Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was an emotional journey and a great story of friendship. Starting over is rough. Having your life turned upside down and navigating a new reality can weigh heavily on a person. I loved that Kate and Lydia had each other to help deal with the new challenges they faced. Definitely a good read.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Five Tries to Get It Right” by Kathryn Dodson is a captivating exploration of perseverance and self-discovery. Dodson’s writing is both poignant and relatable, drawing readers into Kate’s struggles and triumphs with empathy and insight. The character development is particularly strong, as Kate evolves through each attempt, learning from her mistakes and gaining a deeper understanding of herself.
The novel is not just about success or failure, but about resilience and the courage to keep trying despite setbacks. It explores themes of ambition, identity, and the search for meaning in a refreshingly honest and thought-provoking way.
Overall, “Five Tries to Get It Right” is a thoughtfully crafted novel that will resonate with anyone who has faced challenges in pursuit of their dreams. Dodson’s storytelling is both heartwarming and inspiring, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking a tale of hope and determination.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a powerful story! I was initially pulled in by the beautiful cover, but upon reading the synopsis, I knew this would be an emotional journey. Little did I know just how emotional it would be! It’s a beautiful book about friendship and how crucial that bond is during times of loss and depression. I loved the travel destinations and the journey of finding themselves through it all. The characters were incredibly easy to relate to, and I felt like the flow of the story was smooth and unfolded naturally. There were some unexpected twists and turns that I won’t give away, but they definitely surprised me! I highly recommend picking this book up and letting yourself journey alongside Lydia and Kate. Maybe you’ll find kinship with them as well!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Such a good book about the power of friendship. Kate has decided that life is no longer worth living. Her best friend Lydia is not going to let her give up. They embark on a trip around the world to relive some of their youthful adventures. Will Lydia be able to help Kate save herself?
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A great story with so many layers. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, but relatable characters dealing with so many emotions and situations. Lydia and Kate are working on their friendships, while both have their own losses, grief, challenges, emotions, distractions, and more to work through…along with the added layers of mental health struggles for Kate. There could be some triggers, but overall, this is a well written story that was enjoyable to read.
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Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Five Tries to Get It Right was an amazing book. Kathryn Dodson grabs your attention from the very beginning of the book. The story is very relatable. The detailing in the story is good. The world building and character building is great. This book was a page turner for me.
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Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is such am emotional story. The author deals with such emotional topics such as grief, loss, betrayal, and the biggest on of all mental health. It is a beautiful story of friendship and the struggle of finding yourself and learning to live again.
Lydiahas found her life hard after losing her husband and her daughter leaving for college. She finds herself alone and not knowing what to do with herself. Until she gets a call to help her friend Kate.
Kate has hit rock bottom and doesn’t want to live anymore. When she wakes in hospital with Lydia she isn’t happy. Lydia means well but she doesn’t understand why Kate wants to end her life.
In an attempt to bring her friend back from the brink of despair Lydia suggests taking a trip, travelling to all the places they went in their 20s.
Could this journey help them both heal and learn to live again? What happens if Kate is still set on ending it all?
And when someone from Lydia’s past returns will she lose her focus on protecting and saving her friend for a second chance at love?
This story is very emotional, heartbreaking as much as heartwarming. The characters are well developed and i feel for them both but how can you save someone who doesn’t want to be saved?
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This lovely story is about sorrow, heartache, and loss but is also about everlasting friendship, travel, and adventure. It has to do with suicidal ideations but also finding one’s self and place in life. Two friends, Kate and Lydia, help each other find their way back to life in a harrowing and also heartwarming journey together. Anyone who has ever found themselves at a crossroads or even what seems like a dead-end in life will be able to relate to the emotions and sentiment of this story. It’s a good reminder that life is not always sunshine and rainbows, but it’s the people we have alongside us that make the journey worth it. Grab your box of tissues and settle in for this wonderfully written story that will grab you and whisk you away for the ride. I highly recommend this book and this author!
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Two women, looking to heal and reclaim their youth, travel around the world revisiting places from their past. Lydia, a retired teacher, trying to start fresh, and Kate, a former businesswoman, trying to end it all, are both dealing with grief in their own ways. In a last-ditch effort to fix what they have lost, they travel around the world, reliving their twenties. They soon realize that what they were looking for isn’t what they really needed. Dodson provides a perfect story of love and loss and gives the readers a very unexpected happy ending.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a really touching story about mental illness and the darkness that one can feel.
Lydia and Kate are best friends and have been since they were children. They weren’t always close due to the changes in their lives. But they reconnect when it is needed the most. Kate is in trouble. The life she worked so hard for and that she loved, has taken an unexpected and unwanted turn. Nothing prepared her for the events that unfold, nor does she know how to deal with the darkness inside her as it begins to take over. While this may sound a little like science fiction it is not… It is the reality of many people dealing with different types of mental illnesses. Lydia is a caretaker, first for her mother, then her husband and her daughter, and even the children she teaches. It is what she knows. When her life takes an unexpected turn, she focuses her care-taking energy on Kate. Little does Lydia know that she will need more than just care-taking skills to help Kate.
