never in my entire life have i ugly cried because of a book before. i kid you not, almost every chapter of this book had me tearing up and the ending left me a sobbing, emotional wreck. this book touched me deeply with its hardships; when times of mere happiness or joy happened, i awaited the sadness and new adversity that would break it. i was torn by elsa’s story and the journey she made throughout her adulthood, learning what it meant to love in a world that hated her. this is my first kristin hannah novel that i’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last. wow. 5/5 stars