Firefly Lane: A Novel
From the New York Times bestselling author of On Mystic Lake comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship….
In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all – beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.
So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.
From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success…and loneliness.
Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her…how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend….
For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship – jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart…and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.
Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone’s Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it’s the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It’s about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you – and knows what has the power to hurt you…and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you’ll never forget…one you’ll want to pass on to your best friend.
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From the New York Times bestselling author of On Mystic Lake comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship….
In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all – beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.
So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.
From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success…and loneliness.
Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her…how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend….
For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship – jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart…and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.
Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone’s Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it’s the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It’s about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you – and knows what has the power to hurt you…and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you’ll never forget…one you’ll want to pass on to your best friend.
D.R. Bennett –
What does it take to become lifelong friends?
Kristin Hannah is an exquisite writer! Many of her books bring tears, at least for me, but somehow this one (which evolved into a series) touched me very, very much. Great characters, wonderful settings, and a complex but absorbing story. Two girls who live across the street from each other in Snohomish, WA, not far from Seattle, are very different–one has everything she could want, and the other has almost nothing. One has a family, one has an aged aunt, who dies, leaving her the owner of property she can’t live in because she’s too young to live alone legally. Kate’s family takes her in. Tully is complex and driven, wanting a big life that can fulfill all her wishes to become someone important. Kate, who is a cared for and loved child, is not too sure of what she wants. So, she follows Tully into a plan for college and working together and being lifelong friends. How that plan plays out is what makes the book so readable and wonderful.
Arabella –
A Friendship Forever!
“Firefly Lane” is another excellent read from Kristin Hannah. This tells the story of 2 girls who become best friends for life and how their lives unfold. They are teenagers when their friendship begins and they each have something in their lives that precludes their being the most popular girl in school. They plan their lives together and take the same majors in college. Ultimately their lives go in different directions but their friendship remains strong. I loved the book, and I always enjoy works by Kristin Hannah.
Baltic Mermaid –
A dynamic story with some heartfelt moments and a bright Hollywood movie feel
The book was interesting to read, with all kinds of twists and turns a story about everyday life should have. To some, such stories about mundane things seem boring, but to me, people’s lives are the most exciting thing to explore through books. Still, the characters’ actions and choices, the direction the plot takes after two main characters enter adulthood, kept causing frustration in me that I couldn’t suppress.It isn’t that I couldn’t connect with the characters. I usually don’t need to like them to enjoy reading about them. The main issue for me was that they didn’t get any kind of closure. The author has hinted in a way that both main characters were happy with the choices they made in their lives. Alas, I didn’t feel it. Maybe – probably – it’s the problem of my personal perception.In the centre of the plot, there are two women, Kate and Tully. They meet at the most vulnerable age of fourteen, absolutely different in everything, from their background to their level of popularity at school. And they become friends for life. I liked the portrait of their controversial friendship spanning over three decades. That’s how it often is in real life. Two gentle rosebuds of women rarely can stay interested in each other to stay friends for so long. Almost always, one is the leader, while the other one follows them, making certain sacrifices along the way.The love triangle and how it played out at the end, is what hasn’t worked for me. Kate’s insecurities about her husband kept frustrating me rather than caused sympathy. And because this plot line dragged through the big part of the book, when it came to a heart-wrenching finale, I simply couldn’t automatically switch to the “and still, you’ve always been the only one whom I truly loved” idea. As I said, other readers might feel differently. But for me, it was like that.I’m grateful to the author for showing how beautiful saying goodbye to your close one can be. The death of someone you love will always be the most painful experience in any person’s life. There will never be anything positive about it. But Kristin Hannah has drawn a picture of a perfect parting, the way it should be in modern society. We proclaim that human life is the most precious thing, the highest value. While in reality, death is treated with embarrassment, with most people averting their eyes and pretending that it’s nothing special, which makes the experience even more painful.To sum up, the story of Tully and Kate, two women who chose different paths in their lives, is dynamic, with some heartfelt moments and a bright Hollywood movie feel.
KymmLisa –
The Memories Came Rushing Back!
