Falling Apart and Other Gifts from the Universe

A Novel

De: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Narrado por: Michael Crouch, Coleen Marlo

Two disparate people—lost in their own way—find an unexpected healing connection in a poignant novel about redemption and chosen family by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.

An army veteran with a career as a beat cop behind her, security guard Addie Finch is tough—on the outside. Internally, she’s in crisis mode. She’s lonely, introverted, struggling through AA, estranged from her son, and, at sixty-two years old, questioning her role as a protector. She also has a soft spot for the underdog that’s about to change her life.

Addie finds Jonathan, a homeless teenager abandoned by his mother, holed up in a warehouse and vulnerable to the elements and to predators. Touched by the boy’s gentle nature and a wisdom beyond his years, Addie offers him temporary shelter in her garden shed in exchange for maintaining the sprawling property. It’s an act of kindness and purpose that means the world to Jonathan. But when Addie faces a situation that sends her internal world tumbling, the emotional connection with Jonathan, once the unlikeliest of strangers, becomes her lifeline as well.

As both process past traumas, Addie and Jonathan forge a surrogate grandmother-grandson bond—a chosen family that could restore trust and heal hearts they thought were broken forever.

©2025 by Catherine Ryan Hyde, Trustee, or Successor Trustee, of the Catherine Ryan Hyde Revocable Trust created under that certain declaration dated September 27, 1999. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Like all of [Hyde’s] books, this one is touching, heartwarming and thought-provoking. It is everything we have come to expect from a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, and we don’t want the story to end.”—Bookreporter

Just listen to this already

As usual, you can never go wrong with Catherine Ryan Hyde. It was just fantastic and pulled the emotional strings. Both narrators were fantastic. Michael Crouch is one of my all time faves. He didn't narrate as much as Coleen Mario. She's a first for me but just excellent

Time heals

The ongoing dialogue between two hurting people helping each other was written at a quiet uplifting pace which I enjoyed very much. The two different people complemented each another despite the age difference and the scars gained by living their lives imperfectly brought healing. This book is beautifully written. I am usually a reader of Christian historical fiction and seldom read books written about current times . From my own heart I wanted these two people to have faith in the Biblical God and His Son who would have brought comfort to their hurting hearts for today into eternity.

The Listen I needed

This was another great story from this author about humanity. I listen to her books once or twice a year so I can savor the story and the lessons. The best thing about them is how well you get to know the characters. And the bonus is that you also get to discover a little more about yourself along the way.

Very different perspective

I liked the character build ups and descriptions. Well worth the read. Or rather this listdn.

The caring

Would recommend this book for anyone young to older had to gab a tissue a few times