I can't get through this book. It started great, but by the time they hit Alaska it started to drag. I eventually gave up on it, and I seldom do that.

Regrettably, I waited too long between reading and reviewing to write a detailed review, but I did absolutely love this book. The journey Leni takes from confused teenager following her father, stricken with extreme PTSD, to grown woman living with impossible life decisions, was amazing to read. I had a little trouble getting into the story at first, but by about 15%, I was hooked. It really took off until the end. The ending, although it featured just a little bit of "everything working out too perfectly" still managed to feel real in the complexity of human emotion and pain it portrayed. Not a happy read by any stretch, but very very good!!

WOW- we are blown away (once again) by this author and her ability to write an amazing story. The Great Alone was so different and just absolutely fantastic! The story is so different from what we have been reading and I think that's what we needed to "cleanse our pallet" from the same story being told over and over again.
Kristin Hannah is such an impressive writing and we can't wait to read more from her!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah. After losing his job, POW survivor, Ernt Allbright, inherits a home in Alaska from fellow soldier, Bo Harlan. Feeling like this is his only chance to succeed in life and put the past behind him, he moves his wife, Cora, and thirteen year old daughter, Leni, to what turns out to be a rundown shack in Kaneq, referred to as “the last outpost of civilization.” Life is pretty good until the long dark days of Winter set in and Ernst becomes disturbed and physically violent. Cora loves him and strives to make a good life. Leni survives with the friendship of fellow classmate, Matthew. This book is full of unforgettable characters, like store owner, Large Marge, and wealthy landowner, Tom Walker, who will change the lives of the Allbrights forever. This book is a wonderful insight into human character, forces of nature, and the will to survive in “The Great Alone”.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah really hit home for me. As the daughter of a Vietnam vet who did 2 tours of duty as an Airborne soldier I was really able to relate to Leni. Leni is a teen girl in the late 70's whose father has recently returned from being a POW in Vietnam. Sadly, Leni doesn't really remember what her father was like before the war but her mother frequently tells her that he was not so violent. Leni has to endure watching her mom be abused by her father multiple times. Her father decides that they are going to move to Alaska to live on some land left to him by a buddy who fought with him in Vietnam. The family is not prepared for the harshness of life in Alaska and things escalate as tension arises between Leni's father and their neighbor. This book will make you feel so many emotions. The ending had me in tears but in a good way. Read and enjoy!

I am a huge fan of Kristin Hannah and look forward to each new release. The Great Alone is, in my opinion, her best yet. It is a one-sitting kind of read. The characters are so real and the action so intriguing that I had trouble putting it down to go to work, and then I found myself thinking about it, wondering what would happen next and predicting how it would turn out. I was not disappointed! I will buy a copy for my daughter and recommend it to many friends.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

As a fan of The Nightingale, I was really excited about reading this pre-pub from NetGalley. It did not disappoint!

The quotes from the poetry of Robert W. Service help to set the scene of the wild Alaskan wilderness in 1974. A Viet Nam vet who is suffering from PTSD brings his family into this inhospitable environment. The cold, harsh winters affect all who live there.

Kristin Hannah weaves a thrilling tale of adventure, love, and coping with internal and external obstacles.

Not only does physical abuse effect the victim, but the family and those that love them. It appears that a cover up of a crime will be the undoing of the main character. A second chance at love. The world might have been what was imagined, but still holds a lot of hope and love.

Will leave review on Amazon under name of Connie

This is a breathtakingly well-written novel.

At only thirteen years old, Leni has already been bounced from school to school, city to city. Her father returned from Vietnam after being a POW a damaged man who is unable to control his nightmares—or his temper, causing him to get fired from job after job.

When he learns that a war buddy of his left him a house in Alaska, Ernt is sure this time happiness will be theirs, so he packs up his daughter and wife and they head for The Great Alone.

I fell in love with the characters of this town, specifically Large Marge, who’d once been a prosecutor in D.C. and now works at a convenience store and always has some weapon strapped to her—everyone does because who knows when a bear might get hungry? I also loved the Walker family.

As Leni and her mother Cora get a crash course in surviving inhospitable conditions, they find the biggest danger isn’t the weather or the wildlife, but the man they share a house with. Hannah does an exquisite job expressing the fear Leni lives with every day.

