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Heaven Adjacent
The New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde is heartfelt and perceptive in this bittersweet story about slowing down and discovering what can be gained when leaving everything behind.
Roseanna Chaldecott spent her life as a high-powered lawyer in Manhattan. But when her best friend and law partner dies suddenly, something snaps. Unsure of her future, Roseanna heads upstate on one tank of gas and with no plans to return.
In the foothills of the Adirondacks, Roseanna discovers the perfect hideout in a ramshackle farm. Its seventy-six acres are rich with possibilities and full of surprises, including a mother and daughter squatting on the property. Although company is the last thing Roseanna wants, she reluctantly lets them stay.
Roseanna and the young girl begin sculpting junk found around the farm into zoo animals, drawing more newcomers—including her estranged son, Lance. He pleads with Roseanna to return to the city, but she’s finally discovered where she belongs. It may not provide the solitude she originally sought, but her heart has found room for much more.
Roseanna Chaldecott spent her life as a high-powered lawyer in Manhattan. But when her best friend and law partner dies suddenly, something snaps. Unsure of her future, Roseanna heads upstate on one tank of gas and with no plans to return.
In the foothills of the Adirondacks, Roseanna discovers the perfect hideout in a ramshackle farm. Its seventy-six acres are rich with possibilities and full of surprises, including a mother and daughter squatting on the property. Although company is the last thing Roseanna wants, she reluctantly lets them stay.
Roseanna and the young girl begin sculpting junk found around the farm into zoo animals, drawing more newcomers—including her estranged son, Lance. He pleads with Roseanna to return to the city, but she’s finally discovered where she belongs. It may not provide the solitude she originally sought, but her heart has found room for much more.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2018
9206 people are currently reading
4411 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Ryan Hyde
72 books6,158 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 973 reviews
June 13, 2018
4.5/5
There is a little bit of magic in every CRH book I’ve read, not true magic but just a magical feeling I get whenever I’m reading one of her books. She doesn’t ever shy away from heavy issues but she manages to write about difficult subject matter and important issues with grace and humility. I always finish her novels having learned something, not only about myself but about humanity in general and I never feel like I’m being lectured but rather I’m lost in the pages of a page turning story.
Roseanna is the kind of character I’ve come to expect in a CRH book, she isn’t wholly likable or relatable right away but as she grows throughout the story you fall a little bit in love with her. She wakes up for work one day and decides she’s just had enough so she drives out to the middle of nowhere and buys a ramshackle farm with picturesque views. I’m sure we’ve all thought about running away before at some point in our adult lives and Roseanna just up and does it. While I adored her what made this book special was the eccentric cast of characters that enter her life after her move. Most of them also stole a piece of my heart but a few were awful, much like real life, but they were unforgettable in their own way.
I imagine book clubs devour CRH books and this one would be ideal as well, there is much to discuss and dissect and could provide endless hours of conversation. If you’ve never read one of her books before she’s a highly recommended author, I loved every single one that I’ve read and plan on continuing as long as she keeps writing.
Heaven Adjacent in three words: Perceptive, Heartfelt and Enlightening.
There is a little bit of magic in every CRH book I’ve read, not true magic but just a magical feeling I get whenever I’m reading one of her books. She doesn’t ever shy away from heavy issues but she manages to write about difficult subject matter and important issues with grace and humility. I always finish her novels having learned something, not only about myself but about humanity in general and I never feel like I’m being lectured but rather I’m lost in the pages of a page turning story.
Roseanna is the kind of character I’ve come to expect in a CRH book, she isn’t wholly likable or relatable right away but as she grows throughout the story you fall a little bit in love with her. She wakes up for work one day and decides she’s just had enough so she drives out to the middle of nowhere and buys a ramshackle farm with picturesque views. I’m sure we’ve all thought about running away before at some point in our adult lives and Roseanna just up and does it. While I adored her what made this book special was the eccentric cast of characters that enter her life after her move. Most of them also stole a piece of my heart but a few were awful, much like real life, but they were unforgettable in their own way.
I imagine book clubs devour CRH books and this one would be ideal as well, there is much to discuss and dissect and could provide endless hours of conversation. If you’ve never read one of her books before she’s a highly recommended author, I loved every single one that I’ve read and plan on continuing as long as she keeps writing.
Heaven Adjacent in three words: Perceptive, Heartfelt and Enlightening.
May 5, 2020
Middle aged, high-powered Manhattan attorney, Roseanna Chaldecott, discovers what’s really important in life.
Roseanna’s best friend, and law partner, Alice, suddenly dies of a stroke.
Filled with grief, anger, despair, and other difficult emotions to label, Roseanna takes off driving towards upstate New York. She runs out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Country quietness surrounds her....much different than Manhattan.
She sees a shabby looking farm house for sale - barn included - on twenty seven acres - and just like that - ends up buying it.
We’ll meet a mother and her little girl squatting - and other squatters- on the property, a dog, a horse, and Roseanna’s estranged adult son, Lance.
The storytelling is seamless with strong character development. The dialogue was a standout ....humorous, sarcastic, with no bullshit straightforward discourse.
With Mother’s Day this month....it’s only normal for many of us to ‘at least’ think about our mother’s. This book is a great choice for anyone who enjoys a comfort-easy-page turning ‘real life’ type story.
It’s ‘especially’ valuable for those who aren’t feeling at peace with their own ‘parent/adult’ child relationship. (I’m dealing with this issue these days).
Catherine Ryan Hyde examines numerous themes in “Heaven Adjacent”, including taking stock in one’s life, re-evaluating choices, wealthy vs. thrifty vs. greedy vs. satisfied values, future aspirations, patience, acceptance, tolerance, forgiveness, and a very authentic look at the ‘parent/ adult’ child relationship.
Rosanna and her son, Lance - had years of fraught suffering due to unresolved conflicts between them.
Lance and Rosanna come face to face together.....and slowly we witness Lance’s anger toward his mother soften — disarming our own hearts alongside of them both.
