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Allie and Bea: A Novel Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 29,803 ratings

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

Humor and heart move the fast-paced journey of an unlikely pair coming together to form a family of their own in this touching story from New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Bea has barely been scraping by since her husband died. After falling for a telephone scam, she loses everything and is forced to abandon her trailer. With only two-thirds of a tank in her old van, she heads toward the Pacific Ocean with her cat—on a mission to reclaim what’s rightfully hers, even if it means making others pay for what she lost.

When fifteen-year-old Allie’s parents are jailed for tax fraud, she’s sent to a group home. But when her life is threatened by another resident, she knows she has to get out. She escapes only to find she has nowhere to go—until fate throws Allie in Bea’s path.

Reluctant to trust each other, much less become friends, the two warily make their way up the Pacific Coast. Yet as their hearts open to friendship and love from the strangers they meet on their journey, they find the courage to forge their own unique family—and begin to see an imperfect world with new eyes.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

POPSUGAR Hot New Spring Books Selection

“Hyde delivers a fast-paced, touching, and humorous journey of an unlikely pair who never knew they needed each other.…Through little adventures and hiccups, the two learn eye-opening things about themselves and their outlook on the world. Perfect for anyone looking for an uplifting and lighthearted escape.” Booklist

“An appealing tale of friendship, family, trust, and faith in humanity. Fans of the author’s previous works will enjoy growing and traveling alongside the title characters.” Library Journal

About the Author

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of thirty-three published books. Her bestselling 1999 novel, Pay It Forward, adapted into a major Warner Bros. motion picture, made the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults list and was translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in more than thirty countries. Her novels Becoming Chloe and Jumpstart the World were included on the ALA’s Rainbow List; Jumpstart the World was also a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards and won Rainbow Awards in two categories. The Language of Hoofbeats won a Rainbow Award. More than fifty of her short stories have been published in many journals, including the Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, the Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, and the Sun, and in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories and California Shorts, as well as the bestselling anthology Dog Is My Co-Pilot. Her short fiction received honorable mention in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest, a second-place win for the Tobias Wolff Award, and nominations for Best American Short Stories, the O. Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize. Three have also been cited in Best American Short Stories.

Hyde is the founder and former president of the Pay It Forward Foundation. 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. An avid equestrian, photographer, and traveler, she lives in California.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LZ37NWE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (May 23, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 23, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4248 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 29,803 ratings

About the author

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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
29,803 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They describe the story as heartwarming, touching, and terrific. Readers appreciate the believable adventure and relatable characters. The insights and lessons are thought-provoking and provide a journey of self-discovery for both young and old readers. Overall, customers praise the book's humanness and relatability.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

1,440 customers mention "Readability"1,407 positive33 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the author's storytelling ability and realistic events. The book is described as satisfying, great, and easy to read.

"I was drawn to ALLIE AND BEA by its lovely cover and Catherine Ryan Hyde, a favorite writer...." Read more

"I really enjoyed this story of Allie and Bea. It was happy and sad at times and really made me feel for both characters." Read more

"Such an amazing novel of two journeys merging into one! Different ages, incomes, circumstances and characters. So beautiful and moving!..." Read more

"Enjoyable characters! The book kept a good pace and was fun to read. I would recommend to anyone looking for something lighter." Read more

663 customers mention "Heartwarming story"663 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the heartwarming story. They find the relationship between two unlikely people touching and inspiring. The book has a happy ending.

"...This is the story of an unlikely relationship that develops between an elderly woman and a teenager - two unforgettable characters, both of whom I..." Read more

"I really enjoyed this story of Allie and Bea. It was happy and sad at times and really made me feel for both characters." Read more

"...So beautiful and moving! Keep your head up and keep believing!" Read more

"...It was interesting how Allie changed Bea’s outlook on life and how the people they met showed them that not all people are cruel...." Read more

395 customers mention "Story quality"395 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find it interesting, with strong characters and a believable adventure. The book has exciting scenarios with several twists and turns. It is an easy read that keeps you guessing what will happen next.

