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

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. What can I say? I loved loved this book. I couldn't put it down; I had to force myself to stop reading and go to bed. Kristin Hannah has always been one of my favorite authors and again she didn't disappoint. The novel is set in 1974 in Alaska. We meet the Allbright family who has moved there because Dad (Ernt), a Vietnam POW, was notified that he was given a plot of land and a cabin, from his best friend who had died in Vietnam. The family moves there in their VW bus, totally unprepared for the harsh Alaskan wilderness and for Dad's dark moods/emotional and physical abuse which we know today is related to PTSD. I don't want to give anything else away... just read this book. You won't be disappointed.

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.

Leni Allbright is a compelling and fascinating main character. Like all teenagers, she is buffeted about by the will of her parents. Unlike most teenagers, her dad is traumatized from his experience as a POW in Vietnam. In a last ditch effort to save his grip on sanity, he moves the family to the wilds of Alaska. Leni has to face growing up, the harsh realities on the Alaskan frontier, and an increasingly unstable father.
The Great Alone was often difficult and painful to read. Leni grabbed hold of me and didn't let go. Her life in the wilds of Alaska was often scary and troublesome. It was also exhilarating and filled with beauty. Alaska was such a compelling setting that it became an integral character to the story. The Great Alone is definitely worth reading.

I would like to thank Net Galley for the advanced copy of "The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah. First and foremost this book was excellent. One of my favorite authors has done a great job of telling a coming of age story of a girl growing up in Kaneq Alaska. This book is full of everything from hardship, love, kindness and family. The story takes place in the 70's and tells about a girls abusive POW father, love torn mother, friends and first love growing up in a harsh Alaska coastal town. This book is very moving at times in some places for me was hard to get through. If you like books about family this book is for you Again and excellent book with a 5 plus star rating.

Kristin Hannah’s books are beloved by millions (think The Nightingale), partly for their vivid descriptions of both place and people. They also evoke strong emotional responses to situations and relationship[s that may not be part of the reader’s everyday experience, but yet seem completely familiar because of the author’s skillful writing. So I was particularly happy to receive a copy of The Great Alone (to be released in early 2018) from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in return for this honest review.

First, let’s get this out of the way: one of my stranger quirks is that I have a hard time reading novels set in cold climates (I HATE being cold). So I read at least half of this snuggled under a down comforter even though today (Thanksgiving) it’s in the mid-70s here on the Central Coast of California. That made me less likely to love this book, but I am glad I persisted.

Set in the 1970s, The Great Alone revolves around the family of Vietnam vet, ex-POW, and PTSD sufferer Ernt Allbright, who has tried to get his life together after returning from Vietnam a completely changed man. He is enduring sleepless nights, flashbacks, nightmares and bursts of anger. He’s not the only one suffering: his wife Cora and their 13-year-old daughter Leni are deeply affected by Ernt’s struggles. Things are rocky in the Allbright family as Ernt has trouble holding a job, they move regularly, and the parents frequently fight – all of which are very troubling for Leni, who longs for stability. So when Ernt inherits a cabin and land in Alaska from a dead soldier, he takes his family north with the idea that they will live off the land and be free of the stress they have been experiencing. A new start! They buy a VW van (very 70s!) and set out, completely unprepared for the harsh wilderness they encounter in Kenaq, Alaska.

The descriptions of the dilapidated shack called a “cabin” (no electricity or running water) were (literally) chilling. Despite the family’s hard work (assisted by some interesting community members) and effort to make a go of things, Ernt’s condition worsens as his battles with alcohols increase. Leni and Cora have a close relationship, and Leni learns to find comfort in books, something I imagine many readers can relate to.

Over time, Leni develops friendships and she and Cora find support in the community. The alcoholism, domestic violence, and harsh conditions are terribly challenging. The mother-daughter relationship is fascinating, although I wonder how many readers will find themselves wishing for such a bond and similar support in their own challenging family situations.

The bottom line is there is much to love about this book, especially seeing Leni searching for her identity and some stability at the same time, and her search for identity and roots. At the same time, it’s instructive about both the effect of war on both military members and their families – and instructive about the reality of trying to live off the land vs. the dream shared by many. Another winner for Hannah. Five stars.

Kristin Hannah has done it again. The Great Alone is an amazing read. She not only tackled some tough issues as domestic abuse but she gave a vivid picture of Alaskan life in the early 1970's. Meanwhile the story was both heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time. I highly recommend this book. Itis one of the best I have read all year.

OH BOY. ALASKA. THE GREAT ALONE.

KRISTIN HANNAH grabbed my attention from the get-go with her freaky cold (Brrrrrrrrr) descriptively atmospheric novel set in a remote 1970's Alaska where "you can make one mistake, but the second one will kill you."......literally.

THE FIRST HALF of the story introduces the reader to the Allbright family and the shock of their unimaginably dangerous and unpredictable new life in the wild.

LIVING ROUGH (yikes!) in their inherited little cabin, they must haul water, grow their own vegetables and hunt for food....all while armed and on the lookout for black bears and wolf packs....AND with only three months each year to prepare for the long, dark and treacherous winter months to come.

BUT....harsh weather conditions, isolation and icy darkness is NOT their only fear....there is another. "People go batshit in the dark."

THE GREAT ALONE has something for everyone....engaging writing, suspense, adventure and great characters with names like MAD Earl, LARGE Marge and Ha!....CRAZY Pete and Matilda.

THERE IS also more than one story of love here, volatile family relationships and invaluable friendships amidst the environmental dangers. THE GREAT ALONE is written with heart and heartbreak with an emphasis on survival....in more ways than one.

Many thanks once again to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC (coming FEBRUARY, 2018) in exchange for an honest review. Another winner for KRISTIN HANNAH!

Sure to be one of the best books of 2018. Another novel that proves Kristin Hannah is a master of the novel!

What an amazing book. I read it quickly, in just a few days. The picture of living in rural Alaska back in the mid-70s was truly incredible. The wild, rugged beauty of the landscape and the harsh living conditions were alternately frightening and intriguing at once.

The book is extremely dark and violent, however. It is the story of domestic violence, and the strong bonds of silence and secrecy that come with it. Leni's life was not one of quiet tranquility and being one with nature that one would imagine come with living in rural and majestic climate. Leni's dad was a POW and carried the scars of the Vietnam war inside of him. Leni's mom, Cora, loved her husband to the point it was an illness. The Alaskan summers are short and beautiful, but need to be spent in the unending tasks of securing supplies, shoring up homes, and growing, gathering, and preparing food for the upcoming terribly long, dark, harsh winters. Dark winters which did not compliment Leni's dad's increasingly tenuous grasp on reality.

I have read many books by author Kristin Hannah in the past. This is truly one of her best, and one of the most difficult to read all at once, because of the violent theme. It is an amazing book, and amazing story, with remarkable characters I really came to appreciate. I am so pleased to have a chance to preview it, and highly recommend it to readers.