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themrshedrick816's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Cursing, Medical content, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Gore, Child death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Miscarriage, Death, Police brutality, and War
bringmybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: One of my favorite authors, Kristin Hannah continues to prove that she has an unbelievable way with words. It's unbelievable how quickly she sucks you into a novel and makes you care so much about all of the characters. There are parts of her books (especially her more recent ones) that are a bit melodramatic and require a bit of suspended disbelief, but to be honest I don't know that it bothers me so much.
While there is a bit of heightened drama on the interpersonal side, the research and care that Hannah provides to the historical aspects of her novels is top tier and so welcomed. I feel like I learned a ton about the Vietnam War that I was not aware of before (mostly the women's experience of it), and I was very grateful for this book so that I could do more of my own research.
I did really enjoy the characters in this novel, even when they're making the most piss poor decisions - but my favorite part of the novels, and pretty much all of Hannah's novels, is the way she writes relationships between women. I do think this book is her penultimate example of that, and the relationships between the Frankie and her two best friends will stick with me for a long time.
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ / 4.63
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★
Pacing ★★★★
Dialogue ★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Torture, Miscarriage, Murder, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Pregnancy, War, Alcoholism, Cancer, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Self harm, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
jeggert10's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: War, Toxic relationship, Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Cursing, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Abortion, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Police brutality, and Rape
esjackson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Car accident, Grief, Violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Gore, Gun violence, Cursing, Suicide, Addiction, Child death, Alcohol, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Vomit, War, and Self harm
Moderate: Classism, Vomit, and Cancer
Minor: Torture, Hate crime, Abortion, and Police brutality
chelse34's review against another edition
3.0
Hannah is an amazing story teller. I give her that. There were parts I enjoyed in the book and things I didn't. So 3 star average rating I'd say. Not my favorite book of hers, but not my least favorite.
Moderate: Medical trauma, Drug use, Addiction, Sexual content, Mental illness, War, Pregnancy, Child death, Car accident, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Death, Cursing, and Medical content
music_girl84's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Cursing, Death, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Torture, War, Blood, Deadnaming, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Animal death, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
ashfv's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Medical trauma, War, Addiction, Death, Cursing, Alcohol, Medical content, and Gore
carly_the_librarian's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What I liked:
- I especially enjoyed Part 1, set in Vietnam. It was fast paced mixed with war, hospital emergencies, and dramatic romance.
- I loved the friendship between Frankie, Barb, and Ethel.
- There were quite a few unexpected plot twists- especially with Rye!
What I didn't like:
- Part 2 was a harder read. I think it is an important part of the Vietnam veteran experience, so I see why it was important to include it. However, it was tough to see Frankie continually hurt herself and not catch a break for so long. I felt it was perhaps a bit too much at times.
- The romance in this book definitely kept me guessing, but there wasn't a satisfying end in my opinion. The storyline with Rye was heartbreaking. I didn't see their story ending the way that it did which made me feel for Frankie. I felt like the ending was hinting that she and Jamie might end up together, although I wish that had been solidified more. However, I do think that part of the character development for Frankie was learning to be happy on her own after letting romantic relationships affect her happiness for so long.
Graphic: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Addiction, Death, Grief, Medical content, Sexism, War, Alcohol, Gore, Infidelity, and Blood
Moderate: Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Car accident
Minor: Misogyny, Cursing, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
rowanelise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Infidelity, Grief, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Suicide, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, War, Drug use, Cursing, Death, Child death, and Alcoholism
alli_christi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Self harm, Alcohol, Gore, Infidelity, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, War, and Death
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Cursing
Minor: Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, and Cancer