leckner_library's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
kaleysfullybooked's review against another edition
4.0
I had too many late nights reading this book. It was hard to put down!! I’m only giving it 4 stars because I like other books of her’s better BUT I recommend anyone to read this before the Netflix mini series comes out. I do see why they’re turning it into a show though. It’ll make great TV. Once again, Kristin Hannah breaks my heart ♥️
jessicafacchinigould's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
beabeareads's review against another edition
Read 300 pages and then DNF bc I can’t focus right now!
booklover28's review against another edition
3.0
This is an endearing story about family, especially mothers and daughters, and best friends. In the summer of 1974 at fourteen years old, Kate and Tully met and became inseparable and "Best Friends Forever." They mapped their whole lives out, planning to always be together. They vowed even through hard times to never let anything come between them. Through decades they held onto that promise (even if it was a struggle at points), through ambitious Tully's rise to fame and loving Kate's growing family, until one final breaking point.
This story examines how much hurt can a relationship withstand before breaking? It makes you want to call your mother and apologize for everything you said to her as a teenager. It also makes you want to call your best friend and recall some fond memories. This is a great book to share with a group of girlfriends, which is exactly what I will be doing!
This story examines how much hurt can a relationship withstand before breaking? It makes you want to call your mother and apologize for everything you said to her as a teenager. It also makes you want to call your best friend and recall some fond memories. This is a great book to share with a group of girlfriends, which is exactly what I will be doing!
but_then_you_read's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5
I was not a fan of this book. The only reason I'm even giving it 2.5* is because Kristin Hannah is a good writer. Normally I prefer writing over everything, but in this case that wasn't enough. Here were my three main problems:
1. I found every single character (except maybe Johnny) to be unlikeable, and the relationships seemed extremely forced and disingenuous. For a book that's literally about the 30-year friendship of two women, that's a real issue. You need more to develop a lifelong friendship than what Tully and Kate had: the fact that there simply was no one else. Most of the time they don't even seem to like each other very much.
2. This happens right at the beginning of the book, and I also think there needs to be some kind of trigger warning, so I won't tag this review as a spoiler. I apologize if you accidentally read it without wanting to. Here's the issue: the rape. I'm not against using sexual assault as a plot point, as long as it is handled with the care it needs. This did NOT. In any way whatsoever. It only existed as a means of pushing Tully to confide in Kate. As soon as it served this purpose, it was over with, and the only other time it was mentioned was in a very off-handed way, like how someone might mention how they lost their beloved childhood stuffed animal or something. It doesn't sit well with me at all.
3. The ending. Not the conclusion per se, but how long it took to get there, and how much it detracted from the theme. This was supposed to be a book about a friendship, and while it is entirely relevant to see how a health issue can affect a friendship, this took it way beyond. The final quarter of the book was based purely on this. If I wanted to read a book about this topic, I wouldn't have picked this one up. Also, it was a cheap way to resolve Tully and Kate's fight, without actually having to give either of them any kind of character development and actually resolve it properly.
That's the end of my review. Writing it made me realize I was way too generous with the 2.5*. More of a 1.5 really.
I was not a fan of this book. The only reason I'm even giving it 2.5* is because Kristin Hannah is a good writer. Normally I prefer writing over everything, but in this case that wasn't enough. Here were my three main problems:
1. I found every single character (except maybe Johnny) to be unlikeable, and the relationships seemed extremely forced and disingenuous. For a book that's literally about the 30-year friendship of two women, that's a real issue. You need more to develop a lifelong friendship than what Tully and Kate had: the fact that there simply was no one else. Most of the time they don't even seem to like each other very much.
2. This happens right at the beginning of the book, and I also think there needs to be some kind of trigger warning, so I won't tag this review as a spoiler. I apologize if you accidentally read it without wanting to. Here's the issue: the rape. I'm not against using sexual assault as a plot point, as long as it is handled with the care it needs. This did NOT. In any way whatsoever. It only existed as a means of pushing Tully to confide in Kate. As soon as it served this purpose, it was over with, and the only other time it was mentioned was in a very off-handed way, like how someone might mention how they lost their beloved childhood stuffed animal or something. It doesn't sit well with me at all.
3. The ending. Not the conclusion per se, but how long it took to get there, and how much it detracted from the theme. This was supposed to be a book about a friendship, and while it is entirely relevant to see how a health issue can affect a friendship, this took it way beyond. The final quarter of the book was based purely on this. If I wanted to read a book about this topic, I wouldn't have picked this one up. Also, it was a cheap way to resolve Tully and Kate's fight, without actually having to give either of them any kind of character development and actually resolve it properly.
That's the end of my review. Writing it made me realize I was way too generous with the 2.5*. More of a 1.5 really.
jpartlan's review against another edition
5.0
loved this book. it was a great book on the lasting friendships we can have that are so special.
vanloonjfv's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just loved the story of Tully & Kate. What a one of a kind friendship. I love a good tearjerker and am pretty sure I cried my way through the last 100 pages. Kristen Hannah just never disappoints.
erincharp's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the story of Tully and Kate. The last few chapters had me in tears. I can’t wait to read the next one.
kellycoburn37's review against another edition
5.0
KRISTEN HANNAH I AM HEARTBROKEN!!!!
For some reason I thought that I wouldn’t like this book. I was nervous to read it because The Great Alone and The Nightingale are two of my all time favorite books and I was scared it wouldn’t live up. I WAS WRONG. Kristen Hannah knows what she is doing. I love her writing style and all of the details she puts into her books.
AND THE CHARACTERS!!!!! I feel so connected to the characters in this book. I didn’t think a story about friendship could be so wonderful. I was sobbing by the end of this book. I should have known that Kristen Hannah would do that to them...I simply should have known.
This is definitely going to stick with me. I feel like now that I have read and adored 3 KH books, I need to read all of her books.
For some reason I thought that I wouldn’t like this book. I was nervous to read it because The Great Alone and The Nightingale are two of my all time favorite books and I was scared it wouldn’t live up. I WAS WRONG. Kristen Hannah knows what she is doing. I love her writing style and all of the details she puts into her books.
AND THE CHARACTERS!!!!! I feel so connected to the characters in this book. I didn’t think a story about friendship could be so wonderful. I was sobbing by the end of this book. I should have known that Kristen Hannah would do that to them...I simply should have known.
This is definitely going to stick with me. I feel like now that I have read and adored 3 KH books, I need to read all of her books.