It’s clear this book teaches (subtly), the power of healing ....( I’m not there myself yet- but I’m reminded - once again - that well being is in my own hands.
Martin Luther King once said, “we only have two choices: to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”. It is inevitably in our higher self interest to pull ourselves together, if we don’t want to be pulled apart..... (applying to the parent/adult child relationship as well).
There is no growth without growing pains— and the labor pains of giving birth to a new world and a new way of being can be the most painful yet rewarding of all—
Beautiful storytelling with pearls of wisdom!
Roseanna’s best friend, and law partner, Alice, suddenly dies of a stroke.
Filled with grief, anger, despair, and other difficult emotions to label, Roseanna takes off driving towards upstate New York. She runs out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Country quietness surrounds her....much different than Manhattan.
She sees a shabby looking farm house for sale - barn included - on twenty seven acres - and just like that - ends up buying it.
We’ll meet a mother and her little girl squatting - and other squatters- on the property, a dog, a horse, and Roseanna’s estranged adult son, Lance.
The storytelling is seamless with strong character development. The dialogue was a standout ....humorous, sarcastic, with no bullshit straightforward discourse.
With Mother’s Day this month....it’s only normal for many of us to ‘at least’ think about our mother’s. This book is a great choice for anyone who enjoys a comfort-easy-page turning ‘real life’ type story.
It’s ‘especially’ valuable for those who aren’t feeling at peace with their own ‘parent/adult’ child relationship. (I’m dealing with this issue these days).
Catherine Ryan Hyde examines numerous themes in “Heaven Adjacent”, including taking stock in one’s life, re-evaluating choices, wealthy vs. thrifty vs. greedy vs. satisfied values, future aspirations, patience, acceptance, tolerance, forgiveness, and a very authentic look at the ‘parent/ adult’ child relationship.
Rosanna and her son, Lance - had years of fraught suffering due to unresolved conflicts between them.
Lance and Rosanna come face to face together.....and slowly we witness Lance’s anger toward his mother soften — disarming our own hearts alongside of them both.
It’s clear this book teaches (subtly), the power of healing ....( I’m not there myself yet- but I’m reminded - once again - that well being is in my own hands.
Martin Luther King once said, “we only have two choices: to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”. It is inevitably in our higher self interest to pull ourselves together, if we don’t want to be pulled apart..... (applying to the parent/adult child relationship as well).
There is no growth without growing pains— and the labor pains of giving birth to a new world and a new way of being can be the most painful yet rewarding of all—
Beautiful storytelling with pearls of wisdom!
June 17, 2022
Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Roseanne Chaldecott is a power house lawyer in Manhattan. When her friend/law partner dies suddenly of heart attack it shake Roseanne to the core. She decides to reevaluate her life choses and moves away from her amazing lifestyle. As always Catherine Ryan Hyde has an extremely talented way of captivating her readers and never fails to disappoint.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Roseanne Chaldecott is a power house lawyer in Manhattan. When her friend/law partner dies suddenly of heart attack it shake Roseanne to the core. She decides to reevaluate her life choses and moves away from her amazing lifestyle. As always Catherine Ryan Hyde has an extremely talented way of captivating her readers and never fails to disappoint.
June 20, 2018
Heaven Adjacent is a thought provoking novel filled with quirky characters.
Roseanna is a high flying attorney until she up and leaves it and everyone behind. A life changing moment happens when her attorney friend Alice dies before she can experience the joy of retirement and doing all those fun relaxing things she plans to do. However Roseanna leaves behind one irate partner in the business who isn't impressed by her departure. He plans revenge! I didn't like him at all!
When Roseanna settles down on a farm she just comes across she finds that there are already some people living on her property and along come more. As well her son finds her because of a reporter who stops by and writes about what Roseanna has been involved in along with the little girl on the property.
Over a few years Rosie finds herself being challenged and while what might have began as a 'pretend' living off the land, becomes a reality. She finds out that it is not too late to change and to become the someone she would like to be towards herself and others.
There's an old man, a dog and a horse with a mind of its own, a young man with no where to go until now and a little girl who is persistent but low key.
There are poignant moments and moments filled with humour. And times where family really counts.
Roseanna is a high flying attorney until she up and leaves it and everyone behind. A life changing moment happens when her attorney friend Alice dies before she can experience the joy of retirement and doing all those fun relaxing things she plans to do. However Roseanna leaves behind one irate partner in the business who isn't impressed by her departure. He plans revenge! I didn't like him at all!
When Roseanna settles down on a farm she just comes across she finds that there are already some people living on her property and along come more. As well her son finds her because of a reporter who stops by and writes about what Roseanna has been involved in along with the little girl on the property.
Over a few years Rosie finds herself being challenged and while what might have began as a 'pretend' living off the land, becomes a reality. She finds out that it is not too late to change and to become the someone she would like to be towards herself and others.
There's an old man, a dog and a horse with a mind of its own, a young man with no where to go until now and a little girl who is persistent but low key.
There are poignant moments and moments filled with humour. And times where family really counts.
July 3, 2018
I was not expecting to give this book 5 stars. Originally, judging by the blurb on GoodReads, I thought that it might be a 3 star. I love being wrong! I found a new favorite author. Ms. Hyde's writing style is simple, clear, concise and held my attention throughout! There are not many authors who can do that.
The plot is simple enough -- a fifty something lawyer gets tired of the grind after a friend her age dies, decides to chuck it all and heads out into the country. Green Acres anyone? I would have thought. But I was dead wrong. She finds so much more -- freedom, changes of attitude and communication with people she never would have thought about before her move.
The reader should definitely be the judge of whether Roseanna was successful and if she is now leading a better life. I know how I feel.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
The plot is simple enough -- a fifty something lawyer gets tired of the grind after a friend her age dies, decides to chuck it all and heads out into the country. Green Acres anyone? I would have thought. But I was dead wrong. She finds so much more -- freedom, changes of attitude and communication with people she never would have thought about before her move.
The reader should definitely be the judge of whether Roseanna was successful and if she is now leading a better life. I know how I feel.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
January 29, 2019
Despite the fact that I get the message that's at the core of this book - A message I personally applaud and that should be at the forefront of our mind: that we should live less for material things, less for money and live more for people and for friendship. That we should be generous, helpful, and kind and that ethical and moral values should be at the top, well despite this great message, I couldn't particularly appreciate this story. There was something about the main character that grated at me. I simply didn't like Roseanna, which rarely happens with characters created by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Also the whole premise missed something to make it compelling. I don't know what, but I was left unsatisfied.
Well, anyway, I'm not giving up and I look forward to my next read by this author.
Well, anyway, I'm not giving up and I look forward to my next read by this author.
Read
September 13, 2020I refuse to mar Catherine Ryan Hyde’s reputation with a rating. Let’s just say this was my least favorite novel she’s written. Hyde is still a gem. Her books light me up and I’m thankful for her perspective.
For me, this read was simply a disconnect between me and the main character.
For me, this read was simply a disconnect between me and the main character.
July 7, 2018
Not her best
Not what I expected from CRH. Usually love all of her books but this one was a little too simple.
Not what I expected from CRH. Usually love all of her books but this one was a little too simple.
August 29, 2025
"Heaven Adjacent" is yet another refreshing, touching, very-human story by CRH. It explored a lot of uncomfortable feelings, situations, and relationships, such as grief, financial stress, and reunion between mother and estranged adult son.
This novel, like all of Catherine's others, is a slow paced character study where most of what happens in the book is happening inside the MC (Roseanna, in this case) and within the dialogue and relationships the MC has with others. It's not an exhilarating read, but rather one of perspective; one about taking inventory of personal values and what a successful life really looks like.
I enjoyed the setting of this book, and I liked the subtle humor that exists throughout the story between Roseanna and her squatters-turned-family. The randomness and the chaos adds an undertone of comic relief to some otherwise heavy topics.
There were a couple things I didn't like as much; two of the squatters ended up feeling irrelevant at the end, and I could have done without them. Meanwhile, some of the more likeable characters seem to fall right off the page. It was understandable to make more room for the relationship between Roseanna and her son, Lance, as well as the driving plotline/legal conflict that propels the story forward, but it was still a shame to see some of those characters shrunk down to footnotes by the end. That was also how I felt about the iron zoo; what started as pivotal really didn't get explored with much depth. I was a little bummed about the lack of scenes that actually involved that unique element.
And I'm not sure how I felt about Lance's lie that ends up going in a positive direction. I don't know if I cared for that decision that he made, nor that I like that it's what acted as a solution to the legal conflict. I won't give any more of a spoiler than that.
Overall it wasn't one of the best of CRH's that I have read; at this point I've read a lot of them! I would put "Heaven Adjacent" in the "Really Good/Solid" tier, just below the "Best" tier. While it maybe fell a bit shy of some others, I still loved the writing, the takeaways, and the humanity on the pages of this novel.
This novel, like all of Catherine's others, is a slow paced character study where most of what happens in the book is happening inside the MC (Roseanna, in this case) and within the dialogue and relationships the MC has with others. It's not an exhilarating read, but rather one of perspective; one about taking inventory of personal values and what a successful life really looks like.
I enjoyed the setting of this book, and I liked the subtle humor that exists throughout the story between Roseanna and her squatters-turned-family. The randomness and the chaos adds an undertone of comic relief to some otherwise heavy topics.
There were a couple things I didn't like as much; two of the squatters ended up feeling irrelevant at the end, and I could have done without them. Meanwhile, some of the more likeable characters seem to fall right off the page. It was understandable to make more room for the relationship between Roseanna and her son, Lance, as well as the driving plotline/legal conflict that propels the story forward, but it was still a shame to see some of those characters shrunk down to footnotes by the end. That was also how I felt about the iron zoo; what started as pivotal really didn't get explored with much depth. I was a little bummed about the lack of scenes that actually involved that unique element.
And I'm not sure how I felt about Lance's lie that ends up going in a positive direction. I don't know if I cared for that decision that he made, nor that I like that it's what acted as a solution to the legal conflict. I won't give any more of a spoiler than that.
Overall it wasn't one of the best of CRH's that I have read; at this point I've read a lot of them! I would put "Heaven Adjacent" in the "Really Good/Solid" tier, just below the "Best" tier. While it maybe fell a bit shy of some others, I still loved the writing, the takeaways, and the humanity on the pages of this novel.
March 2, 2019
HEAVEN ADJACENT by Catherine Ryan Hyde is exactly why her books populate my Kindle more than any other author. She lures me in with her characters’ situations, captivating my heart and mind with their personalities.
Attorney Roseanna Chaldecott runs away from New York City, deciding she craves personal space far away from people. She buys some property in the country on a whim when her car runs out of gas. It appears Roseanna will get her wish to be alone in the run-down, shack of a home, until she finds the first pair of squatters.
Two by two they come to her as if she has built the ark. Will Roseanna ever accept the chaos of love, or will she continue to guard the gates to her heaven-on-earth with sarcasm?
Roseanna helps her squatters create art out of all the junk they find in the barn, much to the annoyance of the neighbors. When a reporter shows up, hoping to do a human-interest story on Roseanna’s intended new life, she’s skeptical. But he promises he’ll keep her location secret. Roseanna’s best friend’s death pushed her into a new life that she believes no one in her past will understand. She hopes by sharing her story others will find their bliss.
Of course, the reporter gives a big enough hint about her location so that her thirty-year-old son finds her, immediately followed by her law partner and many looky-loos. That was what she feared most.
The squatters range from human to animal, something that Roseanna’s sarcasm finds irresistible, making the reader laugh. She has found a piece of heaven-on-earth, and even though she doesn’t realize it yet, she is a part of what makes this place special. Can she deal with squatters without legalese, allowing herself to care about those less fortunate?
