I've noticed this book has lots of mixed reviews. Hm. I don't really care. To each his own. I LOVED, loved, loved this book!! From beginning to end, I can't think of one boring page or one single moment when I looked to see how much further I had to go before completion. In fact, I wish I would've had two hundred more pages to read. I'm going to miss Cece and her obsessive worrying over the selfish, inconsiderate Joan Fortier. I feel sorry for Joan. I've known plenty of Joans; girls that want to be the center of attention but never want to take responsibility for their actions. I'll admit, there was a time in my life when I was a Joan. Yep! Ashamed to admit it but there ya go. Honestly, I identified with both girls. I think there's a little bit of both in each of us. There's always that dynamic in a friendship - one friend that shines brightly, the other content to sit on the sidelines playing the wingman. Cece loved Joan, true! But, Cece was completely codependent. Without Joan, life was boring. Cece knew two things were certain: life with Joan and life without Joan. I think a pivotal point that shakes Cece awake is when she's remembering moments spent with Joan. It seems Joan's back was always to Cece. Joan was always escaping, leaving, running away. Friendships like this are hard to let go of. I've been there. You grow up with someone, as close as sisters. Somewhere along the way, we begin to grow, often times growing apart. It's hard. It hurts. We mustn't let someone define us other than ourselves. Cece allows Joan to control her and lead her astray. Cece is so blinded by her love for Joan that she cannot see what is right before her. This is a story about friendhip that all of us can identify with. It's terribly heartbreaking. This story is played out every day. It's nothing new but it's written in the very best, most entertaining of ways. I freakin loved this book!! Oh! Yes, I did!

*I'm reviewing this book courtesy of Penguin's First to Read program. Many thanks to Riverhead Books for making this available through the program. I'm a happy reader. :)

Something about this book hooked me right away. Like everyone else (in the book, that is), I seem to be fascinated by Joan. The mysterious sense of dread lingers on every other page. Feel like I'm going to fly through this book in no time at all. 

I finished this amazing story, based on true events, in tears. Lots of tears. It is heartbreaking, yet triumphant. I've been very fortunate with my reading choices so far. 2016 is going to be an outstanding year for books if the last two novels read are any indication. Lilac Girls was an emotional journey and the heroic women who live between the pages, fighting to survive, will stay with me for a very long time. And to think, I almost passed this book up. Oh! Martha Hall Kelly, thank you for sharing this unforgettable story! Thank you for introducing me to the Rabbits and Caroline Ferriday. I have worn my welcome out on Google looking up every bit of real life history. My heart has been deeply touched and I want to hug my family just a little bit tighter.

I'll update my review in a couple of days. Right now, I need to catch my breath, blow my nose, and dry my eyes.

For more info:

MarthaHallKelly.com
Facebook.com/MarthaHallKelly
Pinterest.com/marthahallkelly
@MarthaHallKelly

**I received a DRC from Penguin's First to Read program.

(Oops. Having to repost review because I accidentally deleted my original post.)

Just want to clear the entire day to devour this book. I'm half way through and already I'd gladly give this five shining stars.