Home Front: A heart-wrenching exploration of love and war from the author of The Four Winds and The Women

I love this author's writing and this book does not fail in reaching the parts other books can not. Wonderful, wonderful wonderful a tale of friendship, love and the price of war. Couldn't put it down.

Another good book from Kristin Hannah, although very different from her others. It still deals with family and relationships but from a view point most of us will never know. I thought it was a beautiful story, very moving and certainly makes you cry. The characters have real depth andvare all different. I really enjoyed this story of love and loss in its many different forms.

This book was such a good read, kept me turning the page late into the night. Definitely one I would highly recommend, such a heartfelt story which brought sadness and smiles along the way. Definitely worth a read.

I liked everything about this book. It was funny and sad in equal measure Every book I've read by this author has been amazing Keep up the good work

Oh my what a great storyline! The characters are brilliant you walk hand in hand with them throughout this book. Couldn't put it down. Have a box of tissues handy you will.need them! Hope you enjoy this book as much as I have!

Home Front is a powerful story of friendship, marriage, being a parent and the impact a war has on families. I really enjoyed this poignant story and the difficulties Jolene and her family have to endure. Kristin Hanna has created characters who are brought to life, under her skilful pen. The subject is tough and heartbreaking and yet it’s dealt with empathy, understanding and sensitivity. Highly recommended

This was an ok holiday read but a bit too sugary and fluffy for my liking. Not a patch on Nightingale, Four Winds or The Great Alone. For me, the kids were the most annoying brats ! At 12 years old Betsy needed some discipline. Her sulky moods were pandered to and she needed to take responsibility. She never lifted a finger to help with chores and just moaned all the time. Lulu the youngest was also out of control. Both parents and the grandmother indulged them too much, and why can’t a 12 year old return from school to an empty house ? Plenty do and it teaches them responsibility. When Jolene returned from Iraq with her injury, their father was worse than useless in not preparing them for how vulnerable she would be and how careful they had to be not to bang into her and hurt her. The start of her depression and moods was inevitable but they way in which after just a few therapy sessions she was all of a sudden “fixed” was unrealistic and unbelievable. It seemed the story was rushed at the end for a sugar coated happy ending . This wasn’t anywhere near the brilliance of her other novels and didn’t even seem like the same author. Hope she isn’t going to churn out more of this type of fluff, instead of delivering truly great novels akin to Nightingale, Four Winds and my absolute favourite The Great Alone.

An amazing read as are all her books

This book got me from the first page. The characters were so real and I went from page to page living life with them. Every word held truth in it and I loved it!

There is a reason I am stingy with 5-star ratings and this book is a prime example of that reason. Every now and then you read a book that is just so far above the rest of the pack that you know you will not soon forget it. For me, this is one of those books. The last one I read that touched me to this degree was Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, which also deserves 5 stars. This is one of the most compelling books I have read in a long time. Periodically I had to put it down and walk away, regain my perspective and return to my own world, but I was never able to walk away for long. This book centers on the Zarkades family, Michael, Jolene, Betsy and Lulu. It is a book about family, friendship, war, loss, grief, courage, hope and most of all, love. The characters are complete with all the human flaws and frailties that are sometimes lacking in fiction. Jolene, a National Guard helicopter pilot, committed and courageous, willing to die for her country even while being scared that she might do just that. Yet she is also controlling, presumably as a result of her childhood where she learned that she could depend on no one else. Michael, a defense attorney, restless and trying to find a way to cope with the recent death of his father. Betsy, 12 years old and dealing with the typical pre-teen issues of peer pressure and wanting to grow up before she's ready and whose favorite word is "whatever". And Lulu, 5 years old and ... well, 5 years old, need I say more? These are the most real characters I have come across in a work of fiction recently. There is nothing flat or unbelievable about any of these people. They are good people, nice people; we like them and care about them, even when they aren't being very likeable. Things haven't been quite right between Jolene and Michael, but Jolene is sure it's just a blip and that this too shall pass. Until the night that Michael informs her he "doesn't love (her) anymore". Jolene is devastated but certain they can work through this, until the next day when she receives the news: her National Guard unit is being deployed to Iraq. Jolene's departure is tragic for all. For Betsy it is the embarrassment of having a mother in the military, the lack of a mother to guide her through those pre-teen traumas. For Michael it is that in his mind she "chose" the military over him, especially now when he is undergoing his own "mid-life crisis". And for little Lulu it is missing mommy to kiss her boo-boos, read her a story at bedtime and hold her when she's scared. One sub-plot is that Michael is currently representing a veteran of the Iraq war who is accused of killing his wife. He is suffering PTSD, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and Michael's defense is made more difficult by the fact that the young man doesn't seem to remember what happened the day his wife was killed. The research into this issue is obviously extensive and sheds light on that which most of us have only heard of in a vague sense. I don't do spoilers, so I leave it at this. This is Kristin Hannah at an all-time best, this is the book that needed to be written, and that I suspect was simmering in her thoughts for a long time. This book conveys the reality of a soldier going to war and returning someone different. I have read very little by Ms. Hannah before, but I am certain this is her best work to date and will be a tough act to follow. It is very emotionally intense, and one that I guarantee you will be glad you read and you won't soon forget.

Good writer

Great book

I liked everything about this book ..the author’s deep understanding of human character and the challenges women face when they try to live their dreams and choose careers dominated by men. All Kristin’s books have inspired me so much and helped understand how privileged we are right now and relate with the tragedies many people faced in the past in wars etc and many continue to face in the recent wars in Russia ,Ukraine,Israel,Palestine..seems that the modern world has not really been as progressive and humane as we would have wished it to be