Firefly Lane: A Novel

Kristin Hannah is an exquisite writer! Many of her books bring tears, at least for me, but somehow this one (which evolved into a series) touched me very, very much. Great characters, wonderful settings, and a complex but absorbing story. Two girls who live across the street from each other in Snohomish, WA, not far from Seattle, are very different--one has everything she could want, and the other has almost nothing. One has a family, one has an aged aunt, who dies, leaving her the owner of property she can't live in because she's too young to live alone legally. Kate's family takes her in. Tully is complex and driven, wanting a big life that can fulfill all her wishes to become someone important. Kate, who is a cared for and loved child, is not too sure of what she wants. So, she follows Tully into a plan for college and working together and being lifelong friends. How that plan plays out is what makes the book so readable and wonderful.

When I began reading "Fire Fly Lane," I almost tossed it aside as fodder for another chick flick. It was a book club assignment; no need to torture myself. But I gave it a second chance and discovered a poignant story of a lifelong friendship between two women beginning when they were teenagers and following the ups and downs that most people face in one form or another. The effects of family dynamics on how children develop and handle the vagaries of life show the differences between Kate and Tully and their choices of life styles, their values, and what they contribute to their relationship and relationships with others. Tully's mother deserts her at birth, then drifts in and out of her life, each time heaping devastation on her. The one constant is her grandmother, who raised her most of her life. In contrast, Kate is raised in a loving family. Tully never overcame the scars of childhood, even though Kate's family took her in and treated her as one of their own. They were, however, primarily responsible for her success in life, though that success came at great personal cost, and almost finished off her friendship with Kate. The strong work ethic she developed over time paid off in a big way Tully's dream was to become a reporter and eventually a network news anchor. She planned her life and Kate's, too. They were to be the dream team dream. Bigger than life Tully dragged an increasingly ambivalent Kate along, setting the stage for a life of disappointment and betrayal for Kate as Tully became taken by the story at the expense of the subjects. She became more successful as she vied for the man Kate loved. Through Kate's meteoric rise to fame, she unabashedly used Kate for a story with no regard for feelings, seriously jepordizing the friendship. Each time, Tully talked Kate into taking her back--never apologizing and somehow turning it around so that Kate was the one apologizing instead of Tully. One thing Kate never forgot, however, was that Tully was once involved with her husband. And that strand of uncertainty threads through the story, appears and disappears. Tully never changes, never apologizes for who she is. Then a sudden twist turns all their lives upside down. All the old fears and insecurities rise to the surface. Tully is thrown together with Kate and her family. Kate's daughter, who idolizes Tully, causes problems when Tully, her godmother, lavishes expensive gifts on her and disagrees with Kate over discipline issues. The result is powerful and tears at the very fabric of their lives. These old insecurities Tully has from childhood are met with a Kate who no longer stays in the background but stands up to her. The explosive ending changes everything and forces them to reassess their lives and what they all mean to each other. The characters are three dimensional and believable reflect reflection of life. Everyone can identify with something in the book. The pathos of growing up in Tully's home, the contrasting loving home in which Kate grew up. The give and take--the mostly take on Tully's side and her neediness. The choices each of them made and the cost in life terms because of those choices. "Firefly Lane" explores the inner depth of the human spirit and the strength it has when dealt a bad hand--the resilience of the spirit, and the strength of friendship when tested under the worst of circumstances. For this, I recommend it as a five star read. Give it a chance. If you put it down too soon, you'll miss out on a truly heart rending commentary on human feelings and emotions--the ability to sieze the best and find that that extrordinary fount of courage within to handle the worst that life throws at us. I am glad I kept reading. When I neared the end, I had to put it down for several days before I could finish it. Without realizing it, I had made an emotional investment in the characters and needed time to step back for awhile. That was a first. Something about "Firefly Lane" resonated in me.

