Night Road

Kristin Hannah never fails to amaze me. I honestly cannot get enough of her stories. This book tore through every emotion I have. I felt everything: love, heartbreak, anger, hope, all tangled together as I moved through the pages. The mother in me led the way while reading, but even beyond that, I was furious, heartbroken, and completely undone. There were moments I wanted to cry, moments I wanted to scream, and moments I just sat in silence trying to catch my breath. From the very beginning, I connected deeply with Jude. She felt so real, a mother who loved fiercely but wasn’t perfect. She had the kind of family and life many dream about. When tragedy struck, watching her unravel was both painful and haunting. I understood her pain on a human level, but I also struggled with some of her choices as time went on. It’s one of those situations where you think you know how you’d react until life throws you into the unthinkable. Reading her story from the outside made it easy to judge, but it also reminded me how impossible grief can be to navigate. The bond between Mia, Zach, and Lexi was written so beautifully that it nearly broke me. Their story felt pure and true, and when it all fell apart, I was gutted. Lexi especially stole my heart. Her major decision in this book had me saying nooooooo out loud, knowing that the worst was going to happen, and again, my feelings were completely at odds with what I should have felt as a mom, but seeing this young woman who had already been through hell in her life, beating herself up, and knowing the whole story had me all confused. The strength and determination she showed toward the end were nothing short of remarkable. She deserved every ounce of peace and happiness she could find after all she endured. Bottom line...She deserved "Grace". It was also so confusing because in the end, there was no bad guy in this whole emotional story. I think that's what made it the hardest. Every person in this book deserved every ounce of peace and happiness. This book is devastating and beautiful all at once. It’s the kind of story that lingers long after you close it. I can easily say it’s my favorite so far, though, truthfully, every Kristin Hannah book feels like a favorite for its own reason. I can’t wait to read more of her work.

I normally don’t write reviews but I think I’ll think about this book for a very long time! After reading some of the negative reviews, I was extremely nervous that I was wasting my time. But it was the exact opposite! I will agree, this book was overly descriptive at parts and could have been 50-100 pages less but it still was a beautiful story. Navigating grief is different for everyone, so any review complaining about Jude’s storyline and how she handled her situation poorly is complaining to complain. As a mom of twins, I couldn’t imagine losing one of them, let alone any child. Time moves fast and she healed the way she needed to. I also think the love story was perfect and ended exactly how it needed to be. I don’t need to talk a lot about it, just read this book 😊 I would 100% recommend this book and I am so happy I stuck with it!

I usually don't write reviews, but instead just leave a numerical rating of my opinion of a book. I gave Night Road: A Novel by Kristin Hannah a 5, but I really wish I could give it a 10! Before reading the book, I had read overviews of the story and knew that some kind of tragedy was going to happen. I didn't realize it would involve the loss of a child and the profound ways that event would affect the family and friends of the child. I, too, have lost a child so this book has dredged up so many of the emotions and feelings of anger I experienced when my son, Michael, passed away in 2017. He was 37 at the time and is now forever 37. Michael had been out to a bar and had also had to much to drink. As he was walking home he stumbled maybe, was startled maybe, but he did fall and hit his head hard, so very hard, on a metal fence. He suffered an unsurvivable traumatic brain injury. He was in the Neuro ICU for 10 days before brain death was declared and two days later became an organ donor. Forgive me if that was too much information but it was meant to let you know in a few words how I am connected to this story. I most relate to the character of Jude Farraday as she was the mother who lost a child. I completely understood a lot of the feelings and overwhelming sadness and the many "if onlys" Jude experienced. Everyone's grief journey is different, very much like a roller coaster ride. Emotions are up and down, peaks and valleys for a long time. The grief never ends, but it eventually becomes a part of your life that is bearable though can still feel like a punch in the belly at the drop of a hat. I remember the feelings of wanting to be left alone, the wanting to just curl up into a ball in a dark hole, the wanting to sit and do nothing, the anger at God for taking my son when he should have taken me. Michael was just beginning his life and I was old and had had a life. It took me several years to become productive again. Unlike Jude in the book, I was the primary caregiver to my daughter's two children. I always say they saved my life. They gave me a reason to get up and function during the day. At night after making dinner for my husband and me, I would just sit on the couch and watch tv. My quilt making hobby pretty much stopped and all I did was watch tv and maybe occasionally read a book. Jude's journey through her grief was different from mine but yet very similar in some ways. It was cathartic to read her story. It never ceases to amaze me how exquisitely Kristin Hannah can tap into emotions and feelings so perfectly. I have never cried so much reading a book, so keep some tissues handy. This book, with all the feels, has a wonderful ending, which is actually a glorious beginning for the Farraday family in this heartfelt and touching novel.

Bought it for my spouse and she loved it

Loved it from start to end, as i have loved all of this author’s books so far. I ts been a ling time since ive enjoyed a good book which i cant wait to read.

Live reading her books. This one was so good.

Wow Wow Wow what a great book. After reading The Nightingale earlier this yearI fell in love with the writing of Kristin Hannah. Today I finished Night Road and I can say one thing I will read other books written by her. Night Road is an emotional roller coaster.

As usual Kristen doesn’t disappoint. Beautiful story about love and loss. I needed my tissues and felt for every character whose lives were impacted and their sad long journey afterwards. Brilliant .