Home Front: A Novel

"Home Front is Hannah's crowning achievement."—The Huffington Post

In this powerhouse of a novel, Kristin Hannah explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war.


All marriages have a breaking point. All families have wounds. All wars have a cost. . . .

Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life—children, careers, bills, chores—even as their twelve-year marriage is falling apart. Then a deployment sends Jolene deep into harm's way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a solider, she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own—for everything that matters to his family.

At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.

"Hannah has written a remarkable tale of duty, love, strength, and hope that is at times poignant and always thoroughly captivating and relevant." —Library Journal (starred review)

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Published Nov 8, 2022

432 pages

Average rating: 8.34

90 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Yaya25
May 04, 2025
9/10 stars
Another great Kristin Hannah book! She brings her characters to life and makes you laugh and cry right along with them.
Anonymous
May 04, 2025
8/10 stars
Cried. A lot.
Anonymous
Apr 01, 2025
6/10 stars
I like Kristin Hannah and overall liked this book, but some of the characters made me crazy. The tween daughter seemed to lack any sympathy for or empathy with her mother, even taking into account typical self-centered attitude of pre-teens.
aviationmet
Mar 31, 2025
10/10 stars
This was my second Kristin Hannah novel and it, just like the first (The Nightingale), didn't disappoint! The pure raw emotion I felt reading each and every page was remarkable. I've never been in the service, let alone combat, but my husband has. This book has given me a new insight into how that changes a person, while reminding me that I will never truly know what it is like. Definitely recommend this one - but maybe have a box of tissues handy.
Nursbers
Oct 20, 2024
8/10 stars
Heartwarming and heartbreaking all in one. I don’t usually like war stories. But this was really good!

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