Oh for heaven's sake

The storyline was good. I did appreciate the fact that it didn't sugar coat the issues in the book. It presented them realistically and kept the message going throughout the story. When my kids are teenagers, this is a story I'd like them to hear.

However - the mother - she spent the first half other the book smothering her children with everything her time and money could provide - and the second half of the book, she litterally checked out. Of course until the last 1hr 44min. Then somehow she put herself back together in the span of a day or two... even though she apparantly couldn't function for years. I was so irritated with her behavior - that I found myself cringing.

54 people found this helpful

✫✫ 4.5 Stars ✫✫

Another great book by Kristin Hannah. This book was heartbreaking and sad with a very heavy subject. Until about the last few chapters, I was angry with the out come, angry at most of the characters and angry at the reality of a "simple" mistake. Young Adults make mistakes and sadly sometimes the mistake affect a lot of things and it was hard for me to watch one teen pay for the many mistakes made one night by everyone involved. The blame and hate in this book was the hardest part for me but thankfully it has a (bittersweet) happy ending even if the outcome was a little far fetched in my opinion. This author can write a story about anything I think and I would be enthralled. And yes I cried during this book which is a big thing since I rarely shed actual tears for books.

The narration was good, she did a good job of separating the character voices.

14 people found this helpful

Took awhile to get into but worth it

I understand why one reviewer would say it's geared toward teenagers except for the mothers perspective and depth of loss would be too much for a younger person to relate to. It took a bit to get into, but the author takes her time to develop the intricacies and inner turmoils of the relationships with the characters so once the true drama begins you are so familiar with them that it was worth going thru.

40 people found this helpful

This is a must read but bring tissues.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I highly recommend this book and have spoken to most of my friends about it already. This book had me so engrossed in the story that I broke into tears on a few different occasions. At one point, my husband had called and I was so caught up in the book that I was crying to him about a chapter. That has never happened before. Kristin Hannah never disappoints but she outdid herself with this one.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Night Road?

When one of the characters was giving birth I cried for her. I held my breathe as I listened to the details. My heart ached for her. I don't remember ever being so emotionally involved with a book.

What does Kathleen McInerney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She has a great voice and it took me right into the story.

If you could take any character from Night Road out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I don't know the answer to that.

Any additional comments?

It was a beautiful book that exposed you to so many raw emotions. As sad as it was, I loved reading it. I went through the emotions with the characters and so few books do that for the reader.

10 people found this helpful

Well Written and Worth the Read

This should be required reading for all teenagers. It shows the major consequences of making the simple but very bad decision of drinking and driving. It was heart wrenching. And after showing all of the pain of making certain life choices, it also showed how to forgive and move on from the past to live in the present and have hope for the future.

20 people found this helpful

Disappointed in Night Road

After reading Kristin Hannah's wonderful book "The Nightingale" I was looking forward to another book by the author. "Night Road" was a disappointment both in the writing style and the story content. The book was overblown and read very much like a "soap opera" story. Skip this one but don't miss "The Nightingale".

20 people found this helpful

The best Kristin Hannah stories I've read

I thought the author's writing style was very descriptive and vivid. Her tone was conversational and engaging. The narrator brought everything to life. I was just blown away.

Night Road introduces us to a young woman named Alexa “Lexi” Baill, who was a product of a heroin addicted mother. She was in and out of various foster homes until a great-aunt named Eva Lange came to claim her. I knew this book would leave me in tears when Lexi met her great-aunt for the first time and said “If you keep me, you won’t regret. I swear it.” I knew then that this young woman was going to captivate me.

This book weaves a story about 3 teenagers pushing boundaries, learning responsibilities, making choices and living with the consequences of those choices. It was heart wrenching.

I loved the easy friendship between Mia and Lexi—the way they accepted each other after experiencing so many rejections in life. I loved how Zach and Lexi fell in love and how Mia ultimately accepted their love. I also loved how hard Zach worked at protecting Mia in all things. This book is about relationships with siblings, parents, and lovers. It reminds me that sometimes in life one bad decision can completely alter the path of your future. Drinking and Driving is always a bad choice, but forgiveness can be a healing comfort.

The author told a wonderful story about acceptance, love, anger, loss and ultimately forgiveness. I was rooting for everyone. I really think Miles Farraday and Eva Lange and the attorney Scott were the unsung heros in this book. I don’t want to give it all away but they were the supporting cast that held the primary characters together.

I LOVED THIS BOOK and I wish I could give it more stars.

10 people found this helpful

Like a Harlequin romance

The writing is overly dramatic and forced. The story is dull and full of cliches. Save your money.

27 people found this helpful

More A Young Adult Book Than I Thought

What did you like best about Night Road? What did you like least?

The basic plot was of interest --- a foster child finally achieves her heart's desire by acquiring a loving older relative and a set of contemporary friends. However, the characters became cliches very quickly -- the annoying helicopter mother Jude, the passive husband, and the spoiled rich twins. It is very hard to believe that the male twin, Zack, is the most popular boy in high school, and there is not much motivation for him to want to give up an education at a major university for city college and an insecure girl friend.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was fairly predictable..

Would you listen to another book narrated by Kathleen McInerney?

Yes, with reservations. Ms McInerney did a very credible job with the adults, was okay as Zack and Lexie, but terrible with the character of Mia. Mia sounded as though she were about 5 years old throughout the entire narration...it was so annoying to hear her high-pitched whine...

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably. Would not be waiting with bated breath, however...

Any additional comments?

I normally enjoy books by this author, but I felt this was below her usual standard.
There was far too much time spent on teenage characters who did not seem that real, but the alternative was an obsessed helicopter mom..so take your choice..

7 people found this helpful

Good story - predictable ending (more like a 3.5)

I have mixed feeling about this book and it could be because I listen to it rather than read it. For me it started out very similar to Firefly Lane and prayed it would not be the same story written with different characters. Well it turned out it was not. I felt the 1st half of the story really was geared to teenagers in high school - parties, drinking, drugs and some hints of sex ???

I found this part of the story somewhat annoying ??? and it could because of the narrator.
The story spans around Farraday family ??? an over bearing mother Jude, her doctor husband, Miles and 2 twins, Mia and Zach. Lexi Baill, a former foster child the small town with her aunt and is welcomed into the Farraday home with open arms. Lexi and Mia become the BFF and in senior year Lexi and Zach fall in love. In one night and one bad decision cause will tear the family apart and cause Lexi to lose everything.

What I found frustrating with the story was the mother ??? the 1st half of the story she was better than a ???mother of the year??? ??? the second half of the book .. she mentally abandons her family and drowns in self-pity. I found the ending very predictable ??? not that was bad .. we needed some happiness in the book.

I did come away from the book that the message that love and forgiveness does heal and the courage to get there.

7 people found this helpful