It’s also a beautiful story of star-crossed lovers. The Montagues and the Capulets in Alaska. I teared up several times during this story. I can’t recommend this novel highly enough.

n 1974, the Vietnam War had caused a perilous situation in the United States. Many of the men and women who had served had been drafted into this very unpopular war and spent time in an "unwinnable" situation. They also returned home to find that they were not appreciated and even viewed with disdain by some. Ernt Allbright returned from the Vietnam War with the added burden of being a prisoner of war. When he came back to his wife, Cora and thirteen year old daughter, Leni, he is a different man. Ernt finds out that he inherited a homestead in an off-the-grid location of Alaska and he immediately packs up his family and hits the road in search of a new beginning. I don't want to reveal any more of this excellent story because I believe that each reader should experience it through their own eyes. Kristin Hannah is a fabulous author of many bestsellers but I love this book the best of all that I have read. I appreciated the story of surviving in the bush and Ms. Hannah's careful development of complex and emotional characters and situations. This novel has it all! You will be thrilled by the beauty of Alaska, haunted by the specter of cruelty and abuse, then uplifted by the sweet, heartbreaking love from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book to all!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah will be available February 6, 2018 by St. Martin's Press. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

While I did not find this Kristen Hannah book quite as enjoyable as others, I would still highly recommend it. Leni and her parents move to Alaska hoping a new start will cure her dad of his mental issues. Mental issues he developed while being a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. The long, dark winters do nothing to help Leni's father, and his mental state combined with drinking make life inside their cabin volatile. Outside of the cabin Leni has discovered life and love until both sides of her life come crashing together. My issue with the book was that the ending seemed a little too happy ever after, but others will probably enjoy how everything wraps up in the end.

1970's Alaska wilderness is rough. It's especially rough for 13 year old Leni and her parents who have no experience in the wilderness. Her father is haunted by his time in Vietnam and thinks the move will heal him. They move into a cabin with no electricity, no running water and no idea how hard an Alaskan winter will be for them. They build new friendships and learn tough lessons. The darkness doesn't help Leni's father and they must come to realize they have to be stronger than they ever imagined. I had a hard time putting this book down. I loved the characters and fell in love with the idea of Alaska, which is a character itself. Highly recommended.

Leni's father and mother uproot her to move to the Alaskan wilderness. Ill prepared for the weather and hardships, their scattered neighbors help them survive. Leni's father, a war veteran, faces his own demons during the long, dark, winter nights. He quickly becomes violent, lashing out at anyone who crosses his path.

This was a well written and interesting book. Leni was a dynamic and realistic character. At times I felt like I was growing with her, as she came of age in Alaska. Overall, well worth picking up.

A very intense story about an abusive husband and father. The characters are real and the situations are frightening but unfortunately also very real. The story shines a bright light on a side of family life we want to believe does not exist. thi story should be a must read for social workers and law enforcement

This book is great - I mean to the extent of being the best book I've read all year. The story isn't always pleasant, but it is torn from the history of this country from the Vietnam War until pretty much today. It is the story of a family that copes with the trauma left by the war by moving to the outer reaches of Alaska and so much more. As usual, I don't want to be too specific, because half the joy of reading is discovering what happens next, but come February when this is released, it will definitely be the book everyone is talking about. I will say this - things don't go entirely well in Alaska - and yet some things go wonderfully well. You will want to read this one. I read this aloud to my wife (we share many books this way) and we both agreed that it was the prize read of the year for us. Don't miss it.

As as big Kristin Hannah fan, I couldn't wait to read this book. She did not disappoint. I was hooked from the very beginning and didn't want to put the book down. The Allbright family, made up of Dad, Mom, and Lenora, packs up everything they own to move to Alaska for a fresh start. The book covers a span of many years and we are a part of Leni's growth into adulthood. There were times that I wanted to look away because I was so invested in the characters and was worried what was going to happen. The description of Alaska was very vivid and gave a sense of just how remote things can be there. I'd highly recommend this book!

*3.5 stars*

When it comes to emotionally compelling fiction, without a doubt, Kristin Hannah is in a league of her own. Over the years, she’s taken me to the brink of hopelessness, dangled me over the edge of complete devastation and trampled my heart in the process. Where I think her magic lies is in knowing just the right moment to toss out a lifeline—restoring faith, inciting love and in some cases, leaving me in complete and utter awe.

Naturally, having experienced a number of her noteworthy reads, there’s a certain level of expectation that now comes along with picking up one of her books—unrealistic or not. Instead of tiptoeing around the elephant in the room, I’m just going to get this over with and put it out there—this is not my favorite of Kristin Hannah’s work.

