"Landfall" is a compelling novel centered on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for two families that have never met but are nevertheless connected.

The main characters are interesting, with layers and secrets that only slowly get revealed. The frequent shift in the time line allows for an exploration of the different relationships that otherwise hadn't been possible.

Still, I couldn't give this novel any more stars because the style of writing just didn't work for me and the coincidences just kept piling on in the narrative which made it feel rather unrealistic at the end.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Not a spoiler as it's the first chapter of the book. Rose Aiken and her mother are off to donate clothing for Katrina relief when they get in a car accident that kills both her mother and a pedestrian, the other Rose. Rose Howard is traveling from New Orleans where she just lost everything to Tuscaloosa for unknown reasons. The book basically splits itself between having Rose Aiken trace Rose Howard's journey so she can tell her family what has happened, and Rose Howard's PoV of why she's headed to Tuscaloosa. Within each women's PoV chapter, you also get some PoVs from their mothers and other important strangers. It's a book about mother-daughter relationships and the sacrifices of a single mother.

This is a depressing book. Any moment of joy is overshadowed by the sadness and tragedies that follow. My husband couldn't deal with the book after just listening to me talk about it. So while I do recommend this book, you need to have a certain mindset before tackling it.

The author did a lot of Katrina research for this book and it pays off well. I remember footage from Katrina, but even without that prior knowledge, the scenes that Urbani describe throw you into it. The horror of being stuck on the roof watching bodies float by. The feeling of loss. The claustrophobia in the Superdome and the smell of everyone squeezed in there. The bridge to Gretna where refugees were turned away by gun point. It's a harsh reminder of our failure as a country to prepare for it.

The ending of the book felt abrupt. Instead of the few more chapters it deserved, it was rushed into an epilogue. Even though it was a bit predictable, it needed a little more.

4.25 stars rounds to 4.