"...Instead, I went on the adventure of a lifetime with two unforgettable women...." Read more

"...Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of...." Read more

"...job of bridging realistic events and circumstances, without unnecessarily verbiage. The characters are believable and likeable...." Read more

"...Thus begins their journey into a future that is as unknown and fascinating, as one could imagine...." Read more

350 customers mention "Character development"333 positive17 negative

Customers appreciate the believable characters and realistic portrayal of humanity. They find the characters' stories interesting and the clash of personalities intriguing. The book explores the themes of friendship and personal growth through the characters' experiences.

"...Catherine Ryan Hyde is an expert in character development. Allie and Bea are authentic, with all the facets of a teenager and an older woman...." Read more

"...It was happy and sad at times and really made me feel for both characters." Read more

"Enjoyable characters! The book kept a good pace and was fun to read. I would recommend to anyone looking for something lighter." Read more

"...Both characters were so brave even though they were scared and didn’t think they could survive the trauma they were going through...." Read more

233 customers mention "Insight"233 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and thought-provoking. They say it provides great lessons about choices, self-reflection, and give-and-take. The story also discusses topics like homelessness, sex trafficking, honesty, and the need to lie.

"...Their interactions are genuine, as is their growing love for each other. In lesser hands, this story could have been cloyingly overdone...." Read more

"...Another great book by Catherine Ryan Hyde and and excellent lesson on give and take." Read more

"...And lots of information about what it means to be young and put into the system. Or to be old and find yourself in the system...." Read more

"...This writer's sheer, fearless power to engage would propel you forward, even if empathy has seemingly forsaken you--and, in the end, you might find..." Read more

94 customers mention "Age gap"94 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's age gap. They find the interactions between generations interesting and appealing to both young and older readers. The theme of adults being schooled by teenagers is also interesting. The journey metaphor and mix of old and young perspectives on life capture readers in the story. Readers appreciate the sweet, human, and surprising side to multigenerational relationships.

"Such an amazing novel of two journeys merging into one! Different ages, incomes, circumstances and characters. So beautiful and moving!..." Read more

"...CRH easily slips into the heart of each woman; age is no barrier to her clear perception, and she presents their feelings, beliefs..." Read more

"...The mix of old and young perspectives on life in the midst of trial captured me in the story. Recommend reading this book." Read more

"...This is a must read for anyone of any age who loves a great story and my very favorite Catherine Ryan Hyde book to date. Thank you Catherine!" Read more

93 customers mention "Humanness"93 positive0 negative

Customers find the book relatable and honest. They appreciate the author's ability to portray humanity through her storytelling. The story teaches about communication, honesty, and standing up for yourself. It explores relationships between people from different lives and how they learn to trust and care for one another. The adventures build reliance and trust as they struggle with their new lives. Overall, readers describe the book as a sweet and surprising tale about ordinary people.

"...I loved their trip up the coast, their learning to trust and care for one another and lessons learned along the way. Excellent writing!..." Read more

"...I love the way the author writes about family, friends, trust, betrayal, loyalty, love and hope...." Read more

"...She is honest, a vegan, and homesick. She manages to outwit a human sex trafficker and convinces Bea to help her...." Read more

"...It will keep you turning pages. It shows us the many sides of humanity and how circumstances can bring us together with people we would normally..." Read more

127 customers mention "Plot"67 positive60 negative

Customers find the plot unexpected and filled with twists and turns. They appreciate the drama, humor, and wisdom in the book. However, some readers feel the plot is less intriguing and one-dimensional. The story starts out quirky but soon becomes an adventure that they can't put down.