I really enjoyed this book. Being just a few years older than the main characters, I could relate well to all of the incidents, songs, and language of the time. It’s a pretty big book with 479 pages. At times, I felt like some of it was just “ unnecessary filler”, in order to make the story longer. The reason I give it just four stars instead of five is because I didn’t really care for the ending of the book. The ending was very lackluster and abrupt. I kind of felt let down by the ending because it was such a thick book, it took me several days to read it. And then a lackluster ending. But all in all, I really enjoyed it. Also, the book had a big crease in it when I received it and about the first 1/3 of the book, the pages were bent where the crease was. That made it a little harder to deal with and also less than pristine condition when I received it. Books cost so much nowadays, I felt like I didn’t get my moneys worth with a big dent in the book.

Leave it to Kristin Hannah to leave me laughing then crying all within the pages of one book, again! Firefly Lane was a trip down memory lane for me. I grew up and was the exact age Kate and Tully were in 1974, so the songs, the lingo, the clothes and the times were all my memories brought back to life. My thoughts and feelings were all over the place while I read this wonderful book. The seventies were a crazy, mixed up time to be a teen and Hannah brought it to life again brilliantly. I could almost feel the angst of my teen years all over again and the despair of not being old enough, but thinking I was so grown up! Tully and Kate couldn't be more different, but when Tully moves in across the street from Kate in 1974 Kate's world will never be the same. Kate is not in the popular group, which as you know is a death sentence in middle school. Tully is new to town and she's different, which makes her a novelty and an instant popular girl. Kate is curious and watches her house with wonder. One night purely by accident after a tragic event Tully runs into Kate and they strike up a conversation. Tully shares her traumatic incident with Kate and the bond of friendship is formed with the secret. They are now and forever best friends and become known as TullyandKate. Kate's mom is a typical stay at home mom who works hard to keep her children on the right path. She's always doing what's best for her children and worries Tully may be a bad influence on her daughter. Tully's mom is an alcoholic and drug addict who barely knows her daughter exists. Tully has no relationship with her and is shuffled back and forth to her grandmother's house whenever her mom decides to just leave, with no explanation. Tully is always hoping for more from her mom, but her mom doesn't have the capacity to care. Kate's family eventually rushes in to help Tully and opens up her world to what family really means. The two girls, now women go their separate ways after college. Tully is all about her career in journalism and gaining fame and wealth, Kate on the other hand enjoys writing, but quietly wants love, marriage and children, not the most popular choice for women in the 80's, but it is what it is. She begins working with Tully in the journalism field, but her heart is not in it. Tully goes on to become a national star in the news world and Kate settle down to become a wonderful wife and mother, with all the challenges and joys that brings. This book really got to me. I don't cry over books, until now. I saw myself so much in this book it was scary. I was a fourteen year old, as Tully and Kate were in 1974 when the world seemed so hard for a teen, when every decision seemed to be so big and came with such consequences that you second guessed every one. The songs Hannah mentioned, the foods she brought up and even the language the girls spoke were the ones I knew and spoke myself. I had a best friend that I got into "trouble" with, I drove my mother to distraction, I pushed every limit and I survived. I'm sorry to say I lost contact with my best friend after college, but this was part of the reason for my tears. I missed out on the rest of what could have been a lifetime of memories with her. I did reach out to her on FB after I read the book, still waiting to hear back. Another amazing part of the book, for me anyway is the unsung heroes, stay at home moms! If you've raised a teen daughter or are in the process of doing so, CONGRATULATIONS! When my daughter was a teen I was sure she was abducted by aliens and replaced with a being I did not know! It was the most challenging time of motherhood for me. I worked full time while raising children, but I admire women who choose to be full time moms, I couldn't do it. It's ten times harder than going to work everyday! They all deserve medals and hazard pay! If you've ever had a best friend who has been there through thick and thin, has been your secret keeper, your dance partner, or even your therapist this one is for you. If you've raised a teen girl and think it's just you or your daughter, this one's for you. And if you want a book that will take you on a journey through every emotion you can feel, this one's for you. It's a masterpiece of love, friendship, family, hardship, redemption and hope and I loved every single word. I've loved Kristin Hannah for years and always find her books to be moving, with each one better than the last. This one really got to me and I can't wait to read the sequel! It was so fitting that I finished it on the first day of the new year, it just seemed like the perfect look back on my memories to get a better understanding of why I am who I am in this time and I am reminded that I too was once a teenage girl who drove her mother nuts! Happy Reading!