The chapters twist back and forth through Roseanna’s timeline of decisions, giving the reader just enough information to make them insanely curious for more. I love this technique because it is so well-honed. It’s a clever way to reveal a story, making me wonder if Hyde writes like this to begin with, or if she writes, disassembles, and then puts it all back together.
I loved several of the squatters, but the five-year-old really entertained with her outrageous personality. The little girl is so precocious that it tips Roseanna’s sarcasm into overdrive. She’s falling hard for this little girl, realizing she’s doomed in resisting her. Roseanna’s son, who finally comes out about his gay lifestyle to his mom, is a great character. I loved how their relationship healed and grew, making the conclusion especially sweet.
I discovered Hyde’s talent when I reviewed LEAVING BLYTHE RIVER in 2018, quickly followed by TAKE ME WITH YOU. She’s swiftly earning a spot as a favorite author. Every time I read one of her novels, I download more of her backlist, determined to have them all.
I loved HEAVEN ADJACENT so much that I read it a second time to make sure that my review benefited this book’s awesomeness. I think once you try a Catherine Ryan Hyde book, you’ll be like me, buying everything she has written. So far, this one is my favorite and I can’t wait to recommend it to my book club.
Catherine Ryan Hyde always entertains with her quirky characters and tightly woven storytelling. Her books are always active, filled with clever and often witty dialogue that moves the story in a rapid pace. There isn’t wasted description – it plays an active role with the dialogue, forcing me to push page after page late into the night.
There are many reasons why I’m attracted to a book like this. Number one, Roseanna runs away to a farm. Nothing is funnier than a city slicker learning how to exist on very little, including assumed conveniences that don’t exist. Especially a cranky lawyer aching for a set down by common folks just trying to get by. Having lived in the city and the country, I can relate to the humor when opposite ends of the financial spectrum hit the fan.
Secondly, Roseanna has run away from home. Something I say all the time when I’m off on one of my back-to-nature excursions. If you haven’t experienced running away from home yet, Roseanna proves how it cleanses your soul. The quirky characters who enter her life, human and otherwise, are very funny as well as heartwarming, with a little heartbreak thrown in for good measure.
Favorite Roseanna idioms…but you’ll need to read the book to understand why they stand out and make me laugh just thinking about them.
“Somebody just handed me a fish.”
“Do I look like the arbiter of eggs?”
The title HEAVEN ADJACENT makes this book sound religious but it’s not. It has great life lessons, so those with a deep faith will appreciate it, but it doesn’t lean to any specific religion, nor does it include bible quotes. What I loved most was Roseanna’s character growth. The last page is the best true-to-character conclusion I’ve ever read.
Almost everyone is familiar with PAY IT FORWARD, the book that launched a movement, and like me, you’ve probably seen the movie. I haven’t read that story yet, so I came to Hyde’s talent completely unbiased by what came before. I had no idea she wrote PAY IT FORWARD, but now it makes perfect sense when I compare it to what I’ve read so far. I’m so curious about how she creates a book because they’re written seamlessly. I’m sure her path to finished product is especially analytical. It has to be to get all her ducks in a row with no wobbles.
HEAVEN ADJACENT’s focus is one cranky woman’s journey to fulfillment and the fallout she creates with her one moment of self-preservation. It’s entertaining and beautiful, sarcastically funny, and full of heart. Highly Recommend!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com. Digital copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. Thanks in advance for following links or sharing this review on social media.
Attorney Roseanna Chaldecott runs away from New York City, deciding she craves personal space far away from people. She buys some property in the country on a whim when her car runs out of gas. It appears Roseanna will get her wish to be alone in the run-down, shack of a home, until she finds the first pair of squatters.
Two by two they come to her as if she has built the ark. Will Roseanna ever accept the chaos of love, or will she continue to guard the gates to her heaven-on-earth with sarcasm?
Roseanna helps her squatters create art out of all the junk they find in the barn, much to the annoyance of the neighbors. When a reporter shows up, hoping to do a human-interest story on Roseanna’s intended new life, she’s skeptical. But he promises he’ll keep her location secret. Roseanna’s best friend’s death pushed her into a new life that she believes no one in her past will understand. She hopes by sharing her story others will find their bliss.
Of course, the reporter gives a big enough hint about her location so that her thirty-year-old son finds her, immediately followed by her law partner and many looky-loos. That was what she feared most.
The squatters range from human to animal, something that Roseanna’s sarcasm finds irresistible, making the reader laugh. She has found a piece of heaven-on-earth, and even though she doesn’t realize it yet, she is a part of what makes this place special. Can she deal with squatters without legalese, allowing herself to care about those less fortunate?
The chapters twist back and forth through Roseanna’s timeline of decisions, giving the reader just enough information to make them insanely curious for more. I love this technique because it is so well-honed. It’s a clever way to reveal a story, making me wonder if Hyde writes like this to begin with, or if she writes, disassembles, and then puts it all back together.
I loved several of the squatters, but the five-year-old really entertained with her outrageous personality. The little girl is so precocious that it tips Roseanna’s sarcasm into overdrive. She’s falling hard for this little girl, realizing she’s doomed in resisting her. Roseanna’s son, who finally comes out about his gay lifestyle to his mom, is a great character. I loved how their relationship healed and grew, making the conclusion especially sweet.
I discovered Hyde’s talent when I reviewed LEAVING BLYTHE RIVER in 2018, quickly followed by TAKE ME WITH YOU. She’s swiftly earning a spot as a favorite author. Every time I read one of her novels, I download more of her backlist, determined to have them all.
I loved HEAVEN ADJACENT so much that I read it a second time to make sure that my review benefited this book’s awesomeness. I think once you try a Catherine Ryan Hyde book, you’ll be like me, buying everything she has written. So far, this one is my favorite and I can’t wait to recommend it to my book club.
