Absolutely love this heartbreaking book! Crying my eyes out and feeling so broken after reading Elsa’s journey. So touched and humbled to just think of all the people who lived through those times. So much more admiration for trying to survive those difficult times. Kristin Hannah is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I simply can’t get enough of her words. The message I got from this and I hope others do as well....survival! It’s not easy but it’s possible even during the worst of times.

Another success by Kristin Hannah!

Hannah has once again proved herself to be an excellent historical fiction author. I truly appreciated how she brought the reader into this family's life and the turmoil of the Depression. This is sure to be a success with everyone who loved her previous books, The Nightingale and The Great Alone. If you are new to Hannah's work, The Four Winds is a great place to start.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Beware, fair reader. Kristin Hannah's latest novel will turn you into a puddled mess and then wring you out to dry. THE FOUR WINDS is utterly brutal. And if a fictional retelling of this historical period is so harsh and unrelenting, I cannot even imagine what the real thing was like.

WINDS tells the story of Elsa, an economically privileged but emotionally deprived young woman seeking love and connection. Heading for spinsterhood, she makes a choice that will drastically change the course of her life. Over time, she begins to love the land she cultivates and the family she has found, but just when she feels secure, drought comes to the Great Plains and threatens to destroy everything she holds dear.

I am a lover of historical fiction, and Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite writers in the genre. WINDS is a truly superb addition to her oeuvre. With remarkable skill, Hannah puts you down right in the middle of the action. And even more important for good historical fiction, she doesn't pull you out of the action with anachronisms.

WINDS would have been a five star read but for a few (admittedly nitpicky) things. First, the major plot turning points are all predictable. There are no surprises. Second, it took me a while to warm up to Loreda as the second narrator. I understand why Hannah chose to use her - the story focuses on motherhood quite a bit - but I didn't connect with her in the earlier half of the book. And finally, as I mentioned at the start of this review, this book was just brutal. There is very little jollity. Instead, it's just a grueling trek from one tragedy to the next. The story is compelling, compulsively readable, and needed to be told, but for the sake of my sanity, I may have waited to read it at a happier time (post-pandemic) had I not owed the publisher a review.

Fans of historical fiction will love THE FOUR WINDS. Just put on your armor first.

“ If I close my eyes sometimes, I swear I can still taste the dust..”

The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah will make you cry, it will open your eyes to the hardships of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.

Poverty and the hope for a better life leads Elsa and her family to California. Life in California brings more heart ache for the those who sought a new life. The life of the migrant workers , the “Oakies “ was a hard and unfair life.

Family or the lack of family was a theme in The Four Winds. Elsa’s family was cold and dismissive. Her husband Rafe was a weak man who broke her heart over and over again. The Martinelli’s were angry and disappointed with their new , unexpected daughter in law but over time they became beloved family. Ant was a love but Lorena her strong willed daughter constantly clashed with Elsa. Then there was Jack who entered Elsa’s life and brought her happiness and love . Jack believes in her , her respects her and loves her. He calls her a warrior.
“ Love is what remains when everything else is gone. This is what I should have told my children when we left Texas. What I will tell them tonight. Not that they will understand yet. How could they? I am 40 years old , and I have only just learned this fundamental truth myself “.

“Love . In the best of times, it is a dream. In the worst of times, a salvation.”

“ I am in love, There is is. I’ve written in down. Soon I will say it out loud. To him.”

Finally Elsa was happy. But then The Four Winds broke my heart. Elsa Martinelli’. Mother. Daughter . Warrior.

You will cry. Then you will smile through your tears.

“ Hope is a coin I carry, given to me by a woman I will always love , and I hold it now as I journey west, part of a new generation of seekers.”

I loved this book. I can’t wait for the audiobook version of the book so I can experience the book all over again.
This review is also at Instagram @ardette_booksdogsandplants and Twitter @ArdetteSpear
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy ebook for an honest review .

As timeliness goes, Kristen Hannah could hardly have done better. The hurt, anguish, and divides of the country during the Dust Bowl and the accompanying migration of American people to California bears a striking resemblance to the misery of our current day.

I was excited to read a modern take on a Dust Bowl story, and Hannah's descriptions of the degradations the land and its residents faced in the 1930s are evocative, haunting, even alarming. I had to put down my reader a few times to follow historical tangents that my mind wanted to chase.

Although ultimately I think the ending was a little off-center from the goals set out early in the book, this will be a smash hit, and rightfully so. I think this is a book which might finally open some peoples' eyes to the past they've romanticized, and the unimaginable cruelty Americans have inflicted on their countrymen in times of need.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Four Winds and absolutely devoured it. I am a big fan of Kristin Hannah already, but this may be my favorite book of hers. The story is tragic and heartbreaking yet at the same time full of hope and shows the true meaning of family. I cried at a few different times throughout my reading journey and definitely look forward to reading this again someday.

