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challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book follows the friendship journey of Tully and Kate. Covering decades of their lives, it shows their path of ups and downs. I wouldn’t consider this an “easy read” as it’s more of an emotional rollercoaster. I don’t really cry reading books but this one definitely made me tear up in the last few chapters with its focus on family and friendship. I’ve never read a Kristin Hannah book, but I will certainly be looking for more of her books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book. It is between a 4 and a 4.5. I think this was a wonderful depiction of life, of grief, of love and of family and friends.
The characters were very realistic - meaning quite stupid and annoying from time to time.
It is a book that really makes you think about life, how important relationships are, dreams and wants, and how fragile it all is.
The last 30 pages I was sobbing my eyes out... and I definitely think the last 100 or 150 pages were the strongest in the book.
I will be reading the second book, but I need some time to recover from this first...
The characters were very realistic - meaning quite stupid and annoying from time to time.
It is a book that really makes you think about life, how important relationships are, dreams and wants, and how fragile it all is.
The last 30 pages I was sobbing my eyes out... and I definitely think the last 100 or 150 pages were the strongest in the book.
I will be reading the second book, but I need some time to recover from this first...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Terminal illness, Grief, Abandonment
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Pregnancy
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not me reading an almost 500 page book in 1,5 day. Also not me bawling my eyes out for the last 80 pages.
I had watched the series when it came out and really enjoyed it, so that got me buying the book. Because I watched the series first though, I couldn't really imagine the characters to be anything other than they were in the series, which always feels like a bummer.
All in all, a story that is entertaining enough without becoming to deep. I doubt that I would've picked it up before having seen the series though, but it was better than expected.
I had watched the series when it came out and really enjoyed it, so that got me buying the book. Because I watched the series first though, I couldn't really imagine the characters to be anything other than they were in the series, which always feels like a bummer.
All in all, a story that is entertaining enough without becoming to deep. I doubt that I would've picked it up before having seen the series though, but it was better than expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Rape
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a book about friendship and womanhood , motherhood and life. It's a must read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Throughout the book, I enjoyed it but felt like the whole plot was centered around such a cliche - that woman have to choose between a family or a career, and that’s all there is to life. It was hard for me to get past sometimes, as well as how genuinely dumb Tully could be. She was such a selfish, bad friend at times it wasn’t even believable
However there are a few redeeming factors for me in this book that ultimately had it good:
I think how she wrote about Kate and Marah’s relationship was beautiful and real and heartbreaking, and I ultimately think this book is about motherhood. And the last 50ish pages of this book really strengthened it for me - how she wrote about grief and cancer and death was so well done and poignant and devastating
However there are a few redeeming factors for me in this book that ultimately had it good:
I think how she wrote about Kate and Marah’s relationship was beautiful and real and heartbreaking, and I ultimately think this book is about motherhood. And the last 50ish pages of this book really strengthened it for me - how she wrote about grief and cancer and death was so well done and poignant and devastating
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Rape
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records. In January 2021, I kick-started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children only reading when on holiday, having previously being an avid reader. About love loss and friendship, between two wonderful women Tully and Kate. I loved this one, and enjoy this authors writing style. I'll certainly consider reading more of her books and I notice there is a sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Rape
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Miscarriage, Rape, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Moderate: Mental illness
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Abandonment
Minor: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, War
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"They had the music and the memories, and in those, they would always, always be together."
Firefly Lane was a beautiful, relatable, and all too realistic novel about friendship, motherhood, and family. Tully and Kate are two friends who become inseparable in their childhood and the novel follows them through high school, college, jobs, and motherhood.
Seeing female friendship so rawly portrayed was quite lovely. No matter what Kate and Tully stuck it out through their friendship and you knew that they had a deep love for each other (even if they did not say it out loud).
Kate ends up becoming a stay-at-home mom while Tully solely focuses on her career in news and broadcast journalism. The paths they both take are very different but it is interesting to see how both crave more even with their differences.
I thought the portrayal of motherhood was gut-wrenching. Kate and her daughter Marah start to have issues once she reaches her teen years, a common issue I would say when your child goes through adolescence. You give everything to your children only for them to disrespect you and not apologize for their actions. Many times though coming out of adolescence and as we grow older we begin to be friends with our parents and the relationship changes.
"Please God, she prayed, let me get old enough that someday we're friends."
An aspect of the novel that frustrated me was how Tully tried to be a friend to Marah instead of being a friend to Kate. This frustrated me but then again it also made me sad because we know that Tully did not have a good relationship with her mother and so she is seeking from Marah her idolization and respect. Tully as a character, in general, seemed to frustrate me and towards the end of the novel when I had figured out what was going to happen I felt sad for Kate. Luckily though we see Tully finally apologize for her actions (after never actually taking responsibility for her actions or apologizing pretty much her entire life) at the end of the novel which was great character development.
Overall, the last third of this book had me shedding silent tears and thinking deeply about life and how we choose to go about it. Kristin Hannah always seems to tug on my heart strings.
Firefly Lane was a beautiful, relatable, and all too realistic novel about friendship, motherhood, and family. Tully and Kate are two friends who become inseparable in their childhood and the novel follows them through high school, college, jobs, and motherhood.
Seeing female friendship so rawly portrayed was quite lovely. No matter what Kate and Tully stuck it out through their friendship and you knew that they had a deep love for each other (even if they did not say it out loud).
Kate ends up becoming a stay-at-home mom while Tully solely focuses on her career in news and broadcast journalism. The paths they both take are very different but it is interesting to see how both crave more even with their differences.
I thought the portrayal of motherhood was gut-wrenching. Kate and her daughter Marah start to have issues once she reaches her teen years, a common issue I would say when your child goes through adolescence. You give everything to your children only for them to disrespect you and not apologize for their actions. Many times though coming out of adolescence and as we grow older we begin to be friends with our parents and the relationship changes.
"Please God, she prayed, let me get old enough that someday we're friends."
An aspect of the novel that frustrated me was how Tully tried to be a friend to Marah instead of being a friend to Kate. This frustrated me but then again it also made me sad because we know that Tully did not have a good relationship with her mother and so she is seeking from Marah her idolization and respect. Tully as a character, in general, seemed to frustrate me and towards the end of the novel when I had figured out what was going to happen I felt sad for Kate. Luckily though we see Tully finally apologize for her actions (after never actually taking responsibility for her actions or apologizing pretty much her entire life) at the end of the novel which was great character development.
Overall, the last third of this book had me shedding silent tears and thinking deeply about life and how we choose to go about it. Kristin Hannah always seems to tug on my heart strings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Miscarriage, Rape, Terminal illness, Grief, War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts