Fly Away by Kristin Hannah

*** My Review ***

Fly Away by Kristin Hannah

“Fly Away” by Kristin Hannah is an emotional and heartfelt novel that explores the themes of grief, healing, and forgiveness. The book is a sequel to “Firefly Lane” and picks up several years after the events of the first book.

The story centers around Tully Hart, a successful television host who has lost her way after the tragic death of her best friend, Kate. Tully is haunted by guilt and regret, as she feels responsible for the events that led to Kate’s death. She has become estranged from Kate’s family, including Kate’s husband Johnny and their daughter Marah, who she once considered her own family.

As Tully struggles to come to terms with her grief and rebuild her life, she is forced to confront the past and the mistakes she has made. She begins to reconnect with Johnny and Marah, who are also dealing with their own grief and struggles. Together, they must navigate the difficult terrain of loss, forgiveness, and the complicated bonds of family.

One of the strengths of “Fly Away” is Hannah’s ability to capture the complex emotions and relationships between the characters. The novel is told from multiple perspectives, allowing readers to get inside the heads of Tully, Johnny, and Marah. Each character is fully realized and has their own unique voice and struggles. Hannah does an excellent job of portraying the grief and trauma that the characters are experiencing, without being overly sentimental or melodramatic.
Another strength of the novel is its pacing. The story moves quickly and keeps readers engaged throughout. The plot is well-crafted and full of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end. However, the novel does have some heavy moments that may be difficult for some readers to handle.

One of the central themes of the novel is the power of forgiveness. Tully must learn to forgive herself for the mistakes she has made, as well as ask for forgiveness from those she has hurt. Johnny and Marah must also come to terms with their own feelings of anger and betrayal towards Tully. Hannah handles this theme with sensitivity and nuance, showing that forgiveness is a difficult and complicated process, but one that is ultimately necessary for healing and moving forward.

Another theme of the novel is the importance of family. Despite the strained relationships between Tully, Johnny, and Marah, they are all still bound together by their love for Kate and their shared experiences. The novel shows that family can be messy and complicated, but it is ultimately worth fighting for.

In terms of weaknesses, “Fly Away” does rely heavily on the events of the first book, “Firefly Lane,” and readers who have not read the first book may find it difficult to fully understand the backstory and relationships between the characters. Additionally, some readers may find the novel to be too sentimental or clichéd at times.

At times, reading this book felt like a test of endurance, with little respite from the gloomy and disheartening tone throughout. The scarce moments of upliftment only surfaced towards the end, where the pieces of the puzzle finally came together in a satisfying way.

While the backstory of Cloud/Dorothy was a saving grace and added some much-needed depth to her character, the rest of the book seemed to rehash too much of what we already knew from “Firefly Lane”. Despite this, the multiple perspectives of the same events did offer some insight into the nuances of each character’s experiences.

While my personal opinion of the book is not overwhelmingly positive, it is important to acknowledge that I am in the minority, as many readers have found great enjoyment in its pages. So, if you choose to embark on this literary journey, I hope it proves to be a fulfilling and captivating experience for you.

However, it must be mentioned that the last 100 pages were truly remarkable and where the story truly came alive. So much so that I found myself unable to put the book down and even stayed up late into the night to finish it.

I couldn’t agree more that the ending of the book was absolutely breathtaking and exceeded all expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Kristin Hannah had written a sequel to “Firefly Lane”, and this alone was enough to make the book deserving of at least three stars in my opinion.

While this book may not have been my favorite from the author, I still appreciate the effort and creativity that went into crafting this story. Although I personally wish that the plot had taken a different direction for the majority of the book, I am nevertheless grateful to have had the opportunity to accompany Tully, Johnny, and the rest of the gang on yet another thrilling adventure.

Despite my mixed feelings about this book, there is no denying that “Firefly Lane” will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s like returning to a familiar and beloved home, filled with cherished memories and familiar faces that I have grown to love over time.

Overall, “Fly Away” is a well-written and emotionally resonant novel that will appeal to fans of Kristin Hannah’s previous work. It is a powerful story of loss, healing, and forgiveness that will stay with readers long after they finish reading. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a moving and engaging story about the complexities of family and relationships.