Just After Midnight

Brenda

Rating: really liked it
Faith’s escape to her parents’ beach house had been one born of desperation. She had finally left Robert and his belligerence, his domineering and cruel behaviour. Now she wanted to make plans for her future. The day Faith met fourteen-year-old Sarah, she was saddened by the look in her eyes, the obvious desolation in her manner. Sarah’s grandmother had taken Sarah to their beach house to give the girl a chance to heal, while Sarah’s grandmother tried to gain custody. Two weeks prior her mother had died, and she didn’t want to see or be with her father.

A plan was hatched, and Faith and Sarah left the beach for places unknown, while custody access continued to be debated. Falkner’s Midnight Sun had been Sarah’s beloved horse since she was just a small child. Their bond had to be seen to be believed. But Sarah’s father had sold Midnight and her devastation was heartbreaking to see. All Sarah wanted to do was to go to one of the local shows where she was sure Midnight would be. Gradually, as Faith and Sarah followed Midnight around the country, Sarah made an important decision. But would the results be what she wanted? And what would be the outcome for Faith?

Just Before Midnight is another outstanding and poignant novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde – an author I can’t find fault with. Words fail me with Just Before Midnight – it was a pleasure to read, and it’ll stay with me for some time to come. Remarkable characters showing courage in the face of adversity; this novel is about friendship, love and trust, and what happens when what you fear the most, isn’t as fearful as you thought, once you’d faced it. Highly recommended.

Amy

Rating: really liked it
I swear there is no other author who writes about unlikely friendships quite as authentically as CRH does, many of her novels showcase new relationships between a young person and someone older but each new book sheds light on various themes and issues making them unique. I don’t often use the term page turner in WF but her books really are, once you enter the world she creates it’s hard to step back into reality.

This follows Faith, a woman who just left her husband and Sarah a young teenager whose mother just died. All of CRH’s books are perfect for animal lovers, but if you love horses this is a must read. The entire book centers on Sarah’s magical relationship with her horse Midnight and it highlights the special bond between human and animal. It was really beautiful and as Faith helps Sarah through her grief and pain she finds her own inner strength that she didn’t even realize that she possessed.

This one gave me all the feels, it was an emotional read with plenty of highs and lows. Per usual, my faith in humanity was restored by the end. It’s full of memorable characters and amazing life lessons but it’s not so heavy as to be depressing. Another solid read from one of my favorite authors!

Just After Midnight in three words: Tender, Uplifting and Moving.

Sharon

Rating: really liked it
Faith can no longer tolerate the behavior of her husband, so she decides to escape to her parents beach house in California. She needs space and time to sort out her future. This is where Faith befriends a fourteen-year-old girl called Sarah. Faith quickly learns that Sarah is at risk from her father after her mother's death.

Faith and Sarah both suffered a loss and it didn't take them long to bond quickly, although it was an unlikely friendship.

Just After Midnight is a beautifully written novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde about friendship, love and family. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who is looking for their next read.

With thanks to Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review.

Marianne

Rating: really liked it
Just after Midnight is a novel by American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. The Bolinda audio version is performed by Kate Rudd (who speaks clearly, if sometimes a little stiffly). When Faith finds herself at a Dressage show with a volatile fourteen-year-old girl in her care, it serves several purposes: Faith has filed for divorce and is avoiding anywhere her husband might be looking for her; Sarah is grieving the sudden and recent loss of her mother. The girl’s father, from whom her grandmother, Constance, is trying to gain custody from, is unlikely to intuit their current location.

Sarah is grieving, too, the loss of her beloved black mare, Falkner’s Midnight Sun, sold by her father to John Wintermeier shortly after her mother’s death. Wintermeier intends to sell Midnight, and cautiously welcomes Sarah’s presence, as her close bond with the spirited mare makes her the ideal person to show the mare to prospective buyers. But for Sarah, it’s a double-edged sword: her proximity to Midnight ensures the mare’s best performance, but that may garner a sale, removing her access to the horse she loves more than anything in the world.

At the tail end of a summer of horse shows, Sarah reveals something to Faith about her mother’s death, something explosive. This, just as they learn that Midnight has been sold. And while Faith really has enough problems of her own, she is surprised to realise that she cares enough about this often-prickly teen to face a certain challenging situation she’s been avoiding.

