Firefly Lane

A Novel

By: Kristin Hannah

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times bestselling author of On Mystic Lake comes a powerful novel of love, loss, and the magic of friendship....

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the "coolest girl in the world" moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all - beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer's end they've become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

So begins Kristin Hannah's magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.

From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success...and loneliness.

Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn't know is how being a wife and mother will change her...how she'll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she'll envy her famous best friend....

For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship - jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they've survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart...and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.

Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone's Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it's the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It's about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you - and knows what has the power to hurt you...and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you'll never forget...one you'll want to pass on to your best friend.

©2008 by Kristin Hannah. (P)2007 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Susan Ericksen gives an outstanding performance of the thirty-year friendship between Kate Mularkey and Tully Hart." (AudioFile)

Complicated Female Friendship

I have listened to this book twice and loved it more the second time than the first. I bought a print copy and have shared it with my sister-in-laws and nieces. We have laughed and cried about the book in many conversations. As I listened to the story, I was consumed by it. I would catch myself sitting in the car at work or the grocery store not wanting to turn it off. This book and the narrator hooked me on audible books. I will never listen to the radio again.

LOVED this story

Such a great story about friendship and love. Absolutely loved this book. It is a bit long - but totally worth it.

What a great read.

loved it the storyline was much beter than that of the series on netflix.

A beautiful story of friendship

This book is beautiful, heartwarming and heart wrenching all at the same time.
A story of a female friendship in all it’s ups and downs, the good and the bad.

Well written, though a little predictable, I especially saw all the bad bits coming. I enjoyed this and at the end I wanted to call my mum and best friend im the middle of the night to tell them I love them.

Very engaging, moving and beautifully written

This two main female characters in this book grew up at around the same time that I did, listening to the music I listened to, wearing the style of clothing that I wore and riding the types of bikes that I road. But, and I must be vague to avoid revealing too much, I was nearly overwhelmed toward the end when one of the characters struggled with the same situation that I struggled with, (and thankfully through), at
nearly exactly the same time in my life. Thank you, Kristen Hannah, for providing such important information to your readers in this book. I love the female relationships described in this book and the patience and tolerance they worked to maintain to preserve those relationships during challenging periods. However, ... I did find myself wanting to jump into the book to discipline the children in the story quite frequently! :) Great narration as well!

I was swept away

I found myself so absorbed I was crying and laughing while driving. I also found myself talking to Tully and Kate during the book.
Fabulous novel.

great listen

This was a very good book . It kept me wanting more, didn't want to stop listening. The story was of a friendship that would not quit. Through the good times and bad. I would recommend this book to everyone. LOVED IT

Amazing Book/Audiobook

A co-worker recommended this book to me and I was hooked from the beginning. The bond between friends is near and dear to my heart, as I know what it is like to have an unconditional friendship (BFF). The narrator was awesome in her delivery and the storyline, though a little long winded, was well thought out and somewhat suspenseful. I would def listen to it again!

Simply amazing

Wonderful story about friendship. A tear jerker for sure, in both happy and sad ways.

Awesome. Stick with it!

I almost didn't finish it many times but so glad I did. And the writer did such arrest job at investing you into the characters even though it may have felt dragged on it really was needed to pack the punch at the end. Loved it and will read her books again