Book Review: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Synopsis: We meet Tully and Kate when they're preteens in the early 70s when Tully moves into the run down house across the street from Kate's family. They couldn't be more different. Kate is envious of Tully's looks and popularity despite her attempts at hiding her drug addicted mother. Meanwhile Kate seems to have it all with her own horse, an older brother and parents who are still together including a mother who is very supportive. Somehow Firefly Lane forgets these differences and they become best friends forever. From the 70s era to the early 2000s, we follow 30 years of TullyandKate as they follow their dreams and ambition.
Review: I cried throughout this story even though the 2nd time through I knew what was going to happen. This is a beautiful example of what a lifelong friendship looks like. There are plenty of ups & downs and what life looks like when you come from different backgrounds. Together they overcome teenage drama and angst, a crime, “crazy” parents, and so much more. On the outside, TullyandKate are very different people and on the inside they just want the same things - to be loved and accomplish success in their own ways. Tully is gorgeous and popular, eating up the attention that she never gets from her drug addict mother and absentee father. Kate is much more reserved and passive and comes from a “traditional” family with her both her parents present and a younger brother. Their strong sisterhood like bond is sometimes unexplainable, but also intriguing and loveable.
The storyline switches back and forth between their teenage lives together, their lives as adults together, and their separate lives as adults. They dream of becoming journalists, or rather Tully dreams of them being journalists together. Eventually they grow up and while their lives in separate directions, their bond keeps them together. Tully lands her dream job as a reporter and eventually has her own talk show, but is often wondering why she still feels unfilled despite having everything she ever dreamed of and worked so hard for. Kate is a stay at home mom with a teenager and twins, but isn’t fully content despite having all she ever dreamed of, often wondering what would’ve happened if she had followed in Tully’s footsteps. They both feel unfulfilled despite having everything they thought they wanted. How can someone have so much yet feel like they have nothing?
I wish I had written a review the first time I read this book 10 years ago to see how my opinion changed, if at all. What I do remember is that it impacted me a lot more than I expected because I knew the ending. I also remember insisting that my mom read it because I wanted someone to talk to about it and this was well before I knew that online book clubs existed, let alone being Instagram.
Netflix Adaptation: While some of the major plot lines were changed, there are still some similarities. The characters back stories are close to the book with some tweaks. I really like how they casted the actors for each character and are telling their stories through flashbacks to explain why things are the way they are in the present. I can't wait for the 2nd season!
