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The year is 1974. The Vietnam War is over, but the battles against inner demons, struggles, and the psychological scars left on people’s minds, hearts, and souls continue.

The Allbright family craved a fresh start, a new life—but their choice of destination was the wildest, harshest, and most unforgiving place imaginable.

Welcome to Kaneq, Alaska.

Correction: This was not a family decision. It was Ernt Allbright’s choice. A Vietnam veteran haunted by trauma and anger, he forced his wife, Cora, and their brilliant, young daughter, Leni, to follow him to this remote wilderness. Cora, already suffering from the aftermath of Ernt’s violent outbursts, reluctantly went along, and Leni, confused and powerless, obeyed. They tried their best to adapt, to build a home in the middle of nowhere, and to appease Ernt.

But it wasn’t the wild animals or the brutal, freezing weather that terrified mother and daughter. The true monster lived inside their home. Ernt, claiming to protect them from the dangers of the outside world, was, in reality, trapping them in a prison of his own making.

Cora endured his verbal abuse and physical violence in silence, hoping to shield Leni from harm. But when Ernt’s rage turned toward their daughter, something inside Cora snapped. That moment became a turning point—a final test of her courage and resilience. To protect Leni, Cora had to make the ultimate sacrifice, changing their lives forever in one fateful night.

I could write “I LOVE THIS BOOK! I LOVE THIS BOOK! I LOVE THIS BOOK!�� a million times, and it still wouldn’t be enough! Not only was The Great Alone my favorite book of last year, but it has also earned a spot on my list of all-time favorites.

Kristin Hannah first captured my heart and all the tears my body could produce with her masterpiece, The Nightingale. (Fun fact: I cried so much while reading it that I developed dry eye syndrome for a year! My red, swollen eyes even traumatized a few kids. Stephen King probably could have written a sequel to The Shining called Red-Rimmed, starring a redheaded woman who steals people’s tears in the dead of night. Okay, maybe not, but you get the idea!)

Now, I’m rereading The Great Alone, and I already know the last chapters will leave me an emotional wreck. At least the ending isn’t as devastating as The Nightingale—thank you, Kristin Hannah, for showing mercy this time!

Next on my list is Firefly Lane, which is being adapted into a TV series starring Katherine Heigl. I’ll probably skip the show, though—I don’t want casting choices to ruin my love for the story.

Summary: Kristin Hannah is one of the most talented, creative, and inspirational authors on the planet. Her books never fail to captivate me, and I can read them over and over again without ever getting bored.

As for The Great Alone? I LOVED IT THREE MILLION TIMES!