This is the first Kristin Hannah book I’ve ever read, and I feel like it was likely one of the first she wrote–she’s obviously incredibly prolific, but this one didn’t feel polished in terms of the plot, or the characters. It was entertaining enough that I finished it, but I also complained to my husband about it so much that he asked, “Why are you still reading it, then?”
The story follows Madeleine, a cardiologist and a single mom raising an utterly insufferable teenage daughter Lina (the narrator tries very hard to make you sympathize with Lina, but she’s irredeemably self-centered. There is seriously nothing likable about that character). Madeleine’s best friend is a priest (Francis) who is also in love with her (?!). Francis also happens to be the brother of Lina’s biological father Angel, who left Madeleine before he learned of Lina’s existence and went to Hollywood to become a mega-star. Only, Angel happens to have heart problems. (You can see where this is going from a mile away, right?)
I spent much of the story hoping against hope that Madeleine was going to turn around and realize that she loved Francis too, only I wasn’t sure how that would fly with Catholic readers who believe that priests should be celibate (they do, right?) So I figured that wasn’t likely to happen, but Francis is absolutely perfect in every way. I won’t spoil the story, but while I eventually realized where Francis’s story was going to go, I was mad at the author (the “god” of his story!) for using him for her own purposes like that. Angel, meanwhile, is just a smidgeon more likable as Lina–the only thing he has going for him is that he’s hot. And famous. While I’m ranting, Madeleine’s issues as a people-pleaser make her pretty infuriating too. I want main characters I identify with and root for, and I was just exasperated with her half the time.
Then again, I guess the fact that Hannah was able to make me feel so strongly about these people, even in a negative way, means she must be good.
There’s some explicit sex–skippable, but there, and I think in more than one scene–but it does end “happily ever after”, such as it is. So, there’s that.
My rating: ***
Language: some, but sparing
Violence: none really
Sexual content: present and you’re there for it (not fade-to-black) but I think there’s two scenes and you can skip them
Political content: none
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