Catherine Ryan Hyde always entertains with her quirky characters and tightly woven storytelling. Her books are always active, filled with clever and often witty dialogue that moves the story in a rapid pace. There isn’t wasted description – it plays an active role with the dialogue, forcing me to push page after page late into the night.
There are many reasons why I’m attracted to a book like this. Number one, Roseanna runs away to a farm. Nothing is funnier than a city slicker learning how to exist on very little, including assumed conveniences that don’t exist. Especially a cranky lawyer aching for a set down by common folks just trying to get by. Having lived in the city and the country, I can relate to the humor when opposite ends of the financial spectrum hit the fan.
Secondly, Roseanna has run away from home. Something I say all the time when I’m off on one of my back-to-nature excursions. If you haven’t experienced running away from home yet, Roseanna proves how it cleanses your soul. The quirky characters who enter her life, human and otherwise, are very funny as well as heartwarming, with a little heartbreak thrown in for good measure.
Favorite Roseanna idioms…but you’ll need to read the book to understand why they stand out and make me laugh just thinking about them.
“Somebody just handed me a fish.”
“Do I look like the arbiter of eggs?”
The title HEAVEN ADJACENT makes this book sound religious but it’s not. It has great life lessons, so those with a deep faith will appreciate it, but it doesn’t lean to any specific religion, nor does it include bible quotes. What I loved most was Roseanna’s character growth. The last page is the best true-to-character conclusion I’ve ever read.
Almost everyone is familiar with PAY IT FORWARD, the book that launched a movement, and like me, you’ve probably seen the movie. I haven’t read that story yet, so I came to Hyde’s talent completely unbiased by what came before. I had no idea she wrote PAY IT FORWARD, but now it makes perfect sense when I compare it to what I’ve read so far. I’m so curious about how she creates a book because they’re written seamlessly. I’m sure her path to finished product is especially analytical. It has to be to get all her ducks in a row with no wobbles.
HEAVEN ADJACENT’s focus is one cranky woman’s journey to fulfillment and the fallout she creates with her one moment of self-preservation. It’s entertaining and beautiful, sarcastically funny, and full of heart. Highly Recommend!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com. Digital copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. Thanks in advance for following links or sharing this review on social media.
March 25, 2022
This was in the 3 1/2 to 4 star category for me. A nice little story.
Roseanna is a high-powered attorney focused almost exclusively on work, with apparently no/few friends out side her law firm and a weak/estranged relationship with her adult son. After the sudden death of her friend/colleague, she leaves NYC on a whim and discovers the quieter life that she now needs. Roseanna is tough on the outside (with clear opinions on just about everything, particularly things she doesn't like), but ultimately has a softer side as well. We see as she builds relationships with squatters on her newly acquired land, as well as mending the relationship with her son.
The theme of the book is essentially: there are more important things in life than money. A sweet, feel good story that I enjoyed, but not necessarily anything that would end up on my favorites list. I have been trying to figure out what would have made this a 5-star for me - I think perhaps further development of some of the other characters. To me most of them were a bit one-dimensional - in the world of gaming: NPCs (non-player characters) - i.e., background for the main character.
Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
Roseanna is a high-powered attorney focused almost exclusively on work, with apparently no/few friends out side her law firm and a weak/estranged relationship with her adult son. After the sudden death of her friend/colleague, she leaves NYC on a whim and discovers the quieter life that she now needs. Roseanna is tough on the outside (with clear opinions on just about everything, particularly things she doesn't like), but ultimately has a softer side as well. We see as she builds relationships with squatters on her newly acquired land, as well as mending the relationship with her son.
The theme of the book is essentially: there are more important things in life than money. A sweet, feel good story that I enjoyed, but not necessarily anything that would end up on my favorites list. I have been trying to figure out what would have made this a 5-star for me - I think perhaps further development of some of the other characters. To me most of them were a bit one-dimensional - in the world of gaming: NPCs (non-player characters) - i.e., background for the main character.
Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
May 24, 2023
After the death of a close friend, a New York City lawyer, Roseanna gets into her car and keeps on driving, determined to never return. But when a young journalist features her in a story, it is not too long before someone is knocking at the door.
A very compelling tale that tackles grief, friendship, mother-son relationships, and the families we choose for ourselves. The characters were very likable and the story had that wonderful Catherine Ryan Hyde magic.
I accessed this title on Kindle Unlimited where there are a variety of Catherine Ryan Hyde titles available with my membership.
Goodreads review published 24/05/23
A very compelling tale that tackles grief, friendship, mother-son relationships, and the families we choose for ourselves. The characters were very likable and the story had that wonderful Catherine Ryan Hyde magic.
I accessed this title on Kindle Unlimited where there are a variety of Catherine Ryan Hyde titles available with my membership.
Goodreads review published 24/05/23
May 28, 2018
My Review of “Heaven Adjacent” by Catherine Ryan Hyde Lake Union Publishing, June 19, 2018
I appreciated and enjoyed the thought-provoking novel ” Heaven Adjacent” by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. What would you do if a tragedy made you re-evaluate everything in your life? How would you handle a terrible tragedy?
Roseanna Chaldecott is a high-powered and successful attorney in Manhattan. Roseanna is wealthy and has the opportunity to live in a materialistic and extremely comfortable way. When Roseanna’s partner and best friend pass away unexpectedly, she takes off in her Maserati, unsure of where she is going or what she is going to do.
The author describes the colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated, quirky and unpredictable. This is a story of second chances, searching for what is important, finding meaning, love and forgiveness. It is also a story about finding where you belong, and where your home and heart is.
Roseanna, finds over seventy acres of land and is looking for serenity, peace and quiet. She purchases the land without really looking at everything. What Roseanna doesn’t realize is that she does have a story to tell. Also she seems to find a knack of finding some quirky people, and animals that already are living on the land. Roseanna thinks she wants a simple life. She has to climb a steep hill to use her cell- phone. In reality, she is hiding.
