This story is about what it was like to be a woman during World War II when women's stories were all too often forgotten or overlooked . . . Vianne and Isabelle Mauriac are two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals and passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path towards survival, love and freedom in war-torn France.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Heart-Squeezing, Tear-Summoning, Beautifully Told Adventure
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is the literary equivalent of being emotionally steamrolled… but, like, in a meaningful and strangely uplifting way. It’s historical fiction that grabs you by the heartstrings and yanks, then hands you a tissue and whispers, “You’re welcome.”
Following two very different sisters—Vianne, the rule-follower who just wants to keep her family safe, and Isabelle, the rebellious firecracker who hears “don’t” as “definitely do”—the novel takes you through occupied France with a mix of bravery, heartbreak, and unexpected humor. Their journeys are tense, moving, and packed with exactly the kind of drama that keeps you flipping pages even when you know another emotional gut-punch is coming.
Hannah’s writing is gorgeous without being fussy, and she balances the darkness of war with moments of fierce love, stubborn hope, and sisterly exasperation. You end up caring so much about these characters that you’ll mentally shout at them like they’re misbehaving contestants on a reality show.
Why four stars? Because while it’s undeniably powerful, it also leaves you feeling like you need a nap, a hug, and perhaps a pastry for emotional stabilisation.
A solid four stars: sweeping, sentimental, gripping—and perfect for anyone who loves historical fiction with brave women, big feelings, and storytelling that sticks with you long after the last page.
Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels. Her newest novel, The Women, about the nurses who served in the Vietnam war, will be released on February 6, 2024.
The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore's bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.
In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.
In 2015, The Nightingale became an international blockbuster and was Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week.
The Nightingale is currently in pre-production at Tri Star. Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.
A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.
