Second Hand Heart

By: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam, Anthony Bowden

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

By the best-selling author of Don't Let Me Go and Pay It Forward, Second Hand Heart is a devastating and unexpected story of love and loss--of learning to live for the first time and learning to live all over again. Vida is only 19, but she knows a lot about dying. Her weak heart has kept her on the edge of death her whole life. It hasn't been much of a life. Thanks to her overprotective mother, Vida's only friend is Esther, an elderly Holocaust survivor who lives upstairs. Vida's heart is finally about to give out unless she can get a donor heart in time. Richard is 36 and blissfully married until he gets the call that his beloved wife has died in a car accident. His world falls to pieces. When Richard is invited to the hospital to meet the young woman who received his wife's donor heart, he goes, even though he's entirely not ready for it. Vida takes one look at Richard and feels she's known and loved him all her life. Richard is horrified by her reaction and thinks Vida is just a sheltered and confused young woman. As Vida and Richard struggle to define themselves in circumstances neither ever thought they'd face, both begin to wonder if it's possible that cellular memory, the idea that memories can be stored in individual cells, might actually be real. Could Vida's heart retain some of the love Richard's wife felt? Can a heart remember, at least for a time, on its own?

©2011 Catherine Ryan Hyde (P)2015 Audible Inc.

not one of her best books....I love her stories

I love her writing, she writes books that the stories and characters stick with you. Unfortunately this story was disappointing, itnwill be forgotten quickly.

2nd hand heart

Thank you for this story Catherine Ryan hide.. Every time I think about listening to one of your books I smile. The story of Richard and Vida is it's sweet and Literally touches your heart. Thanks for taking us to the Grand Canyon again. I live in Arizona and I've only been once shame on me lol. As the mom of a special needs child I can feel the pain of letting go.

Disappointed

I was excited to read another of this author’s books but it took some time to get into the story. It got somewhat better, but not nearly as good as her other books. As far as the audio: The woman’s voice was good, but a man should not try to do a woman’s voice. Since there is two readers it would have been better to go by voice and not by chapter. I cringed on the chapters read by the man.

The story

Story 10 Vida on point 10 Richard too dry 5 .5 Enjoyable and yet refreshing.

Good, but not my fav

This book was good, but I had to double check to make sure it really was a Catherine Ryan Hyde book. I expect more from her books than what this book gave me. It had a good premise, but the story was a bit disappointing, even kind of weird at times. I Still love this author and will continue reading her books!!

Too Depressing

I have listened to many of this authors books. I like them because overall there is less drama in them than most and because they are positive and uplifting. In my opinion people need stories that are mostly positive. We are all too familiar with the drama and struggle life poses. Ninety-five percent of this book was drama and struggle.

Not up to usual standard.

Generally find her books compelling. Not this one. Characters were not realistic and very flat.

Great as usual

I’m so glad I ignored the negative reviews. I think all of this author’s books are so original. This one had me captivated.

Loved the book

well worth the read. started slow, several twists, but very good. Like this author. Very good.

Khristineand and Anthony's

I loved this story I wish it hadn't ended thank you Chatherine thank you for another great book. can't wait for the book. Thank you