A review by erinreadsbooks
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is heavy. Please read content warnings before beginning this one. 

My experience reading Leni’s journey through adolescence and into adulthood was harrowing, shocking, revolting, and frustrating. I felt all of these things but I did care about all the people in Leni’s life
except for Ernt
, which kept me riveted, hoping for everyone to end up happy. Although I didn’t feel like I truly knew Leni as a person, the one thing I knew for certain was that she valued those she loved. This was her core belief throughout her story and the author does a fantastic job of making you care for those people as well. The amount of time you get to spend seeing Leni’s loved ones through her eyes makes every twist and turn absolutely heart-wrenching and fraught with emotion. This book was never boring and it’s one of those stories that, upon finishing, you will need to lie down and just contemplate for a bit, exhausted but satisfied. 

Read if you like emotional, terrifyingly believable stories about survival and family. 
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