June, 2013--Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah

Once again Kristen Hannah has written a strong, character driven novel that really connected with us.  The two main characters, Kate and Tully, became best friends when they were in their pre-teens.  Each young girl needed a true friend and once they found each other on Firefly Lane, they remained BFFs for the next 30+ years.  Kate, the quiet and reserved one, was caught up in the force field of Tully and consequently became more than she ever dreamed she could be.  Tully, the beauty with brains, found love that she so desperately craved with Kate and her family.  We were not unanimous about our affections for the two women however.  Some thought Tully was too self centered and too controlling.  Her inability to stop  interfering into Kate's daughter's life was inexcusable.  Some thought Kate was too weak and too controlled by her unsubstantiated jealousy of Tully and Kate's husband to be seen as totally blameless in all situations with Tully.  In the end, the genuine love these two women had for each other was the glue that held the story together.  Regardless of our differences, we all were drawn into the lives of these characters in Hannah's story.  They became real to us and we were invested in the lives that were unveiled for us.  The Firefly Lane girls were true to life and they were women we really grew to care about.  I think we would all say we would be happy to have such a friend.