This is the first book I've read by this author, but I don't think it will be my last.

This story begins in 1965 when Anton, and 18 year old boy, receives a telescope from his parents as a Christmas present right before they leave for 2 weeks. One night, he witnesses a domestic violence incident and it bothers him...so much so that he finds the apartment and goes there the next day to see if she is ok. Eventually, they strike up a friendship and spend a lot of time together during the 2 weeks his parents are gone. They don't see each other again for almost 20 years and a chance encounter puts them in the same place at the same time.

This is a story about finding love, losing it and finding it again.

Received this book from NetGalley. ( )

I'm so confused with this genre of novel. The first half was slow but interesting as we followed the two main characters as they got to know each other. The second half picks up fifteen years later and just speeds on with way too many plot lines and paths. I was not as emotionally invested in the story as I thought I would be. ( )

This was perfect in all the ways I expected and hoped it would be. Catherine Ryan Hyde never fails to provide an uplifting book when I need one most. ( )

The reader understands right away that this book is all about Anton with the title.

Eighteen year-old Anton lost his right hand. That's right. He lost in in the first chapter of this book in the winter of 1965 as he interferes with his brother committing suicide. There's nothing he can do about it but it affects his life going forward with relationships, depression and how he is able to manage emotionally and physically. His mother was very direct and insensitive to his feelings. His father was an observer. He was infatuated by a woman 15 years older than him and his uncle, a psychiatrist, tried to save him. But the best character of the book was his beloved grandmother who was positive, giving, and supportive in all sorts of ways.

The book brings us all sorts of questions such as why people stay in relationships with a person that is abusive. Why is the first love so heart breaking? Why do we almost always have regrets towards the end of our lives? And then, what if everything that happened in life was for the best? Questions like these makes the reader think about your own relationships...your own life.

While the book was slow at times and the characters weren't necessarily my favorite, However, I enjoyed reading this book and will look forward to others from this author. My thanks to the publisher and Netgallery for allowing me to read this copy. ( )

In an interview, Hyde commented that she didn't feel the need for sequels because her characters are fictional---and that made perfect sense to me, even though I am one who always has in my mind a "future" of some sort for the characters in novels. However, this particular book GAVE us the sequel and then some. This book was heartwarming in so many ways. I would love to know how Hyde became so wise because she has her characters providing thoughts about life that really are wonderfully described in the relationships between the ones involved. Hyde never fails to disappoint me in her books. ( )