featured author: Kristin Hannah

Author Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite contemporary authors. I’ve read several of her books, and she never ceases to amaze me. She is an extremely versatile author, covering so many topics and times in history in a way that is compelling and eye-opening.

Author Kristin Hannah’s bio from her website:

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical Fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year.  Additionally, it was a selection of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club in 2023. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week.  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.

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 bookstores’ bestseller lists.  Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by both the Today Show and the Book of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.  

The Nightingale is currently in production at Tri Star, with Dakota and Elle Fanning set to star.  Tri Star has also optioned The Great Alone and it is in development.  Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world in the week it came out.  

A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.

I have read these books by author Kristin Hannah:

The Nightingale

This book is the first one I read by author Kristin Hannah. I was drawn to it because it’s set during WWII. The focus is two very different sisters and their experiences throughout the war in German-occupied France. The older sister, Vianne, is forced to share her home with a German captain. The younger sister, Isabelle, joins the Resistance and risks everything to make a difference. Brilliant. Compelling. Full of heart and depth of emotion.

The Four Winds

I love this story of a courageous and strong woman, Elsa, and the challenges she encounters during the Dust Bowl in the Great Depression. She is forced to choose between staying on the land she loves or pursuing a better life in California. She faces countless hardships with strength and courage. This is not a light or easy read, but it’s so worth it.

Winter Garden

Family relationships–between sisters and between a mother and her daughters–star in this masterpiece. Author Kristin Hannah weaves an intricate and beautiful story about the struggles in this family. One daughter has dedicated her life to the family orchard, while the other has traveled the world as an acclaimed photojournalist. They reunite to help care for their ailing father and navigate a difficult relationship with their mother. Through their time together, they come to understand their mother in a new way.

True Colors

Another incredible story! Author Kristin Hannah shares a captivating tale about three very different sisters and their relationships with their stern father. The oldest sister, Winona, is a bookish lawyer who struggles to see her own worth. Aurora, the middle sister, tries to keep everyone together. Vivi Ann, the baby of the family, is the apple of her father’s eye. Her focus is on revitalizing their failing horse ranch. The story is full of rivalry, challenges, and forgiveness.

Magic Hour

Such a beautiful story! This may be my favorite of her books. The relationship between two sisters forms the backdrop of this work set in the Pacific Northwest. One sister is a struggling child psychiatrist; the other is a small-town police chief. They both use their gifts and experiences to help a small girl who has been through the unthinkable. It’s tragic and heartrending and so good.

The Women

This book explores the war in Vietnam through the eyes of a nurse, Frankie. She faces not only the harsh realities of war, but also the turbulent social and political challenges of the time. It’s an intimate view of her struggles as she comes to terms with who she is and what she wants out of life. A compelling tale of love, loss, and friendship.

Without fail, author Kristin Hannah gives us amazing stories full of heart, grit, determination, strength, and so much more.

This doesn’t mean that her stories are easy to read. My emotional response is so strong that I need to take time to process my feelings about the content. I’ve learned so much from her books, though, and I hope you appreciate them too. For more information about Kristin, go to her website.

Related posts:

• book review: The Women
• book club books
• featured author: Rebecca Connolly
• book review: Hidden Yellow Stars
• featured author: Dana LeCheminant

Fondly,

Crysti