Like many of her books, this is a hefty read, coming in at just under 450 pages. Where I had issues with the story—the inconsistent pacing and the blatant lack of development, particularly in the back half. From a slow and purposeful narrative, to an overly dramatic and rushed ending, it’s almost as if the author crammed two completely different books together.

When the story opens, the Allbright family is on the brink of yet another move, this time to Alaska or The Great Alone. For Ernt, a Vietnam POW who's prone to bouts of anger, Alaska represents a fresh start and an excuse to leave behind the mess he’s made of things. For 13-year-old Leni and her mother, it’s a reluctant move, but one they hope will save Ernt from his demons. Luckily, the Allbrights meet a group of people who are more than willing to help them prepare for the harsh winter ahead and lend some much needed heart to a lackluster existence. What everyone soon learns, no matter how far you go, you can’t outrun your demons. It’s a toxic and vicious cycle they find themselves trapped in—one that feels impossible at times.

Kristin Hannah really takes her time laying the foundation for the Allbright family and the tedious work the Alaskan wilderness demands and you know what, that was okay with me. It was around the halfway mark, when she switched gears, that everything came crashing down.

There is a love story packed within these pages, although despite the anticipation, I found it all to be sort of lackluster. The words and the feelings were present on the page, demanding my consent, but I can’t say I ever truly felt their connection with every piece of my being.

It's the last five chapters that take the cake for the most drama in the shortest timespan. I’m not saying I take issue with what went down exactly, what I am taking issue with is the fact that Kristin Hannah bounced from one dramatic event to the next, without so much as a breath or time to process. The emphasis seemed to be on getting her characters where they needed to be in the end, rather than allowing the reader to fully appreciate Leni's journey.

With all of that said, I still found this to be a worthy read. I love the thought of living a simpler life—although probably not realistic for this city girl—and spending a bit of time in Alaska proved to be eye-opening and even sort of refreshing.

As readers, we all connect with books/characters/writing for a variety of reasons and it just so happens, this one didn’t land among my favorites. Whether you’re a diehard Kristin Hannah fan, like I consider myself to be, or new to her work, I urge you to give this a chance. You never know, this might be your new favorite. I also feel compelled to mention, of her books, I adored these in particular: Home Front, Night Road, Winter Garden and The Nightingale.

I love Kristin Hannah.  I gotta admit, though, I wasn't sure about this one going in.  The description made it sound very much like outdoorsy adventuring type stuff.  Still, I jumped right in.  And I'm glad I did. 

Leni and her family are at a crossroads.  Her dad, recently back from Vietnam, is suffering from the horrors of his past.  Leni's mom is helpless to do anything to protect them.  And Leni, well, she loves her dad.  Unconditionally.  She remembers the good times.  So many of them, in fact, that it's somewhat easier to overlook the bad times.  She and her mom just want to help him forget, to be the person he was before.  

It's no surprise, then, that when her dad comes home one day and says they're all moving to Alaska that they all willingly go.  A new beginning is just what this young family needs.  A fresh start away from the pressures of society will be the cure to what ails them.  It's nothing like a cozy family vacation, though.  Alaska is tough.  And her dad's demons have made the journey with them.  Isolated and alone, who will help Leni and her mother when the darkness in her dad's mind descends once again?

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this story.  I shouldn't have been, I know.  Kristin Hannah just has that brilliance that authors of her calibre do.  Grab it, dive right in, and enjoy!

I love this book and i am recommending this title to all of my friends.

This is my first and last Kristin Hannah book, which apparently puts me in a very small minority. While I loved the story from the standpoint of experiencing what it is like to live in the wild of Alaska, and Leni Allbright is a character that you wholeheartedly root for, I felt like I was reading a YA book meets romance. I’ve given 3 stars only for the Alaska wilderness writing in the book. Still, I kept reading as I wanted to see Leni thrive, grow, succeed. We jump from Leni at 14 to Leni at 17, grown-up, confident, ready to take on the world. Unfortunately, nothing has changed in the Allbright household, except that the domestic abuse and violence escalates out of control. The book is 448 pages, and not until the last 10 pages is there anything happy about Leni’s life. Other reviews I read talked about the storyline showing faith being restored, love lost and found again, redemption, but I didn’t see or feel any of that. There was way more domestic abuse and violence than I care to read about. This is a dark, somber and, frankly, quite draining book to read.