Wish Me Home
Wish Me Home by Kay Bratt
Print and e-book, 300 pages
Published: March 21st 2017 by Lake Union Publishing
In her first work of contemporary women’s fiction, bestselling author Kay Bratt draws on her own life experiences to create a raw, yet inescapably warm, novel about friendship and a wary heart’s unexpected capacity to love.
A hungry, stray dog is the last thing Cara Butter needs. Stranded in Georgia with only her backpack and a few dwindling dollars, she already has too much baggage. Like her twin sister, Hana, who has broken Cara’s heart one too many times. After a lifetime of family troubles, and bouncing from one foster home to another, Cara decides to leave it all behind and strike out alone—on foot.
Cara sets off to Florida to see the home of her literary hero, Ernest Hemingway, accompanied only by Hemi, the stray dog who proves to be the perfect travel companion. But the harrowing trip takes unexpected turns as strangers become friends who make her question everything, and Cara finds that as the journey unfolds, so does her life—in ways she could never imagine.
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First line—"Don't turn around and look again, she told herself. Think of something else. Do not show any acknowledgement and it will go away. Don't let the sight of it limping make you crumble."
Wish Me Home is such a beautiful story, showing the power of love and kindness. Cara and Hemi, short for Hemingway, hit it off in a big way when they happen to stumble upon each other out on the road. They are both in desperate need of a good friend and the connection that they have from the very beginning is so heartwarming.
One of the first things I wondered throughout the story was why is Cara homeless and alone? Where is her twin sister and what happened to make her leave home so fast, leaving her sister and everything else behind? As Cara travels along the road, trying to escape her life, she decides to head for Ernest Hemingway's home in Key West. She has the companionship of the stray dog and lots of good people along the way who help her out more than she thinks she deserves.
Not to say that she didn't run into some bad people too, people who caused her to lose almost everything she owns. For the most part though, she receives kindness and wisdom from so many good people. People came into her life just when she needed them and offered her comfort and solace. Along the journey, Cara and Hemi learn so much about themselves and those around them as they both start to heal and move forward with their lives.
This is a story that really touched my heart and if you have ever loved a dog, you will understand the connection and love that Cara and Hemi have for each other. It really was amazing to witness that connection, that strong bond. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved experiencing the adventures, and the ups and downs, right along with Cara. I loved the wonderful characters she came across and missed them as much as she did when they parted. I look forward to reading more of Kay Bratt's work in the future.
I received copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.
About the author
Kay Bratt is the author of eleven full-length novels and two children’s books. Her writing became her solace and support while she navigated a tumultuous childhood, followed by a decade of abuse as an adult. After working her way through the hard years, Kay came out a survivor and a pursuer of peace—and finally found the courage to share her stories. A wise man once told her to “write what you know,” which resulted in Kay’s pet project and her bestselling series, The Tales of the Scavenger’s Daughters.
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