A newspaper reporter is fascinated by Roseanna’s story and writes about it in the newspaper. When it is published, her estranged son Lance comes to take her home. Her partner threatens if she doesn’t return to the law practice he will sue her for everything.
This is a heartwarming novel that I highly recommend to readers of Women’s Fiction. Of course, some of my favorite parts center around the animals in the story. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
I appreciated and enjoyed the thought-provoking novel ” Heaven Adjacent” by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. What would you do if a tragedy made you re-evaluate everything in your life? How would you handle a terrible tragedy?
Roseanna Chaldecott is a high-powered and successful attorney in Manhattan. Roseanna is wealthy and has the opportunity to live in a materialistic and extremely comfortable way. When Roseanna’s partner and best friend pass away unexpectedly, she takes off in her Maserati, unsure of where she is going or what she is going to do.
The author describes the colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated, quirky and unpredictable. This is a story of second chances, searching for what is important, finding meaning, love and forgiveness. It is also a story about finding where you belong, and where your home and heart is.
Roseanna, finds over seventy acres of land and is looking for serenity, peace and quiet. She purchases the land without really looking at everything. What Roseanna doesn’t realize is that she does have a story to tell. Also she seems to find a knack of finding some quirky people, and animals that already are living on the land. Roseanna thinks she wants a simple life. She has to climb a steep hill to use her cell- phone. In reality, she is hiding.
A newspaper reporter is fascinated by Roseanna’s story and writes about it in the newspaper. When it is published, her estranged son Lance comes to take her home. Her partner threatens if she doesn’t return to the law practice he will sue her for everything.
This is a heartwarming novel that I highly recommend to readers of Women’s Fiction. Of course, some of my favorite parts center around the animals in the story. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
November 27, 2018
Since reading "Allie and Bea" last month (GR links aren't working), I'm really enjoying reading this author lately. In this novel, the main character, an attorney in mid-life, has just lost her best friend and law partner to a sudden illness. Her friend was planning to retire early at 55, and was working hard to make that happen. Roseanna doesn't want this to happen to her, so she decides to bag her stressful life in NYC and enjoy life in the country now. The only problem is their remaining law partner wants to hold her to their contract.
Who hasn't thought of bagging their life and heading for the hills at one point or other, so the premise, and the fact I was looking for more from this author drew me right in. I don't have much patience these days for slow burns or slow starters, so this book filled the bill for me, by pulling me straight in and keeping the pages turning, which I always find with Hyde's work. It was also available from the library on audiobook, which is a big plus.
Some themes include homelessness, families beyond the traditional, friendship, death, mid-life issues, single parenting, work/life balance / workaholism, etc. I will definitely seek out more of this author's work, and I still need to read her novel "Pay it Forward", which, through the film is how I discovered her work.
Who hasn't thought of bagging their life and heading for the hills at one point or other, so the premise, and the fact I was looking for more from this author drew me right in. I don't have much patience these days for slow burns or slow starters, so this book filled the bill for me, by pulling me straight in and keeping the pages turning, which I always find with Hyde's work. It was also available from the library on audiobook, which is a big plus.
Some themes include homelessness, families beyond the traditional, friendship, death, mid-life issues, single parenting, work/life balance / workaholism, etc. I will definitely seek out more of this author's work, and I still need to read her novel "Pay it Forward", which, through the film is how I discovered her work.
July 13, 2018
I usually love Catherine Ryan Hyde's books but this one was boring. It just kept rehashing the same theme of doing what you want before it's too late. I never understood why the main character was in jeopardy of financial ruin when she had been a partner in a law practice, had a Maserati and a condo overlooking Central Park. The other characters were never developed especially the little girl. It didn't even seem that she needed a name. For all Rosie cared the girl could have just been called "girl ".
June 20, 2018
Rating: 4/4.5 stars
This is another heart-warming book from Catherine Ryan Hyde. After reading; The Wake Up, and Allie and Bea recently, I’ve become quite a fan of her writing. This author pulls off a mean feat. She is able to write heart-warming without being smarmy. This book is a classic trope of
“Chuck big city life and step into an unknown rural setting.” (In other words, a Fish Out of Water story.) While this is a theme found in lots of books, Catherine Ryan Hyde manages to pull it off in a meaningful way. I truly felt that the main character, Roseanna Chaldecott, was overwhelmed with sadness and the seeming futility of her current lifestyle after her good friend and law partner died suddenly. If that can happen so randomly, what is the point of planning and saving and working yourself literally to death? I bet that most of us have felt that way one time or another.
So one day, in mini mental break-down mode, Roseanne took drove her expensive car out of New York City. She just drove. She drove with no destination in mind. She ended up in the foothills of the Adirondacks, and stumbled upon an old farmstead that was up for sale that called to her in some inexplicable way. After staying overnight in the one-room farmhouse, she couldn’t bring herself to go back to the city. She is literally hiding from her former life. That strategy brought her some peace, but also its own set of problems. She is sued by her other law partner for abandoning the practice, her son is angry at her because she can’t be reached, and these unexpected strangers keep popping up on her property. Most of the people on her land stay despite her requests to get them to move on. Even her son Lance stays longer than expected, and is able to be more honest with Roseanne than he ever has. Maybe it’s something about chopping all that firewood in the clear mountain air that helps heal old hurts?
Through it all, Roseanne, unbeknownst to herself, redefines her meaning of success and family. I liked the mixture of quirky, and ordinary characters that inhabited this landscape. There were happy and sad moments, just like in real-life. Yes, I cried just a tiny bit at one scene. Lots of the scenes with the little girl, the dog, and the horse just made me laugh. It was a heart-warming book in all the best senses of the phrase. Bravo!
