Safe with Me: A Novel
A “compelling and thought-provoking” (Kristin Hannah) novel about two mothers and one daughter who are linked by tragedy and bound by secrets, from the acclaimed author of Heart Like Mine.
The screech of tires brought Hannah Scott’s world as she knew it to a devastating end. A year after she signed the papers to donate her daughter’s organs, Hannah is still reeling with grief when she unexpectedly stumbles into the life of the Bell family, whose fifteen-year-old daughter, Maddie, survived only because Hannah’s daughter had died. Mesmerized by this fragile connection to her own daughter and afraid to reveal who she actually is, Hannah develops a surprising friendship with Maddie’s mother, Olivia.
The Bells, however, have problems of their own. Once on the verge of leaving her wealthy but abusive husband, Olivia now finds herself bound to him in the wake of the transplant that saved their daughter’s life. Meanwhile, Maddie, tired of the limits her poor health puts upon her and fearful of her father’s increasing rage, regularly escapes into the one place where she can be anyone she wants: the Internet. But when she is finally healthy enough to return to school, the real world proves to be just as complicated as the isolated bubble she had been so eager to escape.
A masterful narrative shaped by nuanced characters whose delicate bonds are on a collision course with the truth, Safe with Me is a riveting triumph.
Publisher : Atria Books
Publication date : March 4, 2014
Language : English
Print length : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 1476704414
ISBN-13 : 978-1476704418
Item Weight : 10.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.9 x 8.25 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #2,419,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #4,347 in Women’s Divorce Fiction #5,216 in Mothers & Children Fiction #12,770 in Women’s Domestic Life Fiction
Customer Reviews: 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (416) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
$14.97
A “compelling and thought-provoking” (Kristin Hannah) novel about two mothers and one daughter who are linked by tragedy and bound by secrets, from the acclaimed author of Heart Like Mine.
The screech of tires brought Hannah Scott’s world as she knew it to a devastating end. A year after she signed the papers to donate her daughter’s organs, Hannah is still reeling with grief when she unexpectedly stumbles into the life of the Bell family, whose fifteen-year-old daughter, Maddie, survived only because Hannah’s daughter had died. Mesmerized by this fragile connection to her own daughter and afraid to reveal who she actually is, Hannah develops a surprising friendship with Maddie’s mother, Olivia.
The Bells, however, have problems of their own. Once on the verge of leaving her wealthy but abusive husband, Olivia now finds herself bound to him in the wake of the transplant that saved their daughter’s life. Meanwhile, Maddie, tired of the limits her poor health puts upon her and fearful of her father’s increasing rage, regularly escapes into the one place where she can be anyone she wants: the Internet. But when she is finally healthy enough to return to school, the real world proves to be just as complicated as the isolated bubble she had been so eager to escape.
A masterful narrative shaped by nuanced characters whose delicate bonds are on a collision course with the truth, Safe with Me is a riveting triumph.
Publisher : Atria Books
Publication date : March 4, 2014
Language : English
Print length : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 1476704414
ISBN-13 : 978-1476704418
Item Weight : 10.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.9 x 8.25 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #2,419,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #4,347 in Women’s Divorce Fiction #5,216 in Mothers & Children Fiction #12,770 in Women’s Domestic Life Fiction
Customer Reviews: 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (416) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Laurel-Rain Snow –
TRAGEDY, SECRETS, & STARTING OVER
When Hannah decides that, after a failed relationship, she should pursue her desire for children on her own, she uses a sperm donor and gives birth to Emily, the daughter who is everything she has ever wanted in a family.But in one pivotal moment, twelve-year-old Emily is killed–struck by a car in front of their house. Submerged in grief, Hannah at first rejects the idea of donating Emily’s organs, but then changes her mind.Now, a year later, she is still struggling with her grief and loss. She has moved from the Seattle home she shared with her daughter to an apartment over the new salon she is renovating. Her one friend and partner, Sophie, continues to manage the downtown salon.Then one day, a woman and her teenaged daughter walk into the newly opened salon that Hannah owns, and she feels an instant connection to Olivia and Maddie. How will Hannah discover just what binds them together? And as Hannah and Olivia grow closer, what dirty secrets does Hannah discover are hiding behind the doors of the upscale home where Olivia, Maddie, and her husband James live? What will finally bring the truth to light?Narrated from Hannah’s, Olivia’s, and Maddie’s perspective, Safe with Me: A Novel was an emotionally engaging read that had me eagerly turning pages. While the coincidences of the story seemed a bit convenient, I absolutely loved the tale anyway, hoping against hope that there would be a satisfactory resolution. Five stars.
