True Colors by Kristin Hannah

Summary ~ True Colors is New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah’s most provocative, compelling, and heart-wrenching story yet. With the luminous writing and unforgettable characters that are her trademarks, she tells the story of three sisters whose once-solid world is broken apart by jealousy, betrayal, and the kind of passion that rarely comes along. 

In a matter of moments, everything will change. The Grey sisters will be pitted against one another in ways that none could have imagined. Loyalties will be tested and secrets revealed, and a terrible, shocking crime will shatter both their family and their beloved town.

With breathtaking pace and penetrating emotional insight, True Colors is an unforgettable novel about sisters, rivalry, forgiveness, redemption—and ultimately, what it means to be a family.

So, sounds great right?  There is a lot going on in this book and at times I enjoyed the read but more than not I felt that I needed some wine with the cheese that Hannah was serving up.  I know that may sound harsh to some of you out there, especially the Kristin Hannah fans (this is the first of her novels that I have read) but that’s how I feel about True Colors in a nutshell.  Sorry!  First of all, by reading any synopsis on this book you would be lead to believe that True Colors is going to equally give attention to each Grey sister.  Nope!  The first chunk of chapters were all about the eldest sister, Winona.  The older, wiser and fatter sister.  She doesn’t get the guy she wants, she can’t get her daddy’s approval on anything and she isn’t happy with the way she looks.  Yet she’s successful in her role as town lawyer and advisor but for so long that isn’t enough.  She has a loving family, great strong bonds with her sisters and lots of potential that is not quite touched upon enough by Hannah.  So predictable.  Then we get to know Vivi Ann.  She’s hot, fun, young, daring, sexy and flakey.  Everything always works out for her and she never has to really work hard for what she has because she’s pretty.  At least that’s the message I got.  Then when she goes against everyone in her life and follows her heart she is punished in so many ways.  Aurora, the middle sister, gets lost in the shuffle as being the boring, reliable one with no real character building allotted her. 

Slight inconsistencies became distracting and the predictable story lines and ultimate plot disappointedly interrupted the flow of the book for me.  I wanted so much more depth out of this book.  I enjoyed reading about familiar places and scenery in western Washington State.  Hood Canal, Seattle, Washington weather and landscapes were described beautifully.  You were aware which decade the story was in at the moment because of great detail and description but it still wasn’t enough for me.  The only tear I shed was at the death of an animal at one point.   

I may give Hannah another chance one day and read another of her books but for now I’m good.  I just felt that there was so much potential in True Colors that was wasted on clichés.  I didn’t hate it but it didn’t do too much for me either. 

{Rating ~ 3 out of 5}