Leave it to Kristin Hannah to leave me laughing then crying all within the pages of one book, again! Firefly Lane was a trip down memory lane for me. I grew up and was the exact age Kate and Tully were in 1974, so the songs, the lingo, the clothes and the times were all my memories brought back to life. My thoughts and feelings were all over the place while I read this wonderful book. The seventies were a crazy, mixed up time to be a teen and Hannah brought it to life again brilliantly. I could almost feel the angst of my teen years all over again and the despair of not being old enough, but thinking I was so grown up!Tully and Kate couldn’t be more different, but when Tully moves in across the street from Kate in 1974 Kate’s world will never be the same. Kate is not in the popular group, which as you know is a death sentence in middle school. Tully is new to town and she’s different, which makes her a novelty and an instant popular girl. Kate is curious and watches her house with wonder. One night purely by accident after a tragic event Tully runs into Kate and they strike up a conversation. Tully shares her traumatic incident with Kate and the bond of friendship is formed with the secret. They are now and forever best friends and become known as TullyandKate.Kate’s mom is a typical stay at home mom who works hard to keep her children on the right path. She’s always doing what’s best for her children and worries Tully may be a bad influence on her daughter. Tully’s mom is an alcoholic and drug addict who barely knows her daughter exists. Tully has no relationship with her and is shuffled back and forth to her grandmother’s house whenever her mom decides to just leave, with no explanation. Tully is always hoping for more from her mom, but her mom doesn’t have the capacity to care. Kate’s family eventually rushes in to help Tully and opens up her world to what family really means.The two girls, now women go their separate ways after college. Tully is all about her career in journalism and gaining fame and wealth, Kate on the other hand enjoys writing, but quietly wants love, marriage and children, not the most popular choice for women in the 80’s, but it is what it is. She begins working with Tully in the journalism field, but her heart is not in it. Tully goes on to become a national star in the news world and Kate settle down to become a wonderful wife and mother, with all the challenges and joys that brings.This book really got to me. I don’t cry over books, until now. I saw myself so much in this book it was scary. I was a fourteen year old, as Tully and Kate were in 1974 when the world seemed so hard for a teen, when every decision seemed to be so big and came with such consequences that you second guessed every one. The songs Hannah mentioned, the foods she brought up and even the language the girls spoke were the ones I knew and spoke myself. I had a best friend that I got into “trouble” with, I drove my mother to distraction, I pushed every limit and I survived. I’m sorry to say I lost contact with my best friend after college, but this was part of the reason for my tears. I missed out on the rest of what could have been a lifetime of memories with her. I did reach out to her on FB after I read the book, still waiting to hear back. Another amazing part of the book, for me anyway is the unsung heroes, stay at home moms! If you’ve raised a teen daughter or are in the process of doing so, CONGRATULATIONS! When my daughter was a teen I was sure she was abducted by aliens and replaced with a being I did not know! It was the most challenging time of motherhood for me. I worked full time while raising children, but I admire women who choose to be full time moms, I couldn’t do it. It’s ten times harder than going to work everyday! They all deserve medals and hazard pay!If you’ve ever had a best friend who has been there through thick and thin, has been your secret keeper, your dance partner, or even your therapist this one is for you. If you’ve raised a teen girl and think it’s just you or your daughter, this one’s for you. And if you want a book that will take you on a journey through every emotion you can feel, this one’s for you. It’s a masterpiece of love, friendship, family, hardship, redemption and hope and I loved every single word. I’ve loved Kristin Hannah for years and always find her books to be moving, with each one better than the last. This one really got to me and I can’t wait to read the sequel! It was so fitting that I finished it on the first day of the new year, it just seemed like the perfect look back on my memories to get a better understanding of why I am who I am in this time and I am reminded that I too was once a teenage girl who drove her mother nuts! Happy Reading!
Lrrose –
Firefly lane girls
I thoroughly enjoyed every word and every moment of this novel. It will make you mad, sad, and glad all at the same time. Watching Tully and Katie grow was such a reward. The novel took me back to my teenage years and growing up & fighting with my own parents. I’m so grateful for the reminder of my loving life.
Swarnim Agrawal –
Loved this book!!A heart touching and enthralling story!!Hats off to Kristin Hannah!!One of the best novels on Friendship which I have ever read!!A Must Read!!
Irma –
Un libro assolutamente da leggere, travolgente e che non vorresti finisse mai
hero_of_canton –
It’s 1974 and Kate Mullarkey is a teenaged girl at the bottom of the high school social pecking order until Tully Hart moves in across the road. Tully is instantly the coolest girl in school and also wants to be friends with Kate. They become best friends and begin planning the rest of their lives together and though their lives change along the way, their friendship remains the one constant until an act of betrayal changes everything. When tragedy strikes, can they put their differences aside and come back together one last time?I watched the first series of Firefly Lane a while ago on Netflix and loved it but with one thing or another I haven’t got round to watching the second series yet. I saw the book in the 99p sale for Kindle when I was stocking up for my holiday but have only just got round to reading it.I know there are definitely some differences between the book and the tv show but it’s a while since I watched the show so I’m not sure exactly how different it is.I absolutely loved this. Hannah’s writing drew me in and kept me wanting more. It had such a nice flow to it, which made for a very easy read. The slight feeling of familiarity from watching the show was kind of comforting and at its best the friendship between Kate and Tully reminded me of my own best friends.I don’t want to spoil anything but for someone who doesn’t tend to be overly emotional I was almost crying at my desk towards the end of this yesterday.It’s honestly a lovely, wholesome story of female friendships and the ways they change and grow over the years.
まっさん –
Kristin HannahさんのNight Roadがあまりにも面白かったのでアマゾンで取り寄せました。この人は本当に悲しいストーリーを書くのが好きですね。「育児放棄された女の子」と「育ちのいい女の子」が高校時代に出逢い、そこから大親友として二人で人生を共に過ごしていきます。キャリアをとるか、家庭をとるか、そのような二人の葛藤がお互いを傷つけあいながら、そして励まし合いながらストーリーが展開していきます。ただ、Night Roadと比べると、明らかにドキドキ度、せつなさ度がおとります。どうも登場人物を好きになることが出来ませんでした。478ページとなかなかのボリュームがありますが、話が面白くなってきたのは最後の１００ページくらいです。Night Roadを読むことを強くお勧めします。
Kendy –
Two very close friends, one from ” the wrong side of the tracks”. That didn’t matter to the other friend. They had formed such a strong bond between them. A wonderful story between friends and Kristen Hannah has weaved such a heart rending story. Keep the tissues handy!