J&B Reviews –
Interesting premise, interesting story.
By taking on both domestic violence and organ donation and weaving them together into a cohesive whole Amy Hatvany has created a novel that is riveting from start to finish. She tells the story through the eyes of Hannah, Maddie and Olivia. Hannah is the mother of eleven year old Emily who dies when she rides her bike into the path of a car. Hannah donates Emily’s organs and her liver goes to Maddie who literally receives this gift in the nick of time. Olivia is Maddie’s mother who has been battered by her husband (and Maddie’s father) for years. She stays because she believes that if she tries to leave, James will make sure that she never sees Maddie again. It’s not an unrealistic fear. James has the kind of money and connections to make it happen.A year later the three meet and begin to help each other to find a way out of the darkness and into the light. How they are able to get to this light is the meat of this story. By telling it with three distinct voices the author makes it possible for the reader to really understand what is going on in Hannah’s grief stricken mind. As well as what it feels like to be Olivia, who walks on eggshells at home while trying to help Maddie make the most of her second chance at life. And Maddie who is now a healthy, normal teenager except she has no idea how to be a healthy normal teenager after being sick for most of her life.There are some small things that made me decide to give the book 4 stars instead of 5 but overall I enjoyed it very much and would absolutely recommend it.
Prindaville –
Beautifully crafted tale of true courage.
From donating organs due to a child’s fatal accident to surviving abuse, this novel grips the reader and doesn’t let go.The author deftly describes the complexity and incredible generosity involved in donating a child’s organs. She explores the emotional complexity of being an organ recipient. This insightful book goes on to describe the hottest of domestic violence. The characters are easy for the reader to identify with. In the end this book defines emotional courage and resilience. I highly recommend this exceedingly excellent novel by a talented and versatile author.
Ellie –
A good one-time read
I like many of this author’s books, but was not as enthralled with this one. It is just too unbelievable to be convincing or riveting. It is the story of the mother of an organ donor finding the recipient, and befriending the girl’s own mother. Both women have their troubles- one is grieving for her dead child and the other has an ill daughter and an abusive husband. That the two would connect is unlikely. Maddie, the recipient, also shares her feelings and problems in the book. It is well-written and I enjoyed it-once. It is not the type of book you would re-read . Better to borrow it from the library.
Susan L. –
Safe with Me
Issues of transplants and the ripple effect of the procedure were developed and made for continued interest. Characters were interesting and plot developed well until the very end when all loose ends were too easily dispatched.
Bitsy Kemper –
Heartbreaking and sentimental at same time
Story about a transplant between two teens and how it affects both families. No spoilers other than that. Good read.
JoanZenn –
Loved it!!! Skillfully written!
Amy Hatvany is an amazing storyteller. I stayed up until 5 a.m. reading this book because I could not put it down. I HAD to know what was going to happen next. Ms. Hatvany writes in a way that draws you in from the first page and doesn’t let you go until the last page of the book, and then the story stays with you because it’s so powerful and emotional.I would recommend this book, and all of Ms. Hatvany’s books, to anyone who enjoys reading.
Stillwaters –
Excellent Read
This book grabbed me within minutes. Knowing a bit about domestic abuse, I found it to be spot on accurate in both detail and mixed emotions. This was my first Amy Hatvany novel but will not be the last.
Mrs. T. Stephens –
Have now read all of Amy Hatvany’s books and am sad that I will have to wait until a new one comes out. I read this book in an afternoon, I just didn’t want to stop reading. Her writing style is so flowing, and her characters very believable, and her subject matter so thought provoking that you just want to devour the book. Chick-lit it is definitely not, but once you have read one of her books, you will want to read them all. Perfect reading for a book group too, would recommend this, or any of her previous books to anyone who enjoys women’s contemporary fiction.
Rosie –
What a great book – I couldn’t put it down. Really well written, great style and scene setting. My heart went out to all the characters and the story made me laugh and cry!
Amy Coupe-Harris –
As with very other book of Amy’s I knew I’d love it, so much so that I didn’t read the blurb before buying it. This sadly is a story I can relate to in some sense so it played with my brain in such a way that was hard at times but to read this story was almost closure for myself. Olivia reminds me of myself, I know she’ll recover and become strong 🙂 thank you Amy for another thrilling page turner
Kate Bible –
Loved this book. Very easy to read and couldn’t put it down. Enjoyed that different characters write the chapters. The book has you from the very first page. Will read more of this author.
Carol Nolan –
I read this book as part of the book club list and was amazed by the content as l was completely unaware of these things happening. Remains in my mind and has left a lasting impression.