits of kindness and helping others. Shirley's life has not been an easy one, framed by the deaths of her young husband and then her older son. Yet she manages to keep a positive attitude. She takes in an 11-year old boy, "Cash" and together with her teenage son Curtis shows him kindness. She feeds Cash, helps him when a bully attacks him, and provides him with the maternal love that he so earnestly craves. Years later, Cash is able to repay the favor by helping Shirley after she has had a stroke. Inspiring but also heartwrenching. Keep a box of tissues handy!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Shirley is a force to be reckoned with, and we follow her story from beginning to end and through the decades. This book often skips years ahead, to different stages in Shirley’s life. I didn’t much care for the jumping ahead of years, but it worked for this story, and I understand why it was written in such a way.
I like how Shirley’s brief time with Cash in his youth came full circle. Though it makes me dislike her son and his family quite a bit because he has spent decades with his wife and her family, away from his mother, and I feel his mom was due. But Ryan Hyde’s formula for writing heartwarming books perseveres because I enjoyed this one on the whole. Nicely done.
I like how Shirley’s brief time with Cash in his youth came full circle. Though it makes me dislike her son and his family quite a bit because he has spent decades with his wife and her family, away from his mother, and I feel his mom was due. But Ryan Hyde’s formula for writing heartwarming books perseveres because I enjoyed this one on the whole. Nicely done.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual rating 4.5 Shirley Bennett is raising her two sons on a farm in rural California set during the backdrop of the Vietnam war. As a war-widow, she struggles to make it all work and keep things as normal as possible. Even the animals miss her husband, most notably his horse Phoenix, who has "gone silent" with his usual greeting he made to Hal. But one morning, she hears that sound and finds Phoenix greeting a very young, disheveled boy who was holding his hand out to gently stroke the horse. Thus begins the relationship of Shirley and Ludlow Pierce, who eventually adopts the nickname "Cash". Cash is welcomed into their house for meals and companionship as she finds out he is being raised at the moment by his older brother and quickly becomes a "part of the family." The emotional ties and support that are formed among Shirley and her sons, Curtis and Reid are real. What follows is a heartwarming story that takes the reader through the ups and downs, grief and happiness, and inevitable changes that follow the aging and life-altering circumstances of family. Shirley loses touch with Cash as he and his brother move away for work and family related reasons, and their path back together is gratifying in their love and desire to care for each other. Definitely a story that shows how the author can write stories that pull the reader into the lives of the characters while navigating the emotional and heartwarming journey she takes them on. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheOtherKindofLion
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honestly, this didn't live up to my usual expectations of this author after reading a few of her other works. Typically, she reels me in within the first few pages, but this one didn't. Not only that, but the book also made me fact-check dates for things she referenced in the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My first thought after finishing this book was WOW! Shirley Bennett has been raising her two sons alone for fifteen years. She lost her husband in Vietnam.
Cash Pierce lives with his teenage brother. Their father abandoned them and their mother is in jail. The brothers are barely surviving l, if you consider Cash is thin, hungry and gets bullied at school.
Shirley has started giving him money for lunch and inviting him to join them for dinner. Giving him a safe environment and a sense of belonging.
A beautiful story of courage, friendships, death, tragedy, separation, heartbreak, aging, a mother’s love, grief, power of kindness and so much more.
This book has really touched me and is thought provoking. An emotional story that at times me crying. Keep a box of tissues near by.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
Cash Pierce lives with his teenage brother. Their father abandoned them and their mother is in jail. The brothers are barely surviving l, if you consider Cash is thin, hungry and gets bullied at school.
Shirley has started giving him money for lunch and inviting him to join them for dinner. Giving him a safe environment and a sense of belonging.
A beautiful story of courage, friendships, death, tragedy, separation, heartbreak, aging, a mother’s love, grief, power of kindness and so much more.
This book has really touched me and is thought provoking. An emotional story that at times me crying. Keep a box of tissues near by.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews