Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

49 reviews

emilyacv's review against another edition

5.0

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

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Okay wow. This is womanhood!! This is female friendship! A story told through alternating perspectives of two best friends spanning decades. You see them fall in love, fight, thrive, struggle, learn hard lessons, and discover what truly matters at the end of the day: love. But love can take different forms and mean different things! That’s what I love about this book… it shows how two people can want different things and fill their cup in different ways, and yet the grass always seems greener on the other side. In the end, there isn’t one “right” choice. We see each best friend look at the other’s life and wonder if they made a mistake in their own. But at the end, Kate tells us that she’s satisfied. Looking back on her life, she remembers only love. The hard moments will never cancel out the love she shared with her friends and family. Thank you to this book for a reminder of what really matters <3 and a reminder to hug your besties 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Sexual assault

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Death of parent

vannahcabana's review against another edition

4.25

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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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! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol

bxnnny's review against another edition

3.0

emotional lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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this was a touching story about two very different girls who become best friends and go through the trials of life together into womanhood. at times, the story could get repetitive, particularly during tully's parts, and at other times, i felt like i was getting whiplash by how quickly the story moved forward. i kept anticipating when and what the big betrayal would be and it would never be what i thought it was going to be. issues would be brought up throughout the story but they would each ultimately be resolved by the next chapter and we'd be moving on to the next thing. that being said, i could appreciate the book moving so quickly considering the size of the book.

i really did not like tully. i felt sympathy for her at the beginning because i knew she had a troubled relationship with her mother, but as she grew up and became more and more selfish and ungrateful and emotionally stunted, i couldn't stand her. i feel like she had more potential but ended up just being extremely annoying and unlikeable and her sections of the story because repetitive fast. i was way more invested in kate's story and really just wanted her to be able to have the life she hoped for. but, alas...

i would say i overall enjoyed the book and shed some tears in those final chapters. BUT it could definitely be cliché and cheesy and over-the-top at times, it moved comically fast, and the big betrayal was... underwhelming.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction

alukasavitz's review against another edition

5.0

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Miscarriage, Rape, Death of parent, Pregnancy

Moderate: Mental illness

randeerebecca's review against another edition

5.0

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

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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

michaelawatkins's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Rape, Death of parent, War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Alcohol

sarahfeller's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol

sarah_amy's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny hopeful 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

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Loved following the friendship of Kate and Tully over several decades. It was very easy to get attached to them and their lives and to feel like a part of their world. I missed them both when I finished the book and have listened to it a couple of times since. A lot easier to follow than the TV series as events are chronological.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Rape, Terminal illness, Grief, Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Alcohol

princessdana36's review against another edition

5.0

emotional informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-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

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**sob** read with Kleenexes. I loved this book about female friendship. It was just such a great book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Abandonment

Moderate: Medical trauma

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful informative sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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What a fucking roller coaster ride. I laughed and I wept and did everything in between. Tully & Kate are lovable and detestable at the same time, which is to say they are human. The story arc is so pleasant. The subtle nods to different music was a nice bonus for me as a music lover. The end is devastating, though, so prepare with loads of tissues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment