What do you do for an encore after writing the critically acclaimed and incredibly popular novel The Nightingale? Considered by many to be her career defining work, The Nightingale is destined to become a literary classic sitting beside Gone With The Wind and The Thorn Birds. Surely anything that follows cannot possibly live up to such a high bar-but don't tell that to Kristin Hannah. Nearly three years after the publication of The Nightingale, Ms. Hannah returns with The Great Alone-another dynamic, magnificently written and poignant novel that will quickly earn a spot next to its beloved predecessor. Set in the mid 1970's, The Great Alone tells the story of the Allbright's-a family lead by a tormented man desperately trying to outrun the nightmare of his years spent as a Vietnam POW. In an attempt to leave his demons behind, Ernt moves his wife and daughter from Seattle to a virtually uninhabited part of Alaska after inheriting the land from a buddy who did not return from the war. In Alaska Ernt, his wife Cora and daughter Leni live in a ramshackled cabin with no electricity or running water. But buoyed by the towering mountains and crystal clear waters they can see from their front door, the Allbright's are determined to make this their home. Living among a handful of "homesteaders"-people who left civilization behind for the untamed beauty that is Alaska-Ernt believes he has finally found the peace that has eluded him for years. But while there's danger lurking in every corner-from the bone chilling cold that can break even the strongest of men, to the bears and coyotes vying with the Allbright's for the food they've stored for the winter-Cora and Leni sadly learn their greatest threat comes from the man beside them. If you've been to Alaska The Great Alone brings you back in spectacularly vivid fashion-if you haven't this is the best introduction you can ever imagine. Kristin Hannah's words flow with the same fierceness as the creeks and rivers rolling through the landscape, and her characters are as fragile as the sunlight that stutters from the sky. The Great Alone is beautiful, brilliant and beguiling-just like the land that inspired it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy of this novel. All opinions are my own. 

This book gripped me from the very first page until the very last. It was beautiful, heartbreaking, and wonderful. This book gave me all the feels - I laughed, cried, loved, and lost with these characters. While reading this book, I wasn't sitting in my living room, I was in Alaska with Leni and her family. This book is challenging to get through at times. It will make you look at how far the care for veterans has come. 

Hannah is able to take things that seem like they wouldn't work - Vietnam veteran moving his family to Alaska in a VW bus - and makes the plot so believable and realistic. Her vivid language helped to put the reader in Alaska between the mountains and lakes. She showed how people survived during the cold winters. Not only does she show the Alaskan experience, she also shows how the family unit can function in this 'great alone.'  

I don't want to give too much away about this novel, but you should know this: reading this book will make you think deeply. It will frustrate you, but it is worth it in the best ways. This book releases on February 6, 2018. Go pre-order it now; you won't regret it.

I'm apparently in the minority, but I just couldn't finish this book. It is so dark and disturbing. The author does have a sense of place and also an understanding about PTSD and domestic abuse.

I loved this book. Ernt, Cora, and Leni Allbright leave the lower 48 to embark on an Alaskan adventure in 1974. It follows their family as they strive for a fresh start after the Vietnam War and try to adapt to a life in the brush. Kristin Hannah creates a world and an experience through her storytelling that is so vivid and clear, you feel as if you are there with the characters. Leni grew throughout the story and you could feel the turmoil and angst she experienced daily. I was so frustrated with Cora and her inability to act or take help, but understood why she didn't. I even felt horribly for Ernt and how he was left adrift after his world was shattered in the war. As a reader, I understood his mental anguish but hated his actions. It was his actions that initially divided a community and then ultimately, brought them all back together. It was such a sad and great story.

I really liked how this book showcased the strength of women and the strength of their bonds together. I also liked how it showed the good in a community when there was so much that was dark and ugly. Hannah described the beauty and the harsh reality of living in Alaska in a gripping and captivating story that I just couldn't put down.

**ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah is the story of Lenora “Leni” Allbright and her life in the Alaska wilderness. The story opens in 1974, Leni is 13 years old and her parents, Ernt and Coraline “Cora” Allbright are fighting. Her dad is a Vietnam vet and POW who has had a hard time adjusting to life after the war and has lost another job. Things look bleak until a letter arrives which offers the family a new start in Alaska. While life is hard as they learn to live in the wilderness, they are helped by their neighbors, Large Marge, who runs the local grocery story, and The Walker family, whose son, Matthew, is the same age as Leni. Through trial and error, the family learns to live in their new home. However, her father’s demons has seemed to follow them to Alaska and with the darkness and isolation of Alaska wilderness, Leni must learn to fight back and trust her instincts.
The Great Alone is another amazing story by Ms. Hannah. It has heartbreaking drama, love and hopes for survival. The story immediately pulls you in by Leni’s narration. The reader will laugh with her, cry with her and feel her fear as it grips the heart. It is a page turner as you cannot wait to see if she survives. Ms. Hannah’s descriptions of the Alaska wilderness and its cold winters are so vivid, you can almost feel the icy wind. Behind the stunning beauty of Alaska, there is a harshness that very few learn to survive. I highly, highly recommend The Great Alone.

The Great Alone
will be available February 6, 2018
in hardcover and eBook

I received an arc from Netgalley. This author never disappoints and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book.

This book spans over several years and is a book I couldn’t put down. Matthew and Leni have a beautiful love story set in the state of Alaska. There were times I laughed and times I cried. Goes to show true love never dies.

If I could give this book ten stars I would. Best book I have read in a long time and definitely an author I will continue reading.

Kristin Hannah knows how to write. Everything I have read by her has sucked me in and this one is not any different. I loved the love story of Leni and Matthew and was kept on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. Although I wasn’t as emotionally attached as I was with her previous books, this was still a great read.

Kristen Hannah is one of my favorite authors, so I was very happy to have the chance to read this book. It grabbed me right from the beginning and I couldn't seem to let go of it. This is a dark, intense story about domestic abuse in the Alaska wilderness. Leni, who is 14, moves with her parents to an isolated Alaskan town. Her father is a survivor of the Vietnam War who has spent time in a POW camp. As a result, he is very mean and abusive. Leni has a very hard life, and I felt sorry for her because she seemed to be stuck in this harsh environment. It is a book that will stay with me!

Thank you to Net Galley for granting me a pre-published read of the newest Kristin Hannah book, The Great Alone. As declared by most readers, I absolutely loved Ms. Hannah's last book The Nightingale and I was nervous that she would not be able to come back with another book as good as The Nightingale. I was not surprised but I was ecstatic to realize she has done it yet again! The story is gripping, the detail is amazing and the emotions within the book were riveting. This newest book, the Great Alone is an extremely powerful story that grips you right from the start and holds you until the last paragraph. You find yourself cheering for the two main women characters and trying to understand the male character. Although based back in time to after the Vietnam war, the issues that the main male character is dealing with are still very prevalent in today's society. While reading the story, you picture not only the scenery which is beautifully described, you also get the feel for the harshness of the environment and the quirkiness of the characters that have chosen to live in this untamed land. Well done Ms. Hannah, you are a credit to the writing profession!!!

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was a quick read with the perfect ending. I thought the character development had a little room for improvement but I was able to connect with them just the same.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of this book.

Love, love, love this book. 4 stars.**** Another great book by author, Kristin Hannah.

The main character of this book is Alaska. The descriptive writing of the beautiful landscape and deadly climate make we wonder why or how anyone could live there.

Ernst is a POW/Vietnam veteran that returns home after the war a changed man. Ernst suffers from mental illness, alcoholic and abusive to his wife Cora.

Ernst receives a letter that informs him that a war time buddy has left him property in Alaska. Cora, Ernst and teenage daughter Leni believe that a new start for the family will be in Alaska. They pack up the VW and start a new life in Alaska. It doesn't take long to discover they are not prepared.

I highly recommend this book. Author, Kristin Hannah is a master of character development. She will take you on an adventure that you will not forget..

I love Kristin Hannah, so I was excited to get an advance copy of this book. I wasn't sure about about the setting at first -- 1970's Alaska -- but the story grabbed hold of me and didn't let go. The story of the Allbright family is one of survival -- surviving the Vietnam War, an abusive relationship, heartbreak, tragedy, and the Alaskan wilderness itself, where the harsh environment can kill you in an instant. It was both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. I loved it.

As a longtime fan of Kristin Hannah's, I was thrilled for the wild success of The Nightingale, and I imagine that she gained a lot of new fans with that book. I was so anxious to see what she did next- The Nightingale was so wonderful, but also felt somewhat different stylistically from her previous books. The Great Alone features so much of what Kristin Hannah does well- characters, setting, and a compelling story.

I love books in which a great setting is essentially another character. Set primarily in Alaska, the author did an amazing job depicting the brutality and the beauty of the landscape. It's easy to see how Leni comes to connect with this place, and how it becomes an essential part of her being. At this season in my life, I'm more of an armchair traveler, and this visit to Alaska was a treasure. The Alaskan setting works as both an additional character and as a companion to a story that is also both brutal and beautiful.

Throughout this story we get to watch Leni grow and mature, and, as previously mentioned, be defined by the Alaskan wilderness. There is a deep, heartbreaking story about family and love throughout this book, and Kristin Hannah proves again her talent for creating characters and a story that draw the reader in. Without delving into spoilers, there is more than one element of danger and insecurity that lies within the story, and the tension helps to keep the plot moving as the story goes on.

I hope that readers who just found Kristin Hannah with The Nightingale will find that The Great Alone is also a compelling narrative. I already can't wait to find out what stories the author has for us next.

My only experience with Kristin Hannah was with The Nightingale, I believe it was her first venture into historical fiction - it made my best of 2015 list. (My review can be found here). When I saw The Great Alone was coming out I jumped at the chance. Having visited Alaska on a cruise once it wasn’t hard for me to visualize so much of the landscape with its remoteness, harsh weather element as well as beautiful scenery.

What I loved about this book, other than the location was the time period. The lack of modern electronics was a plus for me. With virtually an untamed landscape, it was a time when cruises and tour groups were sparse.

I appreciate the research that went into this book. It wasn’t just the landscape with vivid descriptions of the various seasons but what the residents endured, the struggles of 18 hours of daylight and 18 hours of darkness. Even those not suffering from PTSD had to find ways to cope. The author put me in those scenes of darkness and despair as well as appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature.

The synopsis above does a great job outlining this wonderful book. The Great Alone opened my eyes and gave me a clearer view of PTSD, it helped me to understand this condition and see how Ernt would grasp at anything for a new beginning. But Alaska back in that time, where authority is scarce and limited phone service is asking for trouble, he was so focused on himself and the present forgetting to look ahead.

“He needs a chance. A new start. We all do. Maybe Alaska is the answer.”

Leni is great character, she misses so much of her childhood, forced to grow up before her time and along with her mother live a life walking on egg shells. Getting inside her head, feeling the raw emotions of this young girl had me connecting right from the first pages. This is a capivating coming of age story, it was a pleasure to read and hard to put down.

They are many layers to The Great Alone, a story of survival, heartache and challenges. It is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time.

This was one of my last books of 2017, making my ‘best of 2017’ list. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press (via Netgalley) for and advanced copy.

I was fortunate to read an advance copy of The Great Alone through NetGalley. This book is about how people live in the Alaska wilderness and deal with extreme circumstances of weather as well as all levels of personal issues. It has happy times, tragedy, bootstrap moments, parts that made me gasp, parts that may have elicited a tear or two. I heartily recommend The Great Alone.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.

Kristin Hannah has written another amazing book. Once I started I could not put it down until it was finished. She is one of my all time favorite author's and have read all of her books.

The Great Alone is the story of Leni, her dad, Ernt, a Viet Nam war vet, and her mom, Cora. Leni’s dad was impulsive and restless, and her mama supported him and his many attempts at a fresh start as he searched for happiness. Leni, thirteen years old at the beginning of the book had more sense than both her parents combined.

Ernt inherited land out in the middle of nowhere in Alaska along with a rickety, age-blackened log cabin that was on it from a war buddy. After bumping around from town to town for several years, Ernt convinced his wife and daughter to move there. They were extremely unprepared for life in that wilderness. It’s the story of quickly learning how to survive.

In Alaska Ernt became increasingly more and more disturbed. Crazier. He had previously been emotionally abusive to his wife and daughter; now he was physically abusive as well. Ernt’s elusive happiness didn’t happen to be found in Alaska either.

The symbolism is striking. Cora was trapped (by her own making) in a sick, abusive relationship, and the family was trapped (also by their own making) in a dreadfully long, miserable, harsh Alaska winter, always a breath away from disaster.

Sadly, there was a lot of ‘down’ stuff in this book, like abuse, violence, hopelessness, and oh so many bad decisions and stupid mistakes. That didn’t stop it, however, from being a remarkable (too small a word), captivating read.

The author definitely knows her subject, Alaska. I think it’s safe to say that she loves it. I, the reader, am now intrigued by this majestic state, our last frontier. Living there is not for lightweights, with its bitter cold, isolation, and bleakness. Alaska, The Great Alone, worked its way into Leni’s soul, heart and blood.

This book has all the things that make it a 6-star rating for me (I know. I know. I can only give it five.) – brilliant storyline, strong, interesting characters, stimulating developments, vivid descriptions, and a great ending. The ending was marvelous, a wonderful ending to an excellent story. I hated to put the book down when life called and couldn’t wait to pick it up again. Well done, Ms. Hannah, well done. Thanks ever so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

5 stars

Ernt Allbright is a former POW during the Vietnam era. He is having major trouble adjusting to civilian life. He is frustrated at the reception he received when he arrived back in the US. Being called names and being spit upon is devastating. He has lost several jobs and spends a lot pf time drinking. He has become unlike the man he was before he went to Vietnam. He now has a volatile temper and strikes out at the slightest provocation. Every new job, every new move to another town is going to be the thing that erases his nightmares and flashbacks.

Cora is his wife. She loves him and wants to do anything to stay with him and keep the family together.

Their only child is Leni (Lenora). She has been the “new girl” at several schools after moving all over the country. She doesn’t feel like she fits in anywhere. She is at the difficult age of thirteen. She loves her parents, but remains a silent witness to the unpredictability of her father. He is not the man he was before he went to war.

Ernt receives a letter from Alaska. His good buddy has died and left his cabin and forty acres to Ernt. It is in Alaska. Ernt knows this is what he needs to recover. Cora is skeptical, but her love for Ernt drives her to agree to go with him. In four days they are on their way to Homer, Alaska.

When they get to Alaska, it is wonderful. They learn how to grown crops and raise their animals. However, when winter sets in it is a different story. With only six hours of daylight and bitter cold, their fortunes change. The little community is generous through. Large Marge is a wonderful character. Tom Walker is the local pub owner and his son Matthew befriends Leni. Matthew is a kind soul. Tom is influential in the community and also has a lot of money. Tom and Marge sense that all is not right with Ernt, Cora and Leni.

Ernt becomes frustrated at the continual darkness and listens far too much to a friend call Mad Earl who hates the government and anything associated with it. He begins to be violent to Cora. He won’t allow Marge or Tom to help the family. Ernt becomes a thoroughly despicable man.

This book is very well written and plotted. The descriptions of the scenery and people in Alaska are wonderfully written and evocative. Ms. Hannah paints a beautiful portrait. But, at the same time she draws a bitter picture spousal abuse and violence in the small family. It is a poignant story with the highs of hope and the lows of violence. This is a remarkable novel.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for forwarding to me a copy of this most remarkable book to read and enjoy.

"Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.

Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family...

At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own."
Synopsis from Goodreads.

Lately, I have been insatiable for books set in remote, frozen places. (When I say "lately," I really mean for the last two years). This novel not only didn't disappoint, it blew me away. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah was absolutely breathtaking from start to finish.

It's been about four months since my last book review. That, paired with the fact that I am three days into a brutal cold, makes writing a review a little difficult. So, I'm going to do something that I did for my review of Today Will Be Different and make this review in list form.

Things I loved:

1. Alaska, in the hands of Kristin Hannah, is majestic - expansive and unforgiving and beautiful. With words, she paints a gorgeous picture, but she does not over-romanticize it.

2. Hannah is phenomenal at crafting characters. As we get to know the small town and it'a cast of eccentric characters, it's hard not to become completely engrossed in the lives of all of them. Even the detestable characters are fully imagined and completely fascinating.

3. It takes a lot of skill as a writer to shine light on an issue without it seeming too preachy. Speaking as someone without first-hand experience, I felt that Hannah did a great job of talking about domestic violence in a realistic way: the complicated emotions felt by the victim, the way it touches an entire family, and the difficulties of finding a way out.

Things I did not love:

1. This book made me cry so. much. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - but I usually don't cry at books and this was almost excessive. It's also probably a big part of why I loved this book: it made me feel a lot of feels.

This book has so much heart. It's about family, resilience, and the lengths we'll go through for the ones we love. I can't recommend it enough!

Before reading this novel, you should know there is a trigger warning for domestic violence and assault.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah will hit shelves on February 8, 2018.