Ryan Hyde is highly skilled at creating characters the reader will care about and be ready to invest in. There are no stereotypes or cardboard cut-outs here: everyone has some depth, even the less likeable ones. Sarah is a troubled teen for good reason, but still manages to make some mature and insightful observations; Faith shows more kindness and patience than might be expected of a stranger; but all exhibit very human flaws, for all their admirable qualities. Fans of this author’s work will not be disappointed: this is a brilliant read.

Krista

Rating: really liked it
Rating: 5 stars

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m a late-comer to author Catherine Ryan Hyde. I’ve only read three or four of her previous books, but they have all been high-quality reads. This book extends that track record with me. It features a friendship between Faith and Sarah. It’s a bit of a murder mystery; a coming-of-age story; a woman leaving an abusive relationship story; and glimpse into the business of horse dressage. Whew, from that description, you’d think it would be all over the place, but Ryan Hyde exercised her writing chops skillfully and produced a book that moved all these elements along seamlessly.

As the book opens, middle-aged Faith meets 14 year-old Sarah on the beach in front of the house that Faith is temporarily staying at. Sarah and her Grandmother are at their rented beach because Sarah’s mother recently died. Her Grandmother brought her to the beach to try to get over some of the heartbreak, and to spirit her away from her father. Faith has left her abusive husband with just the clothes on her back, and is trying to figure out what to do with the next part of her life.

Faith strikes up a conversation with Sarah which leads Faith to meet Sarah’s grandmother, Constance. Over the course of a few days, the bond between the three of the ladies grows as Faith learns that Sarah is also trying to process the sale of her beloved horse, Midnight, who was sold by her father just days after her mother died. The double blow has made Sarah retreat into a shell where she barely eats, or communicates with anyone. When Sarah’s father figures out that Sarah and her grandmother are at the beach, Constance implores Faith to take Sarah away for a few days to keep her away from her Dad. Faith reluctantly agrees, and the buddy-road-trip part of the story starts. Sarah convinces Faith to drive out to a Dressage show where her beloved horse, Midnight is being shown by her new owner. From there Faith and Sarah spend the sweltering summer together in various California stables and farms as they follow Midnight from one owner to another.

Okay, that’s enough of the plot. You can read most of the plot outline on the book blurb anyway. What this book does a wonderful job at is illustrating how much we can learn if we sometimes step out in faith, and trust that others are willing to extend themselves to help in a tough situation; that family isn’t solely based on blood; that animals can have profound impacts on our lives; that moving forward on a new path isn’t easy, but can be very empowering. Come to think of it, a lot of this book is about empowerment. Sarah found the inner-strength to stand up to her father. Faith felt empowered to stand up to her estranged husband, in order to help Sarah.

I was a bit horse mad as an adolescent girl, so I could easily relate to Sarah’s devotion to her horse. But I don’t think that you’d need to have any experiences with horses to still relate to Sarah and Midnight’s connection. I enjoyed learning more about what is involved in training a Dressage horse, and the Dressage show circuit. I cried a tear (yes, I’ll admit it) towards the end because the story was just so expertly told. It pulled me in, and made me care. Isn’t that just about the highest praise you can give a book? Catherine Ryan Hyde has produced another showstopper here.

I originally thought I'd give this book 4 stars, but it's really stayed with me over the last couple of weeks since I finished the book. I keep thinking about Faith and Sarah, and remember the emotional tugs their story produced, so I've changed the rating to 5 stars.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Lake Union Press; and the author, Catherine Ryan Hyde; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

ABCme

Rating: really liked it
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

They meet on the beach: Faith, in the proces of divorcing her mentally abusive husband, and Sarah, a 14 year old who accuses her father of the death of her mother. In the months that follow the woman track Sarah's horse, put on the market by her father to pay off his gambling debts. The horsewhispering is very soothing in the turmoil of events.
This book reads like a breeze, at the same time dealing with fear, safety and security, caring for others and coming out strong. Although the end is predictable from the start, Just After Midnight is a painfully beautiful story with a good balance between hope and despair.

Barbara

Rating: really liked it
A huge disappointment from a favourite author. Seemed like a book more suitable for young adults. Hated the constant reference to “the girl” instead of using the girls name.

