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.

The Four Winds is a historical fiction story about one family's experience of living through the great depression in the United States. I found the story to be quite sad, which of course, any story about this period of time generally is, but I also found it to be a bit dry in comparison to Hannah's other books. The Four Winds gets 3 stars from me, not because it was awful, but because it was only okay.

I couldn’t help but think of The Grapes of Wrath as I was reading this new book from the talented Kristin Hannah. The book started a little slow for me but maybe that just was the author portraying the long struggles this family battled to survive the brutal times of the Dust Bowl and the Depression. The wind, the heat, the dirt and the poverty and hunger were never ending. I loved the connections Elsa made with her adopted family and oh the ending was just so touching and a little surprising. I literally can’t wait for the movie! People should read this book now more than ever because the author really captures the difficult times that families go through to survive in our beautiful country.

The Four Winds is about America during the Great Depression In Texas 1934. Millions are out of work. Elsa and her family live with her husband’s parents. Rafe wants to go to California because of the drought He leaves his wife, daughter and son. As time goes on And the dust bowl get Elsa takes the kids to California. Here she is fighting for her families survival . Great book. #netgalley #goodreads

This is one of the best books I have read in years! Amazing throughout. We meet Elsa, who for some reason has been deemed inferior, useless, and unloveable to her family. At age 25, well beyond marrying years in those days, Elsa becomes pregnant by the first man who ever noticed her. Due to this scandalous predicament, Elsa is kicked out of her family's home and dropped off at Rafe's home to "deal with it". Rafe and Elsa marry., but Rafe never truly loves her. But beautifully, Elsa's inlaws tenderly love her and become her true family, even when Rafe walks out on them in the midst of the very difficult dust bowl days.

Kristin Hannah always shines as an author in the research. The details of life in Texas during the dust bowl years were thoroughly researched and gave great feels to what it must have been like during those years. Eventually, Elsa has to make the difficult decision to head to California where they say there are jobs and a better life in order for her to keep her kids from starving. And just when you think life couldn't be harder, the conditions in California were heartbreaking. I had to keep taking breaks in the reading to google the history of this time because it is almost unbelievable what these American migrants had to live through.

While my heart was breaking into a million pieces while reading this, I also stood in awe of the grit, strength, and courage of Elsa and her children, which makes this novel one that will be remembered for a long time. The character development is rich and the relationships tender. Beautiful story, don't' miss this one!

I’m giving The Four Winds 4+ stars rounded up to 5. The Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and indescribable poverty form the skeleton of this sad, but compelling novel. It is fleshed out by the unbreakable human spirit that can be found in people facing the most difficult of circumstances, and especially in a mother’s sacrificial love for her children.

My favorite Kristin Hannah book yet - I cannot wait for this to book to be released and be able to recommend it to our readers.

A story of dust bowl in the Texas panhandle during the Great Depression. The descriptions make feel the dust in your hair and mouth. Elsa has an agonizing choice of watching her family slowly die due to hunger or move to California. With courage Elsa moves her two children to California to find a better life. However, California and farmers are not kind or understanding to single mothers. Elsa works as cotton picker at different farms and is given company at a high price. The system seems to keep the workers poor with no opportunities to change the situation. Elsa’s teenage daughter hears communists rant and organize a strike of the pickers. Elsa plans to avoid the communists and the strike, until circumstances leave her no choice but to join the strike. Elsa becomes the face of the strike at the high price of getting shot. The story of a courageous, daring story of a mother fighting for a better for her children is gripping and spellbinding; it will bring you to tears. A must read!

“If I close my eyes sometimes, I swear I can still taste the dust. . .” This is the story of Elsa Martinelli and her family. Elsa was the ugly duckling of her family, “too tall and unmarriageable” according to her mother. She meets Rafe, and falls hard for him, ending up pregnant. Luckily for her, Raft does the honorable thing and marries her, moving her into his family home, where she discovers a whole new way of life. Rafe’s parents love Elsa! Rafe does the best he can for his family, but then the great depression hits. Elsa can stay and fight for her home or follow everyone to California for “great opportunities”. You have to love Elsa and feel all her emotions. She is one tough lady trying to survive. This is a very sad, somewhat depressing novel, but it’s the message is clear – we can endure anything. Beautifully written as always by Hannan, a very tough, but worthwhile read.