Kristin Hannah's newest work of historical fiction did not disappoint. Her books are always extremely well researched, and The Four Winds was no exception. As we traveled with Elsanore from a prosperous but unloving city family, to an unplanned but not bad marriage of necessity in the 20's, to the Dust Bowl of the 30's, and the false hope of a new life in California, it was easy to imagine yourself in the moment. Although Elsa often thought of herself as invisible, she eventually learned to make herself heard - if not for herself, for those she loved.

This amazing book is set in Texas during the 1930's. The Great Depression after the stock market crash takes down everyone in its path. This story follows Elsa, a young woman who is unloved and not even liked by her parents just wishing for someone to actually love her. When she meets Rafe Martinelli, she feels her life has changed. They marry and move in with his parents on their farm. Elsa loves working on the farm with her in-laws and her children, Ant and Loreda. The Martinelli's live in Texas and are hit extremely hard by the Dust Bowl Era. Should they stay and try and save the farm or should they go to California where there are supposed to be jobs and prosperity? This story is hard to read and will make you cry. What the people of this time period went through is absolutely heartbreaking. Elsa is such a strong woman and lives for her family. I loved this book and its amazing characters. This is a story that will stay with me in my heart forever. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Kristin Hannah knocks it out of the park again!! This is an incredible novel about a period of time I was not very familiar with. It takes place in 1930's Texas during the time of the Dust Bowl and the crash of the stock market. Elsa was abandoned by her family and her husband but did everything for the love of her children and her in-laws, Rose and Tony, who became her family. It is both heartbreaking and incredibly heart lifting. I was left in tears of sorrow and tears of joy and pride. Just a beautiful book and a must read!

The Four Winds
A Novel
by Kristin Hannah
St. Martin's Press
You Like Them
General Fiction (Adult) | Literary Fiction | Women's Fiction
Pub Date 02 Feb 2021 | Archive Date 23 Feb 2021

I love the writing of Kristin Hannah! This is an excellent book. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC. Living in the time of the Dust bowls and striving to survive in these times.

5 star

Another great historical fiction title from Kristin Hannah. Life in the Dust Bowl and the struggles of those who leave to find better options are described with care and detail.

A gritty, resolute, wonderfully strong woman is Elsa Martinelli. Raised up to think she was frail and unhealthy, sickly. She isn’t the lovely beauties like her sisters but is instead too tall, gangly and strong featured and determined to make a life for herself. This all takes place in the farmlands of Texas amid the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era.
Elsa decides to go west to California in search of honest work and to try to make a better life. The spirit of this one young woman is what makes this story so wonderful. Kristin Hannah has another tale of courage and drive in one of America’s darkest times.
4.5 stars! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my comments.

I'm floored by Hannah's writing, honestly. Never before have I been blown away by historical fiction of this nature. The characters are deep and complex, the storyline is harrowing, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the ride.

The Four Winds takes the reader to America’s Great Depression and what the Dust Bowl did to American farmers and ranchers. Elsa Martinelli, unloved by her birth family but embraced and loved by her in-laws, is forced to leave Texas because her children are sick and starving. She sets out for California – “the land of milk and honey” -- only to encounter new challenges. Elsa is a woman of uncommon grace, determined that her children live a better life than hers. Her grit, determination, perseverance and friendship to fellow suffering women tells a story we all need to read during this strange and upsetting year of 2020. Another five-star read from Kristin Hannah! #TheFourWinds #NetGalley

What an epic journey. I learned so much from this book. I loved Elsa, a mother of 2 in the 1930's era. Historical fiction is definitely where Kristin Hannah thrives. I could never imagine living through the Dust Bowl. This story reminded me to love and to be so thankful for what I have, no more judging a book by its cover. No matter where Elsa was in her life, she was giving. everything she had to help others. "Always look for the helpers" words to live by and she did. Driving across the country alone with her children to save her son from the dust that was killing him, she is the strongest female character I've have read about in a very long time. I strongly recommend The Four Winds. My new favorite Kristin Hannah book. Loved this story, the writing and the characters. Read it, you won't regret it.