Nance Roepke

Rating: really liked it
Disappointing

Although her books are very formulaic and close to YA fiction , I have been a fan of Ms. Hyde and have read eight of her books. Perhaps it is because of the repetitive formula of each of her books that I have not really liked this one . Perhaps it is just that I have read so many of them . Or perhaps it is characteristics of this particular book as well as the difficult-to-believe aspects of her formula that makes it my least favorite . But I think, on top of those factors, there were features of this book that I found annoying . Ms. Hyde's formula is that an adult, often an older adult, takes a teenager or more than one teenager , for a period of time , often on a road trip . Both of the characters has issues that they need to work out and they manage to do it together . The difficulty in that formula is the fact that the adult is either nearly or totally a stranger to the child . She attempts to explain the fact that other adults closer to the child allow this stranger to take the child away for a period of time . Usually there is a somewhat compelling reason and the responsible adults in the child's life are unwilling or unsuitable to exercise much guidance and control . But in this case the adults in the child's life , or at least one adult , is responsible and capable . But nonetheless she allows her granddaughter to go off with someone they have just met. I just cannot accept that that would happen in the situation . And there was one feature of the writing style that totally annoyed me . Instead of calling the girl in the story by her name the author kept calling her "the girl" . Ugh! I should probably get this book a 2 rating but because I've been a fan of Ms. Hyde's I just couldn't do that .

Jen

Rating: really liked it
This is a beautiful story about an unlikely friendship. Faith and Sarah are both dealing with significant trauma when they find each other, bonding through their struggles. Unfortunately, this was too horse topic heavy and I found my eyes glazing over often. For someone who knows nothing about horses, the jargon and technical wording was lost on me and detracted from the story. I almost gave in and put the book down at the beginning. I’m glad I pushed through to see this friendship develop but it was much too horse centric for me. Thank you @amazonpublishing for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Glady

Rating: really liked it
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Just After Midnight will appeal to young adults who are transitioning to adult novels. The plot is quite uncomplicated with just hints of betrayal and fear. The major character, Faith, is leaving a bad marriage behind; although she states numerous times that her husband never hit her, there is enough of an underlying threat that she must keep her present location unknown to him. She wants out of her marriage to the point where she is willing to abandon any financial stake in their savings and home.

Teenage Sarah, meanwhile, has recently lost her mother to a supposed suicide and is in the throes of grief. These two are drawn together since neither feels completely safe nor completely free. Sarah not only grieves for her mother but also for the abrupt sale of her mare, Midnight. Her father sold the horse very soon after the death of Sarah's mom. His blindness to his daughter's needs is just one aspect of his selfish personality.

The unlikely relationship of a teen girl and a total stranger strains credulity. Constance, Sarah's grandmother who is fighting for custody, allows Faith and Sarah to leave for parts unknown since the women fear Sarah's father. (No way. Can we all just say "Amber Alert?") But, the possible legal entanglements never enter Faith's mind as she journeys with Sarah toward peace and strength, self-empowerment and acceptance.

Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com

Rating: really liked it
#FirstLine ~ Faith stood in line to buy two chicken soft tacos from the food truck serviced that weekend's dressage show.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is a genius in story telling. Her stories are a perfect blend of emotions, complex characters that you instantly love and a strong main plot with other beautiful side stories. She takes and blends it all together and creates magic. I loved how much I felt connected to this story and the characters within it. I felt everything right along with the characters because they were so perfectly developed. I adored this book and I highly recommend it!

Teresa

Rating: really liked it
A pretty good book, but a bit too long on the descriptions and too much about horses for me to really enjoy.
Felt like a YA book.

John Gilbert

Rating: really liked it
Enjoyable read, once you accept that dressage is actually a thing that consumes people's lives. Another older woman, younger lost teen, both looking for something that seems unlikely to happen, but of course as with all her books, good things come to those who persevere.

I have to say the structure of this novel, starting in the middle, going back to earlier, then coming to just before the story starts, was a bit disconcerting. But in the end, all is good, through thick and thin. Some likeable and not so likeable characters, but all part of the journey. Midnight is a horse, a dressage horse, who one cannot help but like, although we don't get to really know him.

Nice read anyway.

Diane Perry

Rating: really liked it
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Get your tissues ready because you will do the ugly cry. Sarah and Faith are both suffering for two very different reasons. They find a way to save each other through some of the worse heartbreak. This is a great book and a powerful story.

Angie Dokos

Rating: really liked it
Beautiful story. I love everything I’ve read by this author. This book is great; very emotional, but great. I love the plot and the characters.