So book 25 in my Goodreads Reading Challenge is Home Front by Kristin Hannah.

‘From a distance, Michael and Jolen Zarkades seem to have it all: a solid dependable marriage, exciting careers and children they adore. But after twelve blissful years together, the couple has lost their way. They are unhappy and edging towards divorce. Then an unexpected deployment tears their already fragile family apart, sending one of them deep into harm’s way and leaving the other at home, caring for the children and waiting for news. When the worst happens, each must face their darkest fear and fight for the future of their family.’ (Thanks Amazon)

I don’t even know where to start with this novel.  I usually love novels that are based around World War II, so this was a little different for me.  This is a modern novel about a modern couple unexpectedly caught up in a modern war.  Michael and Jolen Zarkades have loved each other throughout their solid marriage, and have created a family of their own.  However grief has caused a wedge to grow between them, and at a defining moment in their marriage they find themselves torn apart as Jolen finds herself on the frontline in Iraq, leaving behind her a broken marriage and two daughters fighting to find their own place in the world without their mother.

This is a story about love and loss: the love between lovers, the love between friends and what it might mean to lose that love.  It’s a story about strength and hope, and about fear and weakness.

I loved this novel – I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t know which route this story would take but I loved it.  It is heart wrenching and tragic, with only the faintest hint of hope shining through, but shine through it did.  Reading a novel based around an event that is so recent in modern history gave a realness to this story.  The characters were deep, flawed and authentic.  I wanted to know their back stories and what caused them to act the way that they did.  I also wanted to know what would happen to them, I wanted to know how their story would end.  I can’t recommend this novel enough – let me know what you thought.

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖 📗