Kristin Hannah is an amazing writer and this novel is no exception. I wanted to love it, truly love for it for its heartbreaking story and powerful characters. But it was just so depressing. I had such a hard time reading this story because it seemed to be so overwhelmingly sad. The last 50 pages or so were inspiring and it was rewarding to see Elsa find her strength.

You've heard about the Great Depression. Maybe studied it a bit in school? There is no way for you to possibly know the hardships that families went through at that devastating time, but Kristin Hannah's gut-wrenchingly realistic historical fiction puts you there. Your heart aches with Elsa as her family breaks her down in isolation. You feel her hope when she meets the dashing young Rafe, and her fear when she is suddenly thrust into a new life with a family she didn't know she needed. Following Elsa and her children on their journey to California and experiencing the poverty, hunger, loss, and horrifying injustice at the hands of the greediest people is something that will rock you to the core and leave you absolutely shattered with tear-stained pages. I devoured this book in just a few days, and highly recommend it.

The publisher provided me with the opportunity to read this in exchange for providing feedback. (via NetGalley)

4.5 stars. I was super excited to get approved for this on Netgalley.. I figured if the writing and story were done half as well as The Nightingale I was in for another great read and I was not disappointed! While not a light read, it was hard to put down and I finished it in one afternoon.

The Four Winds was an utterly heartbreaking book to read -- especially during the times we are in right now. It was such a beautifully written book, but it was painful to make my way through. At times, I thought I would have to stop reading because I didn't think I could take anymore with everything else currently going on in the world. Elsa's struggles overwhelmed me. I guess that just goes to show what a great writer Hannah is. She made me feel with this book (and her others). While it wasn't my favorite book to read, it was a great historical fiction book that taught me a lot and made me fall in love with its characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Honestly? I requested it based just on my history with Kristin Hannah and her books...I have loved any that I have read and she is an author I will continuously read throughout my life. This one threw me for a loop, however, as it was nothing like any I have read. First off, I immediately felt for Elsa and her strained relationship with her parents AND herself. She grew up feeling unloved and pretty and that pretty much stayed with her. One night of passion with a boy who made her feel pretty even just for awhile turned into a few more times and woops, Elsa is pregnant. Well, back in those days there was no question. Rafe had to forget about his fiance and forget about his getting out of there to go to college. His mother was devastated because she wanted better for him but they moved Elsa in, they got married and she proceeded to teach Elsa how to become a good wife and mother. Flash forward to a teenage daughter who I hated so much I could barely read about her and how she treated her mom, a husband who still doesn't love his wife like he should and a dream to get away from what is happening in Texas at the moment...dust storms, droughts, and a son who cannot handle the dirt that is accumulating in his lungs and you have a book that kind of hurts my heart for this woman. I mean literally, my heart hurts when I think of how she might have felt. Much more happens and I won't give any away but I was starting to think that nothing good was going to happen to her in her life and it was really making me mad so I was going to give this book only two stars for the longest time...it was at 92% that I decided I could feel the author wanting to also get out what life would have been like for the real people who lived in that time and I started looking up pictures online. Within that last 8%, so much changes ( I won't lie and say it was all good) that it shot up to a 4 star book. Don't get me wrong, I am still really pissed off but the book make me FEEL and that is what I like.

As Kristin Hannah wrote in her author's note at the book's conclusion, she finished writing The Four Winds amid the COVID-19 pandemic - a time eerily similar to the times in the book. Once she noted this, I found that this was really a revelation about the book and an important one at that. It makes this book so much more relevant to current times despite taking place 90 years ago.

I found The Four Winds to be a slow burn and rather uneventful. It wasn't a very exciting book, but then again, it is a book about a woman's life during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Often, books of this nature are not especially momentous. That being said, I still enjoyed the book although the general atmosphere was sad and trying. I definitely cried, particularly at the book's conclusion. In the end, it was an inspiring book about brave women and undying hope. I know I will remember Elsa for years to come.

The cover was a disappointment. The last few Kristin Hannah books had beautiful, alluring covers. I thought this one fell flat, although I realize that the Dust Bowl, Great Plains, and the Great Depression do not necessarily provide a beautiful aesthetic. Speaking of huge disappointments, in her acknowledgements, Hannah thanked the police for keeping us safe, which is a sentiment I do not approve of nor think is true. It truly left a bad taste in my mouth.

Like previous novels of Kristin Hannah, this one was very good. The character's, the plot, everything just draws you in as a reader.
The ending was a bit heart wrenching, but fitting.

Kristin Hannah has always been a favorite author. So when the opportunity arose to read her newest book I knew I had to jump on it.

Of course it was great. Everything she writes is gold. And this didn’t disappoint. The writing was vivid and flawless, the story was beautiful, the characters were top notch.

Hannah’s writing is and always will be something that sticks with you days after reading. Four Winds was no exception.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wowwww this book. This book smacked me over the head and left me beaten and broken. It made me angry, it made me cry, it made me feel like I needed a shower and a drink of water. And I wasn’t sure at first how I felt about all that because it’s been a while since a book has emotionally affected me in that way...but I guess that all points to the work of a really good author. The plot was bleak and depressing and gritty, and sometimes that felt like too much for me. It’s clear to me that Hannah was very angry when she wrote this, particularly the last few chapters. I’m angry too. I don’t think I will ever revisit this book, but man it was well-done. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for the roundhouse-kick this book did to my emotions.

Loved this book! If you are reading this review, you are thinking about buying it - so do it.

I received an ARC and would like to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley . This did not impact my review.

I was torn about reading this book. I love this author, and am so rarely disappointed by her stories. However, the background of the story - the time period, the struggles. etc are not my usual preference. So I went into this book with some skepticism.