"...Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of...." Read more

"...This story is a bit dark, a bit fun, a bit awful and a bit hopeful...." Read more

"...Hyde for my honest review. The Genres of this novel are General Fiction(Adult)..." Read more

"...time it's over - I gave her only four stars because I felt the ending was too neat and not likely to have turned out that way in reality...." Read more

An Entertaining Adventure
5 out of 5 stars
An Entertaining Adventure
What a lovely surprise this book was! We first meet Bea a widow in her 70's who is the victim of a scam. We then meet Allie a 15 year old who has a great life; until she doesn't. Their worlds collide through a set of well timed circumstances and they set off together up the Western US Coast. Both are cautious but desperate and don't particularly like each other but we watch this relationship build and be tested more than once. I found myself rooting for the best possible outcome for these two wonderful characters.This is a story of survival and resilience simply written in a manner that is unrushed but perfectly paced and so descriptive I felt I was secretly riding along. Not one beautiful sentence is wasted or unnecessary. Once again I am reminded of what we can learn from young people if we aren't too busy to listen. And that we were all strangers before we met.A few important Social Issues are touched upon in this book but they are the not the focus of the story. They're what set off the chain of events that create the story and the links that weave it together that made me say "I could see that happening." Thought provoking, at times funny, thoroughly enjoyable right down to the Chapter Titles, I recommend this book to anyone 14 yrs and up who needs an adventure filled, feel good story that is easily readable. A very delightful read thank you Ms. Hyde, it was exactly what I needed at this time.I received this book as a gift from my Sister.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2017
    I was drawn to ALLIE AND BEA by its lovely cover and Catherine Ryan Hyde, a favorite writer. This is the story of an unlikely relationship that develops between an elderly woman and a teenager - two unforgettable characters, both of whom I grew to love.

    Bea, a widow in her seventies, lives with her cat in a trailer park near Palm Springs. She is paying bills and feeling relief that she has $427 left in her checking account. Then comes the phone call that changes her life. The caller, claiming to be an IRS agent, announces that Bea is in arrears for $300. Bea's reaction is sheer panic, and she quickly finds herself penniless.

    After realizing what has happened, Bea makes the unorthodox decision to use her old van as a camper and hit the road with her cat. She outfits the van as best she can with curtains, a cooler, and her recliner.

    Heading up the coast of California, Bea becomes a scammer to survive. She becomes fixated with smartphones as she watches people paying more attention to little screens than to their babies. A woman who has never committed a crime in her life, Bea comes up with a clever scheme, netting herself some cash.

    Allie, a 15-year-old, witnesses her parents being handcuffed and taken from their expensive home. Before she knows what is happening, she's in the system. Terrified of going to juvie, she is relieved to be placed in a group home. Her relief is short lived by her terrifying roommate, so she escapes with another resident. From the frying pan to the fire, she now is controlled by a sex trafficker who is driving her to San Francisco. She escapes, finds Bea and a relationship is born.

    Neither knows quite what to make of the other, but they share a goal. Up the coast they go, often spending the nights in parking lots. Because they are destitute, they return to Allie's house to retrieve items that can be sold. They are now on a mission to drive to the northernmost part of Washington.

    Always fearful of being caught, they are reluctant to socialize, but to their surprise, they continually meet kind strangers. Gradually this unlikely twosome takes on the characteristics of a loving grandmother and granddaughter on a vacation, and nobody thinks to question them.

    Parts of the journey are hilarious. I could picture Bea, somewhat panicky, trying to maneuver the sharp turns on the cliffs at Big Sur in her van, as cars piled up behind her. Allie is so afraid that the Highway Patrol will stop them for blocking traffic that she orders Bea to turn down a private drive. Who knew that they would find themselves in a sculpture garden with the sculptor himself?

    As they near their destination, they begin to wonder, as did I, what comes next. I was not disappointed!

