Book Review: Firefly Lane

Firefly Lane, by Kristin Hannah

• All the emotions and milestones

• Devoted friendship is an understatement

• Netflix and ...what is this?

• 4 stars

This was somewhat of a Bookstagram made me do it book. I didn't know about Kristin Hannah before being on here and she's becoming one of my favorites. This book really hit different and hit in every way possible. I identify a lot with the career chasing Tully, and long so much for family fullness like Kate. I cheered, nodded, gasped, cried, and clutched this book to my chest many times. 4, undeniable stars.

When I read about Kate’s discomfort about where she wanted to go and what she wanted to have in life, I was taking my own deep breaths. To want something that pulls you from what has felt familiar makes you pause and second guess. I think her story, while I’m not a mother yet, gave a realistic view of motherhood. The pieces of herself she gave up, the others she put first, and the struggle to stay close to a friend like Tully through it all.

Then reading about Tully, her unwavering goals and dreams and plans, I could feel the rush of the ambition. The next move, the hunger. And the letdown of reaching a goal and not having the feeling you thought. Waking up and feeling the idea creep in that you don’t have something after all the work. The realization that the work you’re doing can be so all or nothing, changing on a dime before you have a moment to enjoy it. Her emptiness struck me at time and made me pause while reading to take it all in.

Their paths crossing and then not were a beautiful and authentic tale. One that felt true. One that didn’t include constant rainbows, because real life friendships never do.

It wasn’t all pinky promises and brunch dates as you read about their truly evolving lives. It wasn’t this false sense of “someone can have it all” in life or in friendships.

Part Two of this review - the Netflix series.

One of the reasons I bought and dove into the book was because of the announcement it was coming to Netflix as a series.

But… I didn’t need to read the book first because the show is an entirely different story. Totally different plots, twists, and literally chapters of life for Tully and Kate on Netflix. So if you’re reading or watching to stay ahead of the other, they don’t have spoilers for each other. Similar character development and a couple parallels, but otherwise I feel they are completely different stories.

I’m not a big fan of when books are changed for the screen. I know sometimes it’s for artistic liberty or to be more engaging or succinct when not in print. However, I find it takes away from the original story that was so great someone picked it up in the first place.

SPOILER ALERT - Turn back now if you are still getting through the book or the show.

One of the things that has me most upset about the Netflix adaptation, if the story of Kate and her health.

Kate in the book

• She has three kids: a daughter who is impossible and making her turn gray, and twin boys that keep her moving.

• She has a husband and their marriage is strained but resilient.

• She is trying to set herself up for writing a book, but would rather throw herself into PTA projects.

• And most importantly she is diagnosed with terminal, stage 4 breast cancer. The book ends at her funeral.

Kate in the show:

• She has one daughter

• Is getting divorced and dating again.

• She works as an assistant to an awful lady editor.

• And so far, has no health issues.

Kristin Hannah includes at the close of Firefly Lane, in a note from the author that she never does in her books, that Kate’s story is a personal one. That she hope it raises awareness about inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) because she lost her mother to it. Hannah says how she spends so much time on mammograms and health checks, and that this is a rare but serious cancer.

To read the story, one who’s setting and hardships appear to mirror Hannah herself, and then end with that personal note - only to see it all redone on Netflix. ARGH. I’m not a fan.

I think that if I hadn’t read the book, the show would seem awesome - it’s still a good story. But it;s not the Firefly Lane I read and love.

Have you ever had a book you liked turned into a film or show? What did you think of it?

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My Synopsis: They couldn't be two more different or devoted friends. Taking place across a short lifetime, we see Tully and Kate meet, become friends, take on their own versions of life, and exemplify friendship. Some saving grace and some big upsets intertwine their lives in beautiful and tragic ways.

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