Night Road by Kristin Hannah

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable. 

Jude does everything to keep her kids safe and on track for college. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them. 

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

This is the second book of Hannah's I have read. It is also the second time she has led me on an emotional roller coaster. Hannah has an innate ability to write such emotionally charged characters that you can't help but care about.

Jude, mother of twins Mia and Zach, wants nothing more than the best for her kids. She gives them freedoms while still hovering. She is a helicopter mom. So, when Lexi enters their kids lives she is hesitant to let her in. After a while they all welcome Lexi into their family which makes everything especially hard when tragedy strikes. Now, they all have to live with the decisions they made on that fateful day.

That sounds kind of predictable, right? I thought so too and it is sometimes. But Hannah's story telling brings you so far in so quickly that you just don't care. Then, she throws in a twist. Then, another twist. It all becomes very hard to put down. There were moments where I skimmed paragraphs, the author sometimes gets carried away with details, and the ending felt rushed and slightly forced. But, the characters, oh the characters, they made up for any flaws in the book. I loved them all. I felt frustrated with them, happy for them, sad with them and everything in between. One of the definitions of a good book, for me, is when all is said and done and you put it down, you feel like you have lost a friend. I felt that with this book. I didn't want it to end because I wanted to know more and see where these characters lives take them.

All in all, this is another great book from Kristin Hannah. I will be reading more from her in the future.

4 out of  5 stars

GET IT HERE: Night Road
Also, check out: Winter Garden Another great book by Kristin Hannah.