Kristin Hannah does it again! Another beautiful yet heartbreaking story. Hannah's ability to weave the stories of the characters into an overall story of survivorship.

I was delighted to be able to get an ARC of this book. I've always been a big fan of Kristin Hannah's writing and this is no exception. This book really made me think. I know it's a book of fiction but the detail and the research make it seem so vivid and real. The struggles Elsa faces, the hard decisions she makes to save herself and her children are things a parent should never have to do. This book really got me in the feels which happens to me every time I read one of Ms. Hannah's novels. Definitely recoomend.

This is one of the better works for Kristin Hannah. This book is an amazing story that ties a lot of things together, deep, rich characters are well developed, just Hannah's stye. This is definitely a must read for all who enjoy historical fiction.

Another wonderful book by Kristin Hannah. She seems to out-do herself with each book she writes. I learned about a time in our country’s history that I didn’t know much about. Thank you for the advanced read.

This is one of my absolute favorite authors and this one was no different! This is a part of history I didn’t know a lot about and wow....Kristin did a phenomenal job illustrating it with her beautiful words! Five glorious stars for this amazing novel!

Hannah's vivid descriptions of places such as the Texas sky of Black Sunday, the colorful landscape of the California farmlands and the deplorable conditions of the migrant camps transported me into the middle of the Great Depression. I felt as though I was there with Elsa on her journey from a weak, unloved teenage girl to a strong, brave, deeply loved woman and mother. This well-written, thoroughly researched novel set in such a dark period of American history is not to be missed.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

I have been a huge fan of Kristin Hannah for a few years now and I absolutely love her historical fiction books. I had never really read much about the dust bowl outside of some kid's books like Sarah Plain and Tall and Out of the Dust. So getting to read about it as an adult was something I really found entrancing. I love the strength and determination of the main character Elsa. I find that Kristin Hannah writes very strong female characters. So while Elsa has self-image issues, she also has a quiet determination that got her through everything. It hurt me to see the similarities between how people were treated in the 1930's in California when they were just going there for a chance at a better life, and those that are coming to the United States in search of a better life. Also the fact that the people in California called the people who wanted fair and equal treatment Communists. Those kind of things really made my stomach turn a little bit.

I loved that Hannah showed the dynamics between a parent and their teenage daughter. These dynamics haven't really changed much over the years. The fact that she wanted more for her kids than what she had was highly inspiring to me. As a parent I can understand her motives.

The writing was fantastic as usual, she shows great character development throughout the story.
This book was absolutely wonderful I can't wait to see what she releases next!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the copy for review.

This book.

Hoo boy.

This is a really tough book for me to rate.

On the one hand – it was super compelling. Kristen Hannah is an incredibly gifted storyteller. I went into this very hesitantly, having read reviews that indicated it might be a bit more heavy than what my current mental state could handle. But then I started reading it anyway and was immediately sucked in. It was nearly impossible to put down. It was fascinating and horrifying and heartbreaking and – honestly – a true testament to the unbreakability of the human spirit.

Elsa was a lioness. A true warrior. A heroine unlike any I’ve read – maybe ever. She was inspiring and brutally beautiful to read about. I adored her and the way she loved so furiously and generously. I ached for her. My heart bears wounds – those that I felt as a mom whose soul ached at having to witness what Elsa’s sweet family had to endure, and those that I felt as a reader completely caught up in the story – for better and for worse. Elsa was just an amazing literary figure and I feel bound to her somehow.

On the other hand, I turned the last page feeling bereft. While the ending is decidedly hopeful and inspiring in and of itself, it came at too much of a cost for me. The high didn’t reach high enough to overcome the sadness of it all. It was gritty and tough – which is probably a true testament to the time in which the story is set, but as a reader looking for an escape – this was all just a bit too real for me. Too much darkness. Not enough light.

And yet, I will tell you that it was still worth the read. It was interesting and educational. There were moments of profound beauty and moments where I found myself awestruck at all the human heart can bear and still continue beating. It’s not a happy journey, but it was a worthwhile one nonetheless.

