Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

Magic Hour  My Rating: 4.9

In the rugged Pacific Northwest lies the Olympic National Forest—nearly a million acres of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. From deep within this old growth forest, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she offers no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past.

Having retreated to her western Washington hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is determined to free the extraordinary little girl she calls Alice from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation. To reach her, Julia must discover the truth about Alice’s past—although doing so requires help from Julia’s estranged sister, a local police officer. The shocking facts of Alice’s life test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice—and for herself.

I absolutely loved Magic Hour. Kristin Hannah drew me in from the very start with her beautiful writing and deeply human characters. I became so invested in Julia, Ellie, and especially the mysterious little girl that by the end, I found myself in tears.

This story of healing, family, and second chances is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Even though some parts were a bit predictable, it didn’t matter—I cared so much about these characters that I couldn’t put the book down.

A moving, unforgettable read that I know will stay with me.