A harrowing but inspiring tale. Honestly, I was most struck by the courage of Shores, a college student who understands what it means to be a man.

A heartfelt, gut-wrenching account of one of the worst days in Boston's history. And also, one of it's greatest.

A powerful read. I ran Boston in 2015 and 2016 and I really enjoyed the look at the lives of those affected by the bombing and how they came together.

I can't believe its taken me so long to get this review up considering I finished this book awhile ago and I loved it. Then again I don't really have words for this book other then GO READ IT. No like I really really really loved this book. I cried. It was just a book that I really need in my life.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book.

I watched Patriot Day about the bombing and then felt i had to read this wonderful book right away.
The Boston Marathon is the oldest foot race in America, with a 120 year history, and in the 2013 race over 23,000 runners from around the world participated, and an estimated one million spectators lined the race route. Then the bombing occurred forever changing America and Boston.

This is a very intense read, at times I had to put it down and return to it. It is a very honest heartfelt accounting by a survivor of Boston's April 15, 2013 marathon. Roseann Sdoia, was one of the injured spectators. This is her story by also that of Officer Shana Cottone, a member of Boston's finest, Boston firefighter Mike Materia, and Northeastern University student Shores Salter, a young man who ran into the smoke to help the wounded. This is a tribute to brave Americans who ran into danger to help and the survivors who came out stronger and determined like Roseann. It is their story and it is told here with great reverence for all the survivors and the strength of the people of Boston. You will be touched by her story and resilience, and hold her and everyone affected forever in your heart. A wonderful book. Thank you with gratitude for the advance reading copy that did not influence my opinion.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I suspected that I'd love this book, because I read it at a time I needed some positivity. A way to feel that, with all the bad in the world, we can find good from it. Really wonderful, positive book.

Sorry - got 50 pages in and it just wasn't a good fit for me. My apologies

This book had me in tears, not just about the bombing and it's effect on the author but for the way humankind will gather around and comfort those in need. I think this book was extremely honest and Roseann has my utmost respect for all she has been through and the way she handled it

Perfect Strangers: Friendship, Strength, and Recovery After Boston’s Worst Day by Roseann Sdoia is the story how on April,15 2013 lives were changed when a bomber set off a bomb during the Boston Marathon where three people were killed and 264 were injured. This book doesn’t only highlight that tragic day but the friendships that were formed from it. It’s a story of triumph and friendship, of determination and hope.

The Boston Marathon is a big deal. It is the oldest foot race in America, with a 120 year history, and in the 2013 race over 23,000 runners from around the world participated, and an estimated one million spectators lined the race route.

This is an intense read, very detailed and honest, by one of Boston's April 15, 2013 Marathon's 264 injured, one of the 16 who lost limbs from the two pressure cooker bombs planted in the last mile of the marathon. We see the tragedy from the eyes of Roseann Sdoia, one of the injured spectators, Officer Shana Cottone, a member of Boston's finest, Boston firefighter Mike Materia, and Northeastern University student Shores Salter, a young man who ran into the smoke. This is a tribute to the spirit of Americans everywhere who charge into danger to protect others.

But the most important points in this memoir are about healing, taking back your community, and getting through the fear. It's a really good read, a very positive how-to book on surviving and thriving despite terror. The 2016 marathon had 27,491 participants - 4,562 applicants had to be turned away as the field was capped at 30,000. Half a million street smart, savvy spectators lined the 26+ mile course, knowing what to look for, and how to be safe.

I received a copy of this book from Perseus Books Group, PublicAffairs Books and PublicAffairs via NetGalley n exchange for an honest review.

Very engaging and interesting read! I couldn’t put this one down and you won’t be able to, either.

I received a free electronic copy of this memoir from Netgalley, Roseann Sdoia, and Perseus Books Group, PublicAffairs Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.

The Boston Marathon is a big deal. It is the oldest foot race in America, with a 120 year history, and in the 2013 race over 23,000 runners from around the world participated, and an estimated one million spectators lined the race route.

This is an intense read, very detailed and honest, by one of Boston's April 15, 2013 Marathon's 264 injured, one of the 16 who lost limbs from the two pressure cooker bombs planted in the last mile of the marathon. We see the tragedy from the eyes of Roseann Sdoia, one of the injured spectators, Officer Shana Cottone, a member of Boston's finest, Boston firefighter Mike Materia, and Northeastern University student Shores Salter, a young man who ran into the smoke. This is a tribute to the spirit of Americans everywhere who charge into danger to protect others.

But the most important points in this memoir are about healing, taking back your community, and getting through the fear. It's a really good read, a very positive how-to book on surviving and thriving despite terror. The 2016 marathon had 27,491 participants - 4,562 applicants had to be turned away as the field was capped at 30,000. Half a million street smart, savvy spectators lined the 26+ mile course, knowing what to look for, and how to be safe.

This April marks the fourth anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, and while we'll pause to remember those lost and injured, we’ll continue about our daily lives. As it seems with many tragedies, for those who are not directly affected, the memories of how we felt that day seem to fade with time. However, for survivors like Roseann Sdoia, who lost her right leg above the knee that day, they’ll forever be affected and forced to adjust to a new normal. In her first book, Perfect Strangers: Friendship, Strength, and Recovery After Boston’s Worst Day (PublicAffairs), Sdoia (and contributor Jennifer Jordan) documents how four perfect strangers were brought together by tragedy and how three of them—college student Shores Salter, Boston Police Office Shana Cottone, and Boston Firefighter Mike Materia—saved her life that day on Boylston Street. Sdoia paints a moving portrait of how close she came to losing her life and learning to carry on—and leave anger behind—after losing her leg. You may think you’ve heard this story already, but I promise you haven’t—at least not from Sdoia’s point of view, and definitely not with her humor and positive attitude despite being “blown up.” Readers also get a front-row seat as Sdoia and “her firefighter” Materia develop a romance, and how the four strangers became family, despite meeting under the worst of circumstances (Materia and Sdoia are now engaged). Perfect Strangers is about so much more than 4.15.13—it is about love, courage and friendship.

An amazing story of survival, bravery, determination and friendship. Roasann is caught up in the horrific Boston Marathon bombing. She is a survivor but with dramatic, life changing injuries. This story is not just about her recovery and amazing strength but also the wonderful people involved in saving her life. Four people who would not have met become the best and closest of friends with this shared experience. I loved this book. I finished in two days. A fascinating account of moving forward with the severe injuries of Roseann but also the post-traumatic stress of the heroes involved and their personal accounts. Thank you for the advanced review copy.