Helpful Score: 3
This book made me cry! I could not put it down! Amazing story that seems so realistic. I can tell the author spent alot of time researching with this story. A must read!!
Helpful Score: 2
This was my first book by Kristen Hannah and I have to say I was by no means disappointed. Exactly the opposite really. The cover of this beautiful book is enough to draw you in but after reading the summary on the back I had to read it. Kristen Hannah did an amazing job with this book. I felt as if I was there and the connection I had with these charaters (each one on a personal and emotional level) was so real to me. The story portrayed through her words on these pages was nothing short of amazing. After reading and even during I felt closer some how to my military life in which I honestly barely know. This book gave me an eye opener and dared me to ask questions to my husband that normally I would never have asked. Don't get me wrong this book is not by any means just for military families. I believe everyone could benefit from seeing the points of views portrayed by the charaters and seeing how this story unfolds. I will admitt I shed so many tears while reading. It seems like almost every page had me emotionally. But don't let that scare you, this book is well work any tissues you might go through. :)
Marilyn M. (IndulgeYourself) -
Helpful Score: 2
Kristin Hannah fans will not be disappointed with this book. You will get so involved with all the characters and get a realistic insight into being at war and the aftermath the soldiers live through once they are back home. I cried throughout the whole book as I felt for all the characters. Very good story. I highly recommend!
Helpful Score: 1
As always, Kristin Hannah's writing and characterization is fabulous in this new novel. If you want to know what serving in Iraq is like, this book will teach you. It is not a book to read in public, as you'll find yourself crying over and over again. That being said, I couldn't finish it. It was, in a word, Depressing. Even before the war, you have a wife with a terrible past. She has a "happy go lucky" attitude now, but it just seems fake. You have a husband who hates his life and his marriage, and who doesn't even support his military wife. Their teenage daughter is moody, mean, and just lost. Even the cute little 4 yr old cries too much and goes "invisible" when she's sad. Which is often. The only positive character is the mother in law, but even she has her demons. The reader is dealing with all of this negativity, and then the wife goes off to war. Now it gets really depressing. While I appreciate Hannah realistically describing war, it's not a book to read to escape. Couldn't there be just one bright spot in this book? I read about half of it, and then skipped to the end. It was too much of a downer for me.
Helpful Score: 1
I picked this book up ad read it cold, I had NO IDEA what it was about or anything. I can say I have never had a book touch me so much. I was so emotional, I felt the emotions of every character. I was mad,sad, loyal, angry, scared, it as amazing how you get drawn into the feelings of each charater. GREAT job.