If you thought The Nightingale was good?!! Wow! @kristinhannahauthor Thank you for this beautifully written historical fiction that’s tells the story of a mother’s love and strength that holds a family together. The story of families as they left the Dust Bowl and headed West to fulfill dreams of green lands only to find themselves unwelcome and conditions worse than what they left.
We take this journey with Elsa, whose husband ran months ago, and her two children as they leave Texas to save her young son from dust pneumonia. Elsa’s never been on her own but will do whatever she has to for her family.
I highly recommend this novel to everyone who enjoys historical fiction or just loves an amazing story! It left me in tears! So good with characters so strong you won’t be able to forget them.

I cried and cried some more. A beautifully written novel like I've come to expect from Kristin Hannah.

The Four Winds will take you on a journey so vivid and emotionally compelling that you cannot help being immersed in this world. It's the era of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression and aside from the expected hardship and heartache Kristin Hannah brings us a story of love, hope, and survival. I felt overwhelming sadness, anger, outrage, and fear while also being overcome by great joy, compassion, and adoration. We live in a world today where we are so quick to judge another's appearance and actions; not so different from the world in this book and the parallels are staggering and life changing. In a world full of Mr. Walcott's, Rafe's and Mr. Welty's; be an Elsa, a Tony, or a Loreda. If you're looking for something meaningful that will shake you to the core, look no further than The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really like Kristin Hannah books and this is no exception. I liked this book more than I thought I would because of the sad subject, I knew about the Dust Bowl but not about all the struggles that families went through when they tried to get away from where the dust bowl was happening to have a better life. I felt like I knew these people and my heart went out to them. I will be recommending this book to everyone that I know. I think anyone would be able to connect with this book because it is so true to life. These characters maybe fictitious but these things really happened to real people back in this time of depression. I hope that this book brings awareness to people on how we treat others and to be kind to everyone, because we are all struggling one way or another.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of The Four Winds. Kristen Hannah, once again, wrote a fabulous story. If you are looking for an easy, nonsense read, this is not it. Be prepared for an intense, sad story set during the Great Depression. It showcases the human spirit and how strong you can be when you need to be. It also shows the depth of the love a mother has for her children. I highly recommend this book! It is a must read! I loved it!!!

Kristin Hannah has done it again! Yes, I have read The Nightingale which left me with a severe book hangover. I am not a reader that is drawn to historical fiction, but Kristin Hannah brings to life both the era and characters about which she writes. Her books leave me with empathy for all of the characters involved due to her phenomenol writing skills.

The Four Winds is set during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era with a poignent female heroine, Elsa. The story of Elsa is one emtional filled roller coaster ride through the tragedy that betook the Great Plains during the 1930's. Elsa is faced with challenge after challenge as she tries to save her family and land. I will not give too much away in regards to the plot and outcomes. I will tell you that I related to this book in so many ways as a female and a mother. One must never underestimate the power of a mother's love!

If you loved The Nightingale, you will love The Four Winds! Thank you to St, Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC galley of The Four Winds.

In light of the pandemic and the election, this timely book calls back to another time when the world upended and seemed hopeless for so many Americans. However, this is a sobering novel that shows us why the Great Depression and Dust Bowl were actually much more traumatic than what is going on today.

You first meet Elsa, a wealthy girl in Texas who is sort of a sad sack. Her family treats her like she is secondary to her sisters and also like she's a fragile piece of china due to her illness (I believe she had rheumatic fever in her teens). She loves to read and wants to be brave like her grandfather, but she is thwarted by her family who wants to sentence her to a lonely, dull life. She meets a man who brings her out of that state and who changes her entire life.