Thank-you to NetGalley; Lake Union Publishing; and the author, Catherine Ryan Hyde; for providing a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication Date: June 19, 2018
This is another heart-warming book from Catherine Ryan Hyde. After reading; The Wake Up, and Allie and Bea recently, I’ve become quite a fan of her writing. This author pulls off a mean feat. She is able to write heart-warming without being smarmy. This book is a classic trope of
“Chuck big city life and step into an unknown rural setting.” (In other words, a Fish Out of Water story.) While this is a theme found in lots of books, Catherine Ryan Hyde manages to pull it off in a meaningful way. I truly felt that the main character, Roseanna Chaldecott, was overwhelmed with sadness and the seeming futility of her current lifestyle after her good friend and law partner died suddenly. If that can happen so randomly, what is the point of planning and saving and working yourself literally to death? I bet that most of us have felt that way one time or another.
So one day, in mini mental break-down mode, Roseanne took drove her expensive car out of New York City. She just drove. She drove with no destination in mind. She ended up in the foothills of the Adirondacks, and stumbled upon an old farmstead that was up for sale that called to her in some inexplicable way. After staying overnight in the one-room farmhouse, she couldn’t bring herself to go back to the city. She is literally hiding from her former life. That strategy brought her some peace, but also its own set of problems. She is sued by her other law partner for abandoning the practice, her son is angry at her because she can’t be reached, and these unexpected strangers keep popping up on her property. Most of the people on her land stay despite her requests to get them to move on. Even her son Lance stays longer than expected, and is able to be more honest with Roseanne than he ever has. Maybe it’s something about chopping all that firewood in the clear mountain air that helps heal old hurts?
Through it all, Roseanne, unbeknownst to herself, redefines her meaning of success and family. I liked the mixture of quirky, and ordinary characters that inhabited this landscape. There were happy and sad moments, just like in real-life. Yes, I cried just a tiny bit at one scene. Lots of the scenes with the little girl, the dog, and the horse just made me laugh. It was a heart-warming book in all the best senses of the phrase. Bravo!
Thank-you to NetGalley; Lake Union Publishing; and the author, Catherine Ryan Hyde; for providing a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication Date: June 19, 2018
March 30, 2018
Heaven Adjacent by author Catherine Ryan Hyde is a thought-provoking book which will keep your interest and have the reader anxious to read all the way to the end. Roseanna Chaldecott, a successful lawyer runs away from her life! At first, as I read about Roseanna Chaldecott and her actions after the shocking unexpected death of Alice, her closest friend, and work colleague, I wanted to say, "No, don't do this. Take a vacation or take some time off, you are making a mistake!"
I won't post spoilers, but there is so much more to this book than an entertaining story. When I started the book, the main character did not seem to be an easy character to love. Roseanna is very rigid in her rules for life it seems. The author carefully wove the interactions of people in Roseanna's life to tell a story of life lessons, not only for Roseanna but also to help heal the childhood hurt and misunderstandings of her son Lance.
When Roseanna runs away from her beautiful and orderly life she has no idea the peace she seeks will not follow the path she has chosen but will manifest in a totally different journey!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I won't post spoilers, but there is so much more to this book than an entertaining story. When I started the book, the main character did not seem to be an easy character to love. Roseanna is very rigid in her rules for life it seems. The author carefully wove the interactions of people in Roseanna's life to tell a story of life lessons, not only for Roseanna but also to help heal the childhood hurt and misunderstandings of her son Lance.
When Roseanna runs away from her beautiful and orderly life she has no idea the peace she seeks will not follow the path she has chosen but will manifest in a totally different journey!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 5, 2018
CRH has been on my radar for years because of all of the great reviews and ratings that so many of my friends on here have given to so many of her books. Although she has been on my to-read list for a long time, this is finally my first book of hers, and it definitely will not be my last. I can't think of how many times I've fantasized about doing what the main character in this book does -- head out in my car in whatever direction and great distance I feel like at the moment, with no return date in my mind. However, this character takes it a step further and moves away for good and starts a completely different life. I loved the characters in this story, and I really feel as if I got to know some of them well and want to get to know others better. So right now I'm doing a little grieving that I have to leave them behind. I highly recommend this latest book of CRH!
December 30, 2018
good book. I was excited for the new release from one of my favorite authors. I kept checking to see if the Buy Now option was available in place of the Pre-order button and had to wait 6hrs after midnight to get it. By then I was too tired to dive right in so I napped til noon before I started this one. Everything was A+ as usual - plot reveal pace, character build up) but during the read I always got the notion that Roseanna was a bitch. I experienced the audio book version so maybe it's just the narrator? Idk but Hyde has picked some excellent narrators in the past, not sure why she chose the way she did this time around...unless that was the point - to have an unpleasant voice portray the bitchy main character?
April 18, 2018
Rosanna has a high-powered job and everything that money can buy but when her best friend passes away suddenly, Rosanna has second thoughts about the life she is living. On a drive outside of the city, she comes upon a run-down farm that calls her name. A place to be alone and rethink her life. But after buying it, she finds she is not alone. Other people are drawn to her little piece of heaven too. And when her son shows up on her doorstep, wondering what has gotten into her, she isn’t sure how to answer. Can she return to her empty city life, or is the little farm her destiny?
Beautifully written, heartfelt, sometimes humorous, honest. These words describe this latest story by Catherine Ryan Hyde. She touches a nerve here, giving the reader something to think about. Are you living your life to its fullest? Rosanna isn’t sure she is, and we follow her as she struggles with the changes going on around her. Changes occurring by her recent loss, by the people who are now surrounding her, by her trying to reconnect with her grown son. But the author does this in a way that entertains, makes you smile, and maybe even cry. This is Catherine Ryan Hyde at her best. Highly recommended.
(I received an ARC of this novel and gave an honest review.)
Beautifully written, heartfelt, sometimes humorous, honest. These words describe this latest story by Catherine Ryan Hyde. She touches a nerve here, giving the reader something to think about. Are you living your life to its fullest? Rosanna isn’t sure she is, and we follow her as she struggles with the changes going on around her. Changes occurring by her recent loss, by the people who are now surrounding her, by her trying to reconnect with her grown son. But the author does this in a way that entertains, makes you smile, and maybe even cry. This is Catherine Ryan Hyde at her best. Highly recommended.