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah spans three decades, focusing on the power of friendship between two women, Tully Hart and Kate Mularkey. Both women are complete opposites, living different types of lives, yet vow to be best friends forever. The book was published in 2008, and season 1 of the Netflix series came out in 2021. I will only be talking about the book version since both are quite different, but you should check both versions out for yourself. Let me be frank; this story has made me cry on multiple occasions. Entertainment: star During all three time periods, you will feel entertained. I like that Hannah used real-life experiences and made them effective for the reader to get lost in another reality. In every part of Tully and Kate's adventures, I feel like I am with them, silently watching as a background character. I am engrossed in the story and dialogue when they're kids riding bikes, dancing at a bar, or going through a heated argument. Characters: star Kristin Hannah put her strongest effort into crafting believable, in-depth characters. Tully and Kate have likable qualities while also showing unlikeable moments, which I feel is very human. Personally, I like Kate much more than I do Tully, but qualities of Tully I'm able to see in myself. Both of the main characters stay true to who they are while gradually growing and developing through the years. Plot: star The plot of Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah tells a cohesive story through the lives of the two main protagonists. It starts in the 70s, then makes its way through the 80s and 90s to finish the reader with the early 2000s. The sequence of events makes perfect sense. The story is always moving forward. Change occurs after each chapter. Technically, there are plot twists in this novel, and each time they are gut-wrenching. Writing Style: star The only critique I can come up with for Firefly Lane is once in a while, the point of view can be cloudy (mom pun not intended). The chapters don't have character names like other novels. One moment you are reading about Kate, and then the next paragraph in the same chapter can flip to Tully's point of view. It isn't super confusing for the most part, but something that I think is worth noting. Everything else about the author's sentence flow and word choice in the book is magnificent. Finished Product: star Reading through almost five hundred pages, I did not catch one editing mistake. The design of the book not only makes sense to the story but is beautifully done. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is the perfect book to snuggle under blankets in bed or next to a fireplace and read for hours. Let Me Be Frank Rating for Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah 5 out of 5 stars Regardless of Frank's rating, you should check out the book for yourself: Firefly Lane: A Novel: Hannah, Kristin: 9780312537074: Amazon.com: Books Be sure to check out all of Frank's other book ratings: Book Reviews Archives - Frank Anthony (letmebefrankanthony.com)

“Firefly Lane” is another excellent read from Kristin Hannah. This tells the story of 2 girls who become best friends for life and how their lives unfold. They are teenagers when their friendship begins and they each have something in their lives that precludes their being the most popular girl in school. They plan their lives together and take the same majors in college. Ultimately their lives go in different directions but their friendship remains strong. I loved the book, and I always enjoy works by Kristin Hannah.

i have to be honest - i don't like chick lit or chick flicks, and yet, here, i found myself really enjoying a book that was clearly written for and about girlfriends, mothers, and daughters. it was so blatantly girly, and in the most honest of ways, that i couldn't turn away and just dismiss it like i normally would have. on the surface, this is a book about two girls, Kate and Tully, who were worlds apart in background and personality, and yet both lonely and fragile in their ...more i have to be honest - i don't like chick lit or chick flicks, and yet, here, i found myself really enjoying a book that was clearly written for and about girlfriends, mothers, and daughters. it was so blatantly girly, and in the most honest of ways, that i couldn't turn away and just dismiss it like i normally would have. on the surface, this is a book about two girls, Kate and Tully, who were worlds apart in background and personality, and yet both lonely and fragile in their own ways. when Tully and her drug-addicted mom moved in across the street, they became TullyandKate, inseparably close. Tully was beautiful, carefree and confident, but with the hidden conviction that she wasn't good enough. that was the only seemingly reasonable explanation for why her mother couldn't stick around for more than a couple months, forcing her back to her grandmothers home time and time again. at times childish, and always selfish, Tully's character could definitely be irksome, but her drive and focus was so appreciable, that it was difficult to not like her at least some of the time. Kate was a quiet, honest country girl with the perfect family, but with the average sort of looks that got her sidelined in the popularity contests of life. despite their friendship, she was constantly in the shadow of Tully, which served as a constant reminder that she wasn't good enough. her character was naive, but persistent, with a firm belief in love and good things, and was instantly likable, despite her misgivings. the two girls secretly envied each other and that ultimately brought them even closer together. through the decades, high school, onto college, jobs, boyfriends - no matter what life dished out, they stuck with their mantra to be there for each other, no matter what. although the plot revolves around these two girls, the real beauty comes when Hannah takes time to reflect on their vastly differing relationships with their mothers, their careers, and eventually the men of their lives. she writes with a simplicity that many have criticized as lacking depth, but i didn't find that to be true. granted, it isn't a literary award winning book, but Hannah does write well. the honesty and emotion that exists between the characters is anything but shallow, and despite the fact that the girls-become-women never really outgrow some of their childish mannerisms, i wasn't put off at all. i've left a lot of details of this review to avoid spoilers, but there really is just so much beauty that happens between the two covers of this book that i would recommend it to any woman out there. just be sure to bring your tissue for this one. "That was the thing about best friends. Like sisters and mothers, they could piss you off and make you cry and break your heart, but in the end, when the chips were down, they were there, making you laugh even in your darkest hours." for more of my reviews, please visit [...]

I read this simultaneously with a book about the siege of Leningrad and turned to it when my other book became too intense. It was the perfect foil.

Loved this book!! A heart touching and enthralling story!! Hats off to Kristin Hannah!! One of the best novels on Friendship which I have ever read!! A Must Read!!

Un libro assolutamente da leggere, travolgente e che non vorresti finisse mai

It’s 1974 and Kate Mullarkey is a teenaged girl at the bottom of the high school social pecking order until Tully Hart moves in across the road. Tully is instantly the coolest girl in school and also wants to be friends with Kate. They become best friends and begin planning the rest of their lives together and though their lives change along the way, their friendship remains the one constant until an act of betrayal changes everything. When tragedy strikes, can they put their differences aside and come back together one last time? I watched the first series of Firefly Lane a while ago on Netflix and loved it but with one thing or another I haven’t got round to watching the second series yet. I saw the book in the 99p sale for Kindle when I was stocking up for my holiday but have only just got round to reading it. I know there are definitely some differences between the book and the tv show but it’s a while since I watched the show so I’m not sure exactly how different it is. I absolutely loved this. Hannah’s writing drew me in and kept me wanting more. It had such a nice flow to it, which made for a very easy read. The slight feeling of familiarity from watching the show was kind of comforting and at its best the friendship between Kate and Tully reminded me of my own best friends. I don’t want to spoil anything but for someone who doesn’t tend to be overly emotional I was almost crying at my desk towards the end of this yesterday. It’s honestly a lovely, wholesome story of female friendships and the ways they change and grow over the years.

Kristin HannahさんのNight Roadがあまりにも面白かったのでアマゾンで取り寄せました。 この人は本当に悲しいストーリーを書くのが好きですね。 「育児放棄された女の子」と「育ちのいい女の子」が高校時代に出逢い、そこから大親友として二人で人生を共に過ごしていきます。キャリアをとるか、家庭をとるか、そのような二人の葛藤がお互いを傷つけあいながら、そして励まし合いながらストーリーが展開していきます。 ただ、Night Roadと比べると、明らかにドキドキ度、せつなさ度がおとります。 どうも登場人物を好きになることが出来ませんでした。 478ページとなかなかのボリュームがありますが、話が面白くなってきたのは最後の１００ページくらいです。 Night Roadを読むことを強くお勧めします。

Two very close friends, one from " the wrong side of the tracks". That didn't matter to the other friend. They had formed such a strong bond between them. A wonderful story between friends and Kristen Hannah has weaved such a heart rending story. Keep the tissues handy!