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Seven Perfect Things: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 36,091 ratings
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A heart-stirring novel about the joy that comes from finding love in unexpected places by the New York Times and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author.

Thirteen-year-old Abby Hubble lives in an unhappy home in the Sierra Nevada foothills where her father makes life miserable for her and her mother, Mary. One day Abby witnesses a man dump a litter of puppies into the nearby river. Diving in to rescue all seven, she knows she won’t be able to bring them home. Afraid for their fate at the pound, she takes them to an abandoned cabin, where all she can offer is a promise that she’ll be back the next day.

To grieving widower Elliot Colvin, life has lost meaning. Looking for solace, he retreats to the hunting cabin he last visited years ago, before his wife’s illness. What he discovers is not at all what he expected: seven puppies and one determined girl with an indomitable heart.

As Abby and Elliot’s friendship deepens, Abby imagines how much better her life—and the puppies’ lives—would be if her mother were married to Elliot instead of her father. But when Abby’s father moves the family hundreds of miles away, Abby and her mother must decide how long they’re willing to defer happiness.

Seven Perfect Things is a story about joy, where to find it, how to know it when you see it, and the courage it takes to hang on to it once you have it.

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  1. Print length
    319 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Lake Union Publishing
  5. Publication date
    May 4, 2021
  6. File size
    5769 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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  1. That’s the thing about life, Elliot thought. Whatever just happened, good or bad, it always moves on.
    Highlighted by 525 Kindle readers
  2. “I mean . . . you just make the best of happy while you’ve got it, right?”
    Highlighted by 407 Kindle readers
  3. “It’s impossible to not be happy with seven puppies climbing all over you. It literally can’t be done.”
    Highlighted by 329 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Multilayered and heartwarming.” —Booklist

“Hyde clearly demonstrates her uncanny ability to show human nature at both its best and worst, in ordinary people who sometimes do extraordinary things.” —Bookreporter

About the Author

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the New York Times and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of forty books (and counting). An avid traveler, equestrian, and amateur photographer, she shares her astrophotography with readers on her website.

Her novel Pay It Forward was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association (ALA) for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than twenty-three languages in over thirty countries. Both Becoming Chloe and Jumpstart the World were included on the ALA’s Rainbow list, and Jumpstart the World was a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards. Where We Belong won two Rainbow Awards in 2013, and The Language of Hoofbeats won a Rainbow Award in 2015.

More than fifty of her short stories have been published in the Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, and many other journals; in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories and California Shorts; and in the bestselling anthology Dog Is My Copilot. Her stories have been honored by the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and the Tobias Wolff Award and have been nominated for Best American Short Stories, the O. Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize. Three have been cited in the annual Best American Short Stories anthology.

She is founder and former president (2000–2009) of the Pay It Forward Foundation and still serves on its board of directors. As a professional public speaker, she has addressed the National Conference on Education, twice spoken at Cornell University, met with AmeriCorps members at the White House, and shared a dais with Bill Clinton.

For more information, please visit the author at www.catherineryanhyde.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08B7YXJH7
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (May 4, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 4, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5769 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 319 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1542021545
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 36,091 ratings

About the author

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Catherine Ryan Hyde

Catherine Ryan Hyde

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Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than 40 published and forthcoming books.

An avid hiker, traveler, equestrian, and amateur photographer and astrophotographer, she has a published book of photos, 365 DAYS OF GRATITUDE: PHOTOS FROM A BEAUTIFUL WORLD.

She is co-author, with fellow author and publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of HOW TO BE A WRITER IN THE E-AGE: A SELF-HELP GUIDE.

Her novel PAY IT FORWARD was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than 23 languages for distribution in over 30 countries. The paperback was released in October 2000 by Pocket Books and quickly became a national bestseller. Simon & Schuster released PAY IT FORWARD: YOUNG READERS' EDITION in August of '14. It is suitable for kids as young as eight. A special Fifteenth Anniversary Edition of the original PAY IT FORWARD was released in December of '14

LOVE IN THE PRESENT TENSE enjoyed bestseller status in the UK, where it broke the top ten, spent five weeks on the bestseller lists, was reviewed on a major TV book club, and shortlisted for a Best Read of the Year award at the British Book Awards. Both BECOMING CHLOE and JUMPSTART THE WORLD were included on the ALA's Rainbow List, and JUMPSTART THE WORLD was a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards. WHERE WE BELONG won two Rainbow Awards in 2013 and THE LANGUAGE OF HOOFBEATS won a Rainbow Award in 2015.

New Kindle editions of her backlist titles FUNERALS FOR HORSES, EARTHQUAKE WEATHER AND OTHER STORIES, ELECTRIC GOD, and WALTER'S PURPLE HEART are now available. Also available is THE LONG, STEEP PATH: EVERYDAY INSPIRATION FROM THE AUTHOR OF PAY IT FORWARD, her first book-length creative nonfiction.

More than 50 of her short stories have been published in The Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train and many other journals, and in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories and California Shorts and the bestselling anthology Dog is my Co-Pilot. Her stories have been honored in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and the Tobias Wolff Award and nominated for Best American Short Stories, the O'Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize. Three have been cited in Best American Short Stories.

