Michael Without Apology

A Novel

De: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Narrado por: Michael Crouch

A film student struggling with self-acceptance finally stops looking away from his traumatic past in a powerful novel by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Michael Woodbine was seven years old when a near-fatal fireworks accident scarred him and led to his placement in foster care. Now a college freshman, he is still trying to hide the effects of his trauma from his classmates, his adoptive family, and himself.

When Michael signs up for a film class, he meets Robert Dunning, a teacher who wears his own scars unapologetically. Robert encourages Michael to make a documentary that explores body image and self-perception. Michael places an ad seeking people who feel unattractive and rejected by society—and is surprised to learn that this is essentially everyone. Although some participants are recovering from injuries or surgeries, others are dealing with more everyday factors like aging or the changes to a body from giving birth.

As he collects these stories—and finally tells his own—Michael feels more connected to the world than he ever has before. But he knows his journey of self-acceptance has one more obstacle: his crushing doubts about why his birth parents wouldn’t fight to keep him.

©2025 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

“In this brilliant novel, we learn about accepting ourselves and others, with all our scars and imperfections. Hyde demonstrates that we don’t need to apologize for our imperfect bodies, or for a messy house.”—Bookreporter

Great topic

Pertinent to so many of us in different ways, and great to share with family and in my career in a medical field.

I must read. Listened to it with my daughter, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. Thoughtful, heartfelt, wonderful story.

Really didn’t dislike anything. We loved all the characters even like the ones Unlikable. We listened to an audio and whoever was doing all the reading did a fabulous job.

Couldn’t stop listening

Classic Catherine Ryan Hyde book. Beautiful, unique, and thought provoking. Characters are richly crafted as is dialog. Loved it.

It was a beautiful touching story

This book really touched me. It was a great story and the narrator did a fabulous job.

I See You

I liked how it opened my eyes to all humans inner sense of worth depending on external looks as perceived by the individual. Even though a person looks one way to those looking, the individuals perception is totally different.

Enjoyable

Whenever I need a good and beautiful story about human interaction and relationship I can find it here with Catherine.

Thought Provoking

Rarely do I leave book reviews, but this one hits different. people of all ages and genders should read this. it pulls the feelings out of you, gets you thinking, and is a book that you just can't put down. I devoured the entire thing in two days. amazing work to say the least

A touching novel

Ryan Hyde is usually really good or really bad--not much in between. This was really good. I find her books with teenage protagonists the most relatable. This one was a real tear jerker.

A very thoughtful provoking book

so many moments of aha and I need to write this down! one of my favorites

Everyone should read this story

Really great book, I honestly think every human should read this book. Engaging and thought provoking.