I am a huge Kristin Hannah fan. All of her books just automatically go on my “too read list” without even looking at the description because I know they will be good. I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of The Four Winds for my honest review.
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The Four Winds is set during the Great Depression and follows the struggles of one family as they move from Texas to California in search of a better life. This is a very timely story considering the pandemic that is currently taking place and so many families who are struggling. But with this tale, there is also hope.
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Thank you #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the free digital copy of The Four Winds by #kristinhannah

The Four Winds By Kristin Hannah
Rating 4.5/5 Stars
Publication Date - 2/2/2021

**Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and of course, Kristin Hannah, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been a fan of Kristin Hannah since long before The Nightingale, however her development into historical fiction following 2015 has been one of my favorites. Four Winds follows a similar path as The Great Alone, where it is instantly educational for the periods of history it represents. Often, we find we are not as educated on these certain experiences. Nightingale, while it focused on a well known period, sets itself in France - and on top of that recreates the history of a Belgian Resistance warrior, previously forgotten about by the general public. The Great Alone did the same with the Alaskan Terrain. Now, with Four Winds we find the setting to be the Great Depression and The Dust Bowl, a period often overlooked. Even while I am reading the fiction written by Hannah, I find myself becoming more educated in a period of time I thought I knew about. I will always applaud Hannah for this :)

I truly felt so many emotions while reading this book. I found myself feeling so bad for Elsa growing up, especially for her lack of love around her real family (finding love with her marital family and becoming strong was lovely!) and I will admit I found myself angry when Jack entered the picture - strictly because I thought it was going to follow the “man saves woman” arc. I was happily surprised when the book took a turn and showed Elsa saving herself after learning to be strong. Kind of a reverse uno!

The setting was incredible, but also very eye-opening. I found the comparison between how California treated Okies to be similar to the way immigrants are treated today. The concept of Us Versus Them comes out in full force and allows you to really think about what is happening today and how history repeats. I did have a hard time imagining that every single Californian acted in this way with Okies, but then again, this is fiction (which I keep forgetting with how well Hannah writes!)

One negative I had was how the book glorifies Communism. As a scholar who knows much on the subject, the book acts as if Communism is the only answer to the problems being faced. Jack wants to unionize, and all the good guys are communists - which is sort of romanticism of the subject. They act as if communism is the only answer when in reality a middle ground can be reached between unionizing and democracy in a capitalist society.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this novel. I am so happy that Kristin Hannah did not disappoint me! Bravo!

Elsa Wolcott was sick as a child, so she wasn't able to attend school or make friends. She grew up with her family, but alone and independent. She meets Rafe and becomes pregnant. Her family disowns her and drops her off at Rafe's house to be married. She becomes Elsa Martinelli.

Times are hard in Texas. Due to the dustbowl, crops don't grow and farm animals starve. Many farmers leave, but the Martinellis love their land and stay. There are some health events that cause Elsa to move her family to California. When they get to California, times are hard there too. Migrant workers have flocked to California, so workers are a dime a dozen and treated very poorly.

Although this has to be the saddest book I have ever read, I was drawn into the story and kept reading hoping that Elsa would find her happiness. She finally found love with her family and works so hard to provide them with the basics of food and shelter everyday. I can appreciate the bravery and strength that Elsa exemplifies. It's a tough read during a pandemic, when families in this day still struggle to provide the basics to their families. However, this novel is a story of survival and hope, which we can all use right now. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC to read and review.

I always pick up this author and love her books, but this one was just exceptional. I learned a lot and fell in love with the characters. My heart hurt for them having to deal with so much during such a rough time in our country’s history. Yes, it is fiction, but I know that people legitimately had these struggles. Kristin Hannah is a master storyteller. Don’t miss this one!

DNF @10%
Sigh.
It is tough when you are the outlier with a book that people are loving and raving over. And it is tough when you absolutely love historical fiction and are so excited about a book and then it just doesn't work for you. And this book absolutely is NOT working for me. At only chapter 5, I am already overwhelmed with sadness and I can see that it is not going to get any better. There has not been one scrap of happiness in this book to this point. That is a lot of pain and sadness in such a short amount of times. And in this present atmosphere, it is tough to read a book that is extremely sad and depressing and you haven't even gotten past chapter 6 and I am finding I just cannot continue. I am sure this was a very well written and researched book and I am glad that people are loving this book, I know my own self, and I just cannot read this at this point.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Hannah, and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beginning in 1934 Texas during the Great Depression, The Four Winds gives a brutal insight into the trying times our nation faced during this period and the incredible resiliency shown by those Americans.

The reader follows Elsa's journey, beginning in Texas where after a somewhat tumultuous start with her new husband and in-laws, she grows to love the farm and their life there. As her life begins to take on new meaning, the Dust Bowl hits their farm and her life is completely upended. Those long months put a strain on her family like none Elsa has ever experienced. Circumstances cause Elsa to move her family across the country to California in search of a a better life, only to be met with a situation that is nearly worse than what she was living with in Texas.

The resilience and spirit that the author conveys through this novel is inspiring. Reading about the hardships that these Americans faced and how they were determined to keep their spirits afloat was uplifting and motivating.

I appreciated the amount of research and detail that were included about this period in our history and enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about this important time. The descriptions were vividly portrayed from the ditch bank camps in California to the dust storms in Texas. The characters were well developed and I could easily picture each character clearly in my mind, making the novel a pleasure to read.

I received this novel courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.