(I received an ARC of this novel and gave an honest review.)
May 30, 2018
Bittersweet and beautiful is all I have to say. Read it and savor it. A perfect book to get lost in.
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April 26, 2023
I’ve found life lessons in every CRH book I’ve read which is one of the reasons I enjoy her books. Again I found her characters to be easy to relate to. A couple of my favorite were Willow and Ernest. Both of my grandfathers were farmers so I love that the setting was an old abandoned farm. Great read! If you’ve never read any of her books you should try one.
September 19, 2018
Entertaining Nice Read
I enjoyed the flow of this book. The characters were very relatable and likeable. The story was enjoyable and easy to follow even though it jumps in time and back.
I enjoyed the flow of this book. The characters were very relatable and likeable. The story was enjoyable and easy to follow even though it jumps in time and back.
June 19, 2018
Heaven Adjacent was my first Catherine Ryan Hyde read, and it certainly hit numerous spots throughout the story. If I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t sure what I was going to receive at first as it took a while before I was sucked into the book, but by the end I found I’d rather enjoyed this one.
It is hard to explain this story without giving too much away, without writing out all that happened. Just know it is a story that deals with numerous topics throughout, a story that looks at many different elements in life. It’s about finding what makes you happy, about realising what we have when we overlook the material things. It is a story that focuses on relationships, on finding what we need, and it certainly holds the attention once it grabs it.
As I mentioned, it does take a few chapters before you’re completely sucked in. You’re intrigued from the very start, but it takes a while before everything starts to come together. We get insights into so many things, and it isn’t until the details start to come to life, that we start getting the smaller details, that we are really pulled in.
Without a doubt, this is a story that slowly wins you over.
It is hard to explain this story without giving too much away, without writing out all that happened. Just know it is a story that deals with numerous topics throughout, a story that looks at many different elements in life. It’s about finding what makes you happy, about realising what we have when we overlook the material things. It is a story that focuses on relationships, on finding what we need, and it certainly holds the attention once it grabs it.
As I mentioned, it does take a few chapters before you’re completely sucked in. You’re intrigued from the very start, but it takes a while before everything starts to come together. We get insights into so many things, and it isn’t until the details start to come to life, that we start getting the smaller details, that we are really pulled in.
Without a doubt, this is a story that slowly wins you over.
April 30, 2023
Not my favorite Catherine Ryan Hyde book, but, as always, I appreciate her writing style and her courage in taking on difficult real life situations and topics and giving the reader plenty of food for thought.
June 27, 2018
This was a book that will certainly make you stop and think about life. Losing a best friend can do crazy things to a person. Or maybe it’s not crazy but more like making you wake up and see what you have and what you truly want.
Roseanna was a high powered attorney who had it all. Her own law practice with her best friend a nice apartment overlooking a park and a car that was to die for. But when her friend and partner die she starts looking at life a bit differently. She gets in her car and leaves. She has no real plan but once she gets there she knows it is the place for her. A nice piece of land with a small shack of a house and a few other buildings. She buys it and intends to spend her life alone there. But there are other people who live there and she becomes friends with them. No one, not even her son, Lance, can get her to come back to the city. He stays with her and they finally start talking and become much closer.
This is a good story that will keep you wanting more. Even after the last page I was not ready to let it go. It’s a story that will make you fall in love with people again. Some tears are mixed in and some laughter. The kind of story that you will love reading.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a great story teller. I look forward to more of her awesome books.
I received a copy of this via @NetGalley #Lake Union
Roseanna was a high powered attorney who had it all. Her own law practice with her best friend a nice apartment overlooking a park and a car that was to die for. But when her friend and partner die she starts looking at life a bit differently. She gets in her car and leaves. She has no real plan but once she gets there she knows it is the place for her. A nice piece of land with a small shack of a house and a few other buildings. She buys it and intends to spend her life alone there. But there are other people who live there and she becomes friends with them. No one, not even her son, Lance, can get her to come back to the city. He stays with her and they finally start talking and become much closer.
This is a good story that will keep you wanting more. Even after the last page I was not ready to let it go. It’s a story that will make you fall in love with people again. Some tears are mixed in and some laughter. The kind of story that you will love reading.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a great story teller. I look forward to more of her awesome books.
I received a copy of this via @NetGalley #Lake Union
December 31, 2019
4.5/5 What a great way to wrap up my February reads with the theme of women's lit (and romance and westerns)! This was my first book by Catherine Ryan Hyde and I very much enjoyed it. The narrator was perfect for this book and the major characters really came alive. She was even perfectly annoying for the woman squatter (whose name escapes me). This story was not fast-paced by any means, but it was full of contemplation and I thought the author did a good job of making me not like the main character all that much, but by the middle of the book I was rooting not only for her, but also for her rag tag group of settlers. I also very much enjoyed following the development of her relationship with her son. To me this was a book to help me slow down. I believe I will be checking out some the author's other books. :)
August 5, 2018
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars especially after reading all of the 5 star reviews. I had to take a star away because I just didn't like the beginning. Almost considered to abandon, but I didn't and I'm glad. After about 1/3 of the way through, it was difficult to put down and I really had an interest in the characters (some you will love, others not so much). Highly recommend, just give it a chance to draw you in.
July 5, 2018
I have given every other Catherine Ryan Hyde novel I have read 5 stars. For whatever reason I did not like the main character of this book not did I feel any empathy for the other characters since I did not think they were well developed. Oh well, stuff happens, I won't stop reading her books.
July 19, 2019
I didn't enjoy this as much as a couple of the author's other books, but it was good.
Slow start.
Presents a good life message.
Great interpersonal dialog.
A little hard to follow at times. I had to reread several sentences and a couple of times still didn't get what they were saying.
Slow start.
Presents a good life message.
Great interpersonal dialog.
A little hard to follow at times. I had to reread several sentences and a couple of times still didn't get what they were saying.
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