This book was so many different things. Poignant, moving, heart-wrenching; and above all else, a beautifully written story about what war looks like for one seemingly ordinary family. Kristin Hannah's ability to seamlessly transition between two vastly different viewpoints will never cease to amaze me. The way she can write so believably about the dissolution of one couple's marriage leading up to the wife's deployment (view spoiler)[ and then following the wife's broken return from Operation Iraqi Freedom (hide spoiler)]from both the wife and the husband's viewpoint is nothing short of remarkable. You want so badly for the family to repair what has been lost; for the wife to repair her shattered life and for the husband to find a way to be strong enough to fight for his wife, himself, his marriage, and his family. Brilliant. Simply brilliant. Also an extremely important look at what war can (and does) do to families everyday. An important reminder that no matter why our loved ones are away from us, no matter why or where our troops are fighting; they are risking their lives and need our support. Even if you do not support a war, it is our duty on the home front to support the troops. Thank you, Kristin; thank you for this novel, and thank you for sharing this story with all of us.