Years later, Elsa resides on her in-laws' farm in Texas where she becomes a welcome part of the family and feels loved for the most part. The Dust Bowl takes place, forcing Elsa to make a decision about either staying or leaving for California. Her decision will ultimately change her.

So much research must have gone in to the writing of this book, and I applaud Kristin Hannah for it. She doesn't really sugarcoat any parts of the story but shows the resilience of a woman learning about how strong she can be. Although I mentioned that she is a sad sack, truly she is not at all--she's shoved into that category without being allowed to grow. What happens to her throughout the novel demonstrates that she can and will grow even blossom into a stronger woman.

Despite the dour subject matter, the writing is not dull, and the descriptions clearly depict the places where Elsa ends up. The story takes some turns that were surprising, some in the end that I found were way too implausible and one plotline in the book I felt was wrapped up too easily and comfortably to the point of being utterly unrealistic.

In the past, I really never took to Hannah's writing except I did read and enjoy The Great Alone for my book club. This and the book about Alaska that I previously mentioned have inspired me to read some more of her works. If you're looking for a light story to cheer you up, this is not the one, but it presents a powerful story of the will to survive even during the darkest days.

This is the first Kristin Hannah book I’ve read — yup, that’s true! I’m not a huge historical fiction fan and her other titles just didn’t appeal. But when The Four Winds appeared on my NetGalley shelf, I was intrigued. And once I started, I couldn’t put it down.

The Four Winds has wonderful, dynamic characters and a wonderful story. I found the Elsa and Jack relationship to be a tad too unrealistic and predictable, but other than that, it’s great. As someone who works with teenagers, Hannah’s depiction of a complex mother - daughter relationship was spot on and very well done.

The Four Winds will likely show up on some summer reading lists for its nuanced and thoughtful depiction of an often overlooked aspect of our history.

I was provided a free ebook copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
I normally read ARCs in publication date order, but was too excited to read this one because I love @kristinhannahauthor ! And I'm glad I did, because it was so good!
This story seems so pertinent to our current circumstances! It's a book of human struggle during difficult times (the Great Depression and dust bowl), learning the meaning of love, overcoming prejudices, the strength of women, so many tough topics. However, it is told beautifully! Although at times it is tough to watch the characters trudge through such inhospitable circumstances there is an underlying feeling of hope and love throughout that provides strength!
If you are a fan of Kristin Hannah, you will love this one too! If you've never read any of hers, what are you waiting for?!? I would say to start with this one, but it won't be published until Feb 2021, so start with one of her others, and then come back to this one in February! 😁 #TheFourWinds #NetGalley

When I first received the ARC of this book, I was hesitant due to the subject matter. I had fears of a drawn out Grapes of Wrath experience, and was greatly pleased when I started reading.
Kristin Hannah wrote an amazing novel with rich character development and a storyline that touches on life today.
I would definitely recommend this book.

I made the mistake of starting this book at midnight. Six hours later I forced myself to put it down and sleep for a few hours. This book is mesmerizing and so thought provoking. Although the book takes place during the depression and the Dust Bowl years on the plains, it made me think of all of the people who have lost everything because of the pandemic and all of the migrants who have been detained at our borders or rounded up by ICE.

Elsa Martinelli is a young woman lacking confidence and the ability to stand up for herself. Because of a childhood illness she is treated as an unloved invalid by her parents and sisters. They disown her when she becomes pregnant by the younger Rafe Martinelli, who is getting ready to leave for college. His parents insist that they marry and work the farm with them. With her in-laws she learns what love and family really are. After her son develops pneumonia from the dust storms, she decides that she has to leave so she takes the children to California, looking for a better life. What she finds is an unaccepting place. To get by, she works in the fields for slave wages, goes on state relief, and barely gets by. She does however make dear friends.

I have read many of Kristin Hannah’s books and liked them all. This book is easily on a par with The Great Alone and The Nightingale. This book will leave you emotionally drained and you will think about it for days after you finish it. It is worth every moment and every emotion.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.