Fly Away by Kristin Hannah

Trying to find some strength in what remains..., July 13, 2013

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program (What's this?)

Maniuplative, melodramatic and relentlessly depressing, this sequel to FIREFLY LANE finishes the story of Tully and Kate. Theirs was a lifelong friendship that began on a summer night when both were feeling abaonded and misunderstood. They found a kindred spirit in each other and were inseparable through young adulthood and that story is told in the first novel that should definitely be read first.

FLY AWAY returns to the two women and the other characters about 30 years later. Kate's family and Tully are devastated by Kate's death and most of this book focuses on everyone trying to find a way to go on afterward. Let's just say that no one is able to do that and everything and everyone is basically a total mess. There's a complete breakdown of the relationships and communication. Tully is not the only one on a self destructive bent, but she manages to almost destroy herself. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but the author uses a narrative twist and trick that I hate -- so either Tully has drug induced delusions and hallucinations or Kate is speaking to her from beyond.

I should have just skipped this one and can't believe that millions of fans were clamoring for this story but I bet that most who have read FIREFLY LANE will not be able to pass it up even if they end up being disappointed by the conclusion. Echoing other reviewers, I am just glad that there was no matchmaking involved as that was all that saved this. I really didn't like any of the characters or care how they repaired all the mistakes they made.