She is founder and former president (2000-2009) of the Pay It Forward Foundation, and served on its board of directors for over 20 years. As a professional public speaker she has addressed the National Conference on Education, twice spoken at Cornell University, met with Americorps members at the White House and shared a dais with Bill Clinton.

For more information and book club questions for most backlist titles, please visit the author at catherineryanhyde.com (Note: The newer titles have book club questions included at the back of the book.)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
36,091 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

D. Reynolds
5.0 out of 5 stars Matters of the heart
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
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Really enjoyed this story. So much that I was up until 3:00 am. Then finished after I got up. So many emotions throughout this story. I loved the way it is written. Pulled me in right from the start. Cheering on the main characters, wanting to kick Mary's husband and find people to treat him the way he treated Mary and Abby. Although in hindsight he probably was treated that way his whole life. Get the book its really great. Side note: some parts may trigger anyone that has been abused mentally or physically.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Super Easy Read
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024
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Sweet story - nothing complicated-enjoyable read. I’m trying to get back into reading on a regular basis — this was a good title to get me started….
One person found this helpful
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Grace Meyers
5.0 out of 5 stars People helping people, helping animals. Good vibrations!
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2024
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I loved this book. One doesn't know until the end how things fall into place. Delightful parts about the 7 perfect things, and a very nice turn of events for some of the people. Good Read.
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John McAlexander III
5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing Tale of Intertwining Lives
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024
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After Eliot Colvin's wife dies of a life threatening illness, he 'gets away from it all', including his job, to return to his hunting cabin. He finds more than he bargains for ! Seven Perfect Things is an amazing story of tragedy, emotional abuse, trust, friendship, joy, courage, not to mention Seven Puppies... Whose lives were just Cast Aside when they were tossed over a bridge into a raging river. This is a must read and Very Recommended!
After recovering the puppies from the river, 13 year old Abbie locates a 'seemingly' "forgotten" cabin to hide her pups from her very abusive father . . . only to find out that Eliot was on HIS way to His cabin ! After his loss of his wife he was in need of a little peace and quiet so as to recover from his recent wife's death. This is a truly remarkably touching and courageous book !!! A quite tantalizingly wonderful ending!! You MUST read this book to discover this Secret !! A very heart-wrenching and emotionally draining roller-coaster ride of a novel ! ! Everything I read a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, I have to admit THIS is the best book of hers that I have read, to date. Basically, though, Catherine Ryan Hyde is just an all around superb author ! !
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tonyalove
5.0 out of 5 stars Not a boring read!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023
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I'll be honest, when I first picked up thus book I thought it was going to be slightly boring but possibly a good story. I was wrong. Its an incredible story and I fell in love with the 3 main characters so fast my head almost spun. I will truly keep this story in my head for awhile and I'm so grateful I gave it a try.
6 people found this helpful
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Deyonna
4.0 out of 5 stars A feel good story
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
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This is a feel good story about a disfuntional family, A heartbroken new widower, and seven lucky puppies. There is a lot of deep thinking and comparison of events. Heartbreak is a large part of the novel but the love Abby has for the puppies plays right into every decision. If you want something different and a feel good reading give this one a try.
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Overall nice
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2023
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The story is very nice, as a whole, but there, are also quite many un-realistic details. Eliot, who is so freshly a widower and doesn't like it when people overstep and talk too much and get too nosy, goes and does the same thing to a woman he just met? From the beginning he gets quite honest and pushy that she would need to leave her husband. That's not very realistic. The owners of the old bookstore and the woman who had bought the poetry books, all get so open and honest with her and touch the most sensitive subject with Mary - her relationship with her husband. All of a sudden, everybody feels the need to show her that they see the situation between her and her husband and show their opinion on her husband etc. Not very realistic reactions from my point of view.
But overall, nice plot, nice characters and the puppy related part is really beautiful.
8 people found this helpful
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PeytonGG
5.0 out of 5 stars such a sweet book
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
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This book was very predictable but a very good read. It went quickly and is not very long. It definitely makes me want to read more of her books
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Top reviews from other countries

Linda Maggrah
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
Reviewed in Canada on May 18, 2023
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I really enjoyed this book it was so heart warming and makes you believe in good people. Abby was my hero
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sfparry
5.0 out of 5 stars nice story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2023
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Non-dog lovers need not fear that this is all about dogs. It is a warm-hearted story, if a little too unlikely. Well-worth you time.
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Kindle CustomerAmisha
5.0 out of 5 stars A very sweet book .
Reviewed in India on July 1, 2021
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A sweet book,.a light read, which you don't want to put down. Definitely recommend it to those who want a feel good book.
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Nadia Bocconi
3.0 out of 5 stars A nice modern fairy story
Reviewed in Italy on June 16, 2021
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I like happy ending and this was a very happy one. I would like that things could turn out so positevely in trouble times for everyone. I reccomend this book to the people who needs to feel better and hope for the better. Dreaming does not cost anything and may help go trough tough times
One person found this helpful
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Henpatch
5.0 out of 5 stars Abbey and 7 puppies.
Reviewed in Australia on May 23, 2023
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Truly a delightful story of many parts - love, fear, hatred, trust - just give yourself the joy of reading this lovely story.
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