    Catherine Ryan Hyde is an expert in character development. Allie and Bea are authentic, with all the facets of a teenager and an older woman. Their interactions are genuine, as is their growing love for each other. In lesser hands, this story could have been cloyingly overdone. Instead, I went on the adventure of a lifetime with two unforgettable women. I highly recommend ALLIE AND BEA to everyone who appreciates a story that constantly made me happy.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2024
    I really enjoyed this story of Allie and Bea. It was happy and sad at times and really made me feel for both characters.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025
    Such an amazing novel of two journeys merging into one! Different ages, incomes, circumstances and characters. So beautiful and moving! Keep your head up and keep believing!
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
    Enjoyable characters! The book kept a good pace and was fun to read.
    I would recommend to anyone looking for something lighter.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
    I loved this book so much. I’ve often thought about how terribly easy it is to slip into homelessness. I know it could happen to us. We seem to make it every month, sometimes just barely. But if something happened to us like what happened to Bea in the story, we could be in the same situation. It was interesting how Allie changed Bea’s outlook on life and how the people they met showed them that not all people are cruel. Both characters were so brave even though they were scared and didn’t think they could survive the trauma they were going through. It was very uplifting and gives a person hope that they could survive in tragic circumstances too.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2024
    far too true. This is really the PG rated version of what happens to young girls and women when they find themselves being trafficked into sexual slavery. That is NOT the main point of this book but it is the most jarring because it is an everyday fact of life that is almost never talked about. I can’t think of a single thing I hate more than what happens to those young women. I’m very much anti death penalty but for men who would do this, get them hooked on drugs, beat them, sell them, I’d make an exception. Because even if they get out alive somehow, those are not scars that ever heal. Scars on their very souls.

    I enjoyed the story of Allie and Bea though, two lost souls who find each other and learn slowly to trust, even love. Grandmother and granddaughter relationship but much closer than most of those are, shared trauma, shared dreams, out of necessity but their bond is real and I loved their adventure.

    Allie’s parents make a huge mistake which gets them both arrested and her into the foster care system where she barely avoids being trafficked, she is sold to a trafficker but escapes him with Bea’s mostly unwilling, to begin with, help. Bea has fallen victim to a scam many elders (and I am one) have, someone calls, claims to be from the IRS, she doesn’t know enough to verify that and by nightfall she is totally wiped out (didn’t have much to begin with) and homeless with only her husband’s old van to live in with a cranky 18 year old cat.

    She picks Allie up when she appears out of nowhere in front of her van just having run from the man she was sold to and so begins their story. I won’t go deeper into it than that but to say this was well written, both stories ARE things that actually do happen to older women and young girls, though this one has a happy ending. Far too many do not. Well worth reading.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Pat Robb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Allie and Bea, a surprisingly enjoyable Book
    Reviewed in Canada on January 24, 2025
    Both Bea and Allie have very difficult things happen to them and they felt so alone, but they found friend ship and trust in each other, and they learned a lot about themselves from that relationship!
    Great ending
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars I simply loved this story.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2024
    I had this on audio, although it failed after a while. The narration was good.
    The story kept my attention throughout.
    Both Bea and Allie were very well drawn and credible. Their developing relationship was fun, realistic, sparky and rather joyful.
    I couldn't help feeling concerned for the cat but she was having a good time with almost constant company. In that small van though, the odours.....!!
    Some touching interludes with brief encounters.
    Equally, some scary and brutal moments.
    The theme of mixing generations isn't new but is dependant on the authors approach and ability to create a credible and convincing relationship.
    This relationship more than ticked those criteria.
  • Kindle CustomerAmisha
    5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely book
    Reviewed in India on June 14, 2021
    A well written book about how a teenager and an old woman's paths cross and how they get along. I would recommend this book to everyone.
  • Amazon Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a "match"!
    Reviewed in Germany on August 14, 2019
    I really enjoyed reading Allie and Bea, as it is a story of two characters, who could not be any more different, coincidently run into each other and set out on a journey together that is pretty much doomed right from the start. But as they travel together they start to learn from one another. They begin to see the world from the eyes of their companion, and it makes them both so much richer. There is a lot of heart ache to feel with the two protagonists, but there is also so much hope. A must-read!
  • Mrs. J. Richmond
    5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful Coming of Age book
    Reviewed in Australia on May 9, 2018
    The protagonists in this novel are at opposite ends of the age spectrum, and neither at an age usually associated with the Coming of Age, but that's where they're at in this book.. This is a delightful story about two incongruous personalities on an equally incongruous life journey. The whole book only covers a short period of time, but because of the 'adventures' these two have, it seems much longer. The dialogue is fast-paced and witty, matching the characters perfectly. The characters themselves are very convincing and well crafted. It would be sad to suppose that the events portrayed in this book actually happen regularly in real life. I am sure they do, and we are all the better for being reminded of how good our lives are.

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