Well, I was hooked from the beginning. I needed to know what happened next. This was one of those "stay up too late because you keep saying one more chapter" books. I loved all of the characters and the story felt so real. I wanted it to go on and on because I was so engrossed in their journey.

I was transported to a different time, and the people felt real to me. I felt like I knew them.

This book also gave me a good hard look at how much people were suffering, and made me think about all of my blessings.

Fabulous book.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

This book is bleak and depressing, if you're looking for a happy read, this isn't it, and I recommend going into this book when you know you are wanting a book like this because I think it will influence how you feel about it. The book realistically looks at the impact of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl on farmers in the Texas panhandle and elsewhere. It did take me a while to get into this story. The first half, for me, moved slow and felt like there wasn't a direction the story was taking. And I wasn't crazy about the ending, I guessed what was going to happen, but it didn't feel like it quite fit perfectly with the characters opinions from the rest of the book.

However, after 65% I became much more engrossed and liked how Hannah explored the topics she did. I also felt the story pull together at this point. The examination of mother and daughter relationships during the early teenage years was thorough. I loved this aspect of the book. Hannah writes with so much emotion and insight, and captures reality perfectly, even when it is hard and heavy.


This book was absolutely amazing! I fell in love with the characters and it was so well written and researched. Probably one of my favorite Kristin Hannah books.

This is easily my favorite book of 2020!!! The Great Depression in Texas was torturous. Elsa Martinelli had never had an easy life, but when things in Texas became difficult, her husband abandoned her and their two children. The Dust Bowl era left few options to Elsa and the children. They decided to travel to California, where jobs are plentiful and a better life can be had. Elsa learned so much about herself and her family during their travels and the family struggled to make a new life. Their journey will take you on a very emotional adventure. Absolutely LOVED this book!

The Four Winds follows Elsa as she and her family struggle through the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The trials these characters have to go through are heartbreaking.

This is the first Kristin Hannah book I have read and I can’t wait to pick up more. This story drew me in and at the end I couldn’t put the book down.

This novel about the effects of the Dust Bowl on one Texas family is relentless in its description of emotional and financial poverty. The story traces Elsa's love-starved youth, on to her marriage of necessity, the despair of the unending drought of the Dust Bowl, and the move to California in a futile attempt to find a better life. Sometimes told from the point of view of Elsa's daughter, who only wants to escape her family, there is barely any note of optimism until 3/4 of the way through the book. The hopelessness of farmers' plight and the greed of those in power weigh down the characters, who seem caught up in a tenacious downward spiral. The prejudices, vitriol, and unfairness seem parallel to much in current news. Ultimately the strength of family and resilience emerge, but after so much despair the ending seems overly sentimental.

I really enjoyed this book! I was hesitant to begin based on the limited information I had about the story. It sounded boring. But I am so glad I read it! If you like Kristin Hannah’s writing style you will enjoy this novel - it gives off some “Little House on the Prairie” vibes, which I LOVED as a young person, and I do enjoy good historical fiction. Thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Between rage-watching the news and rage-not-watching the news, this book has been an amazing escape. It tells the story of a family trying to survive the The Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

It’s a tale of a single mom and her journey to feed her kids while combatting capitalism, greed, government control, an economic crisis, and lack of fundamental individual rights.

I did say it takes place during the ‘30s right? I wouldn’t want anyone to get confused about it being a non-fiction current events piece.

⭐️ THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah is a full-on five star read. ⭐️ So many undertones in this book, so little time.

Great story with engaging characters! I could feel the dust and the hardships they experienced. This would make an awesome book discussion book.

With "The Four Winds" Kristin Hannah does it again!

Ms. Hannah has a remarkable ability to bring parts of history alive in a way that captivates the reader and makes her feel as though she is IN that time, experiencing the hardship and emotions. I was at times positively aghast at the conditions and hardships these people experienced. I cannot imagine.

I am not a person who enjoys history, in that I hated History class at school. It just did not come alive for me at all- it felt like a random bunch of dates and events that had nothing to do with me. Books such as this let me experience historical events in a way that resonate with me emotionally and stick with me.

Thank you Ms Hannah for another excellent book! 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*Review to be posted on my blog on 1/7/21, nearer to publication date.*
**4.5 STARS**
I Liked:
*Kristin Hannah is an auto-read author for me. She does it again with The Four Winds and wow, this is a heavy read. But like the amazing writer she is, she makes you feel despair, desperation, fear, loss and eventually hope. This story is a hard journey into a bleak time during American History, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era.

*Not only does this book make you feel – it places you in the specific time and place so you can be there in person, struggling with Elsa and the Martinelli’s. I was praying for rain to help them! I was pleading for her daughter to give her mom a break. I was begging them to take the government help. I was enraged at the discrimination and poverty they experienced in California. Kristin Hannah always does research for her books and it shows! It’s why I love her books so much.

*Elsa is our main character and she is a girl who just wants to be loved. She’s been ruled by fear and rules all her life only to be discarded by her family. But does she survive? Hell yes…she does everything for the love of her children. My god, her mother’s love is heartbreaking and enduring. Her daughter Loreda is a strong force in this story as well. She is carefree like her father and is at an age where she fights her mother on everything. It’s a long road for all of them, but mostly for these two and their relationship.

*This story is so multi-layered. There are so many themes in this book: motherhood, pride, discrimination, poverty and survival.

Random Notes:
Triggers: poverty, discrimination, depression

*This story is pretty bleak and depressing. There isn’t much happy times at all in this book.

Final Thoughts:
Kristin Hannah once again weaves an emotional tale of brutal struggle and hope. The mother-daughter relationship in this book hit me hard, especially at the end. Elsa Martinelli’s journey is one of courage and strength and I wished so much life was kinder to her. This is an inspiring story to remind us we can get through hard times and no matter what, love endures.