Synopsis:
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.
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.
- Genre: Family Fiction
- Pages: 528
- Goodreads Rating: 4.08 Stars
Lavelle’s Rating:
5 Stars
Pair It With:
Coffee: Peppermint Mocha
Why You Should Read This Book
I picked up this book based on a friend’s review hoping I would enjoy something a little different than my normal read. I finished it in just over a week, which is pretty quick for me with the crazy of our general every day.
The story unfolded with quick changes, often jumping several years between chapters. I was glad the author did this rather than trying to fill awkward gaps with too much that didn’t help the overall story.
I could immediately relate to the friendship between Tully and Kate and loved to hate both of them in some of the scenes. You could really feel like you were there with the girls as their friendship blossomed in each decade with the great references made from specific eras. I laughed and cringed along with Kate during her troubles with a teen daughter because I can totally relate right now.
“That was the thing about best friends. Like sisters and mothers, they could piss you off and make you cry and break your heart, but in the end, when the chips were down, they were there, making you laugh even in your darkest hours. ”
Kristin Hannah – Firefly Lane
When we got to the big plot twist, I honestly wasn’t expecting it and I found myself saying ‘just one more chapter’ because I couldn’t put it down. While I sat in the car waiting for my daughter, I finished off the last few pages in tears. I immediately checked to see if there was a sequel and was excited to find out I can read on to see how the saga will continue.
Do I Recommend It
Yes, definitely! If you love Lifetime movies, you’ll love Firefly Lane.
You Can Buy It Here
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This book really hit home with some of Kate’s stay-at-home mom and teen daughter drama and it gave me all the feels that a good Lifetime or Hallmark movie would.
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