The novel was full of twists, turns, suspense, humor, and many other genres. It’s different from what I usually read. Most of the time I read Urban Fiction, this book was old timey, based in the 1950-80's, in the southern states of Alabama and Georgia. It also has the main character visiting Washington D.C. I enjoyed this story because of the way it was told, I loved the way Fern used first person to tell the story. It gives you a better view of what the character is actually thinking and their feelings. I really like first person P.OV because it makes me feel connected to the characters in the book. The story was amazing, the plot, the theme, the characters, everything.
The main character Jessie (Hannah) was known as the sweetest girl around. She had nice parents and a beautiful personality. But by the end of the story she was a new girl, she rebelled, she learned to do what she needed to do to make herself happy, not anyone else. So she decided to leave the home she knew of, not the home she was born into, and went to Washington D.C. to work for the Senator. Her best friend, Sophie, it the one person who knows her whereabouts and knows what she has going on. Jessie may be a fictional character but I feel as if she relates to me in more ways than one. She is an awesome, rebellious, strong, independent girl.
There were so many turning points, and climaxes in the story that I don’t know where to begin! The beginning of the story tells you about Hannah, who is known in the rest of the book as Jessie because she was kidnapped as a young girl. Taken by a woman whose her own child and decided that it was a game of, Finders Keepers. The woman kept Jessie from the time she was 2 years old, until she was 18. Jessie was always smothered by her "mother" and so badly always wanted to leave but she never knew she was kidnapped, she never knew that wasn’t her real family, but she always felt that something was out of place. This book kept me on the end of my seat wanting more with every turn of the page!
The ending of the story. wow. I'll tell you it could’ve been better. The ending wasn’t terrible, but I thought it could have done more. The story ends with Tanner Kingsly, Jessies' ex-husband, reading a letter from Jessie. The letter talks about how Jessie and their child is doing, she has remarried, and she lives back in her hometown in Alabama where she was reunited with her blood relatives. I was so happy that Jessie found her parents but I wanted to hear more. I wanted it to end like a movie, with there being a small portion telling about how all the main characters ended up. I would change it this way because I feel so connected to most of the characters anyway, that I should know how they turned out in the future. It adds more depth to the story, while leaving the reader on a good note.
If I had to recommend this book to one of my friends I would tell them to read it. We all like the genre, urban fiction with crime, drugs, sex and money. This book brings all the drama just in a different way. It’s a definite must read because it’s so different, but so good. I would tell them about the three different climaxes, which I know makes it seem like its alot going on but it actually makes the book better. It gives alot of suspense on most pages. The plot makes the story, it’s so well explained and everything is well described that it seems like you’re watching a movie! I would definitely recommend this book to a friend!