The biggest problem I have with this book is about the very unidimensional feminism. It is quite clear the author wanted to denounce the sexism of this time, but it is a feminism centered on the protagonists, a real egocentric white feminism. Not even a word about racism and colonization of this period, it could have been in the book as Beatrice is traveling, some opportunities was clearly missed here and in the end the book has some really sketchy racist vibes and ... no thank you

As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time—and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya's life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother's life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are. Sophisticated and serene, The Landmark London is the crowning jewel of the fashionable Marylebone district, NW1, and is located less than half a mile from the world-famous Baker Street. Dine and unwind in a tranquil oasis of the enchanting Winter Garden. Under views of elegant palms, with its magnificent glass roofed atrium, the modern European menu offers popular classics presented with a tantalising twist. The fine dining Winter Garden is known and loved for its stunning eight-storey, glass atrium, extravagant service and simply delicious culinary compositions. The story about the Leningrad siege starts very late in the book (around 50%) and by that time I was already so tired, bored and annoyed that it failed to "touch" me like I "need" in the genre. life—and love—can be gone any second. When you had it, you needed to hang on with all your strength and savor every second.” We were given a hope for the best ending at the very beginning, and yet already knew it would not be possible. But the ending we did get was thoughtfully brought, much more real and believable and genuine than anything that it might easily have been forced into, both requiring growth and allowing space for further growth of the characters, which is always the most internet satisfying for me as a reason. It’s also a difficult feat to pull off in fantasy, and I applaud the author for managing it.

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Kristin Hannah is a powerful storyteller. For some reason I have only read a few of her books, though I have several of them on my Kindle- if they are all as good as this one- I’ll be reading a lot more of Kristin Hannah- especially since older books are working out much better for me than the new releases- by far! i feel like that quote fits the main characters really well. i loved the women in this book. there were so passionate about their work, something i really can admire. Interlaced with a Russian fairytale that changes absolutely everything, this story is harrowing and heartbreaking, in so many ways. It’s the buried resentments that get unearthed, the hidden regrets that are revealed and the realization that there is more to everyone’s story that provides the much needed answers. Reality is, life is a series of choices - some are remarkable and some naturally morph in to regrets - good or bad, the culmination make us who we are. i'm not going to lie, the characters were definitely not perfect. beatrice's stutter annoyed me every now and then, sometimes it was just a bit too much. This isn't just one of my favorite books of the year, it's one of my favorite books of all-time. I know for a certainty that no matter how many books I read, this will always remain precious to me. It has beautiful writing, a breathtaking story, and a powerful ending -- the true sign of a fantastic novel.

The story within the story, the so-called Fairy Tale, is quite compelling, telling a personal account of the siege of Leningrad in WWII. This is the real meat of this book, but that doesn't get rolling until the second half of the book. I wish the author had just written straight historical fiction of only the Leningrad part and left all the present-day stuff out of it. I did find the ending too implausible to be a tear-jerker. I rolled my eyes when I think I was supposed to cry. The writing is lyrical and great, Hannah knows what she is doing and you can tell that she is a talented author from her prose and the way she writes. The story has a poignant tone and I read it when it was raining outside and almost freezing which was a very good choice in my opinion because this is not a summer beach read!Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time—and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya's life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother's life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.