"Maybe time didn't heal wounds exactly, but it gave you a kind of armor, or a new perspective. A way to remember with a smile instead of a sob"
- Kristin Hannah, Night Road
Review by Chase
Book Synopsis:
For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children's needs above her own, and it shows - her twins, Mia and Zach, are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia's best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.
Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm's way. It has always been easy - until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time Mia and Zach leave the house, she worries about them.
On a hot summer's night her worst fears are realized. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget...or the courage to forgive.
General Review:
I picked this book up shortly after it's release based strictly on the cover. The blues and the fact that I couldn't see the girl's face really appealed to me. It was my first Kristin Hannah novel and I was pleasantly surprised. The story was original and I felt that I could relate to all of the major characters. My one criticism with the book is that I felt that the ending was a little rushed. It didn't allow adequate time for the events to sink in before it was over. After reading this book, I have now read more Kristin Hannah novels but this one still remains my favorite. I passed it on to Kathren after I finished it and she fell in love with it also. The book is considered an "adult" novel but I don't think that any Young Adult would find it difficult or unsuitable to read.
Plot:
As I stated above, the plot is very original. I can't give away too much of the plot without spoiling anything but there are a few highlights. June represents a perfect example of helicopter parents. Now, my mother was never involved my school activities but I did know people who had parents more involved in school than they are. I think it's becoming a big problem with many kids so I enjoyed a book that pointed out this fact. Also, the relationship between Zach and Lexi was also fresh. It's nice to read a book that has love between two characters instead of the overused love-triangle in many books. Overall, the plot is very fast paced. There were no real moments where I felt the book dragging.
Characters:
The characters of this novel were very believable. I found myself thinking about them even after I had finished the book, which is not a common occurrence. As a teenager, I thought that it would be hard to relate to June but I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. The characters are very well thought out and they grow as the book progresses, which I always find refreshing.
Final Thoughts:
This is a great and quick read and I strongly urge people to read it. If you have read previous Kristin Hannah books, this is another wonderful novel from her. But, if you're like me and had no previous experience with Mrs. Hannah, this is the perfect book to start with.
General Review:
I picked this book up shortly after it's release based strictly on the cover. The blues and the fact that I couldn't see the girl's face really appealed to me. It was my first Kristin Hannah novel and I was pleasantly surprised. The story was original and I felt that I could relate to all of the major characters. My one criticism with the book is that I felt that the ending was a little rushed. It didn't allow adequate time for the events to sink in before it was over. After reading this book, I have now read more Kristin Hannah novels but this one still remains my favorite. I passed it on to Kathren after I finished it and she fell in love with it also. The book is considered an "adult" novel but I don't think that any Young Adult would find it difficult or unsuitable to read.
Plot:
As I stated above, the plot is very original. I can't give away too much of the plot without spoiling anything but there are a few highlights. June represents a perfect example of helicopter parents. Now, my mother was never involved my school activities but I did know people who had parents more involved in school than they are. I think it's becoming a big problem with many kids so I enjoyed a book that pointed out this fact. Also, the relationship between Zach and Lexi was also fresh. It's nice to read a book that has love between two characters instead of the overused love-triangle in many books. Overall, the plot is very fast paced. There were no real moments where I felt the book dragging.
Characters:
The characters of this novel were very believable. I found myself thinking about them even after I had finished the book, which is not a common occurrence. As a teenager, I thought that it would be hard to relate to June but I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. The characters are very well thought out and they grow as the book progresses, which I always find refreshing.
Final Thoughts:
This is a great and quick read and I strongly urge people to read it. If you have read previous Kristin Hannah books, this is another wonderful novel from her. But, if you're like me and had no previous experience with Mrs. Hannah, this is the perfect book to start with.
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