I liked the writing style of this story. The characters are believable and admirable. The plot moves in real time as life would. This story is about growing up but not necessarily growing old.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Five Tries to Get It Right is a women’s fiction story about love, loss, grief, hope, and the strength found in true friendship. Lydia and Kate have been friends since childhood and no matter how busy their lives have gotten, or what direction each of their lives went, they have always been able to pick up their friendship where it left off. Lydia is crushed when she learns that Kate has tried to commit suicide and vows to help her friend bounce back from the edge of darkness. Since the sudden loss of her husband, and her daughter away for school, Kate is all that Lydia has left. Kate is severely depressed since her divorce and the loss of her company and refuses Lydia’s help. Lydia decides that the best medicine can be found in traveling to the five places the two friends visited in their twenties and reliving the best moments from that time. This story was one of resilience, courage, strength, second chances, and rediscovering oneself. Kate and Lydia are wonderful characters that I found personable and relatable. I instantly felt a connection with Kate because of my own past battle with depression and feelings of hopeless. Reading about her journey took me on an emotional rollercoaster and pulled at my heartstrings. Lydia and Kate were lucky to have such a beautiful friendship and find strength in one another.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Five Tries to Get It Right is a story of finding yourself and navigating mental health issues. Lydia and Kate have been friends for most of their lives. Their friendship is especially tested after Kate attempts to take her own life. Lydia is ready to help pick up the pieces not knowing just how deeply she also needed Kate’s help.
In reliving their glory days of youth the two women are on a path of discovering what life means, their roles, and how to keep going. The way the story was wrapped up was exactly what I needed, but not at all what I expected.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an amazing story of friendship and all the healing and tribulations that can come from friendship. It is an amazing heartwarming tale that takes twists and turns that are relatable to the reader. These two friends take a trip to try to work out everything that is going on in their lives at the time. One friend is feeling like there is no where for her to go and is seeing the everything as the end. The other is trying to figure out life without her spouse and a grown daughter. This book deals with some heavy issues that might stir up some feelings in the readers. It deals with depression, suicide, loneliness, but it also deals with strength, courage, finding oneself, and learning to live through what seems like the most. This book not only has the characters going on a journey but takes the reader with them. I was turning pages because I felt myself become so emotional involved with the characters. I needed to know what was going to happen and how they were going to process and heal. I haven’t felt this emotionally connected or moved by a story in a while. I would highly recommend that anyone who reads this book to take the trigger warning seriously. There are some heavy issues that may not be suitable for everyone.
Reviewed by: @bbohls
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Five Tries to Get It Right is a story about 2 lifelong girlfriends on a mission to find themselves. Lydia is a retired school teacher, widow, and whose daughter is doing a semester at sea. She goes to help her bestie of decades, Kate, who is at her lowest point in life after a divorce and being bought out of her company. The two women feel so lost and decide that they are going to get back on track or at least try. They plan to go back to the lives they lived in their 20s (now in their 50s), travel the world, and reexperience “the good times”. Their plan involves traveling back to the 5 countries they once traveled to. At each stop, they tried to partake in similar adventures from their youth, but they realized things were just not the same. So, they try to relive these experiences in new ways as they travel around the world. Without giving too much away, each woman has goals that they want to figure out by the end of the trip. Lydia wants to find a husband and a future that is different from the path she was on. Kate wants to find peace. Will traveling “back in time” give them the space to find what they are looking for?
I thought this was a truthful story. If you are looking for a story about girlfriends being there for each other, suffering together, but also finding themselves, this is a good choice. As someone in their 40s, I understand the need to reinvent yourself or fix things you wished would have happened, but didn’t have the guts to make happen. These women try to accomplish this through travel. I enjoyed both characters. They felt real, relatable, and troubled, but also strong and hopeful at the same time. I would warn people to look at the trigger warnings because there are a lot of mental health aspects to this book.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read. It hit a lot of relatable content. I thought the characters were also relatable as well. I also thought the plot to moved well. I would read others by this author.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is heavily focused on some serious mental health issues. Kate and Lydia could be any random two friends in today’s society. They’ve known each other since elementary school. In their 20’s, they went on a whirlwind overseas tour of five different countries. Now in their fifties, both newly single (one by death, one by divorce) ladies decide to revive that tour after Kate has a bout in the mental ward of a hospital. Each country they visit brings about memories, both good and bad, as well as further develops their friendship bond.
This book is very emotional. High highs and low lows. I was sucked in from the first page! Both ladies are running from issues, not unlike many people today! On this journey they find themselves and learn more about each other, sometimes in the most unflattering of ways. The ending was not what I expected but I was not disappointed in it. This one is going to stick with me for a bit!
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 stars for a novel that made me laugh, smile and even tear up a little.
This book surprised me, because I was expecting a happily ever after with this book and it actually was one, just not the one I expected.
All Kate wants is to end the life she’s leading and all Lydia wants is to begin a new one. Best friends for decades, they are now two middle aged women at crossroads that neither one of them expected to be at. One divorced, one a widow, both with doubts about their past, present and future. When they were in their early twenties, they took an around the world tour and now they’re doing it again. Kate needs to figure her life out; Lydia wants romance. Neither one actually expects to get what they want, but they both do – in unexpected and really delightful ways.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
5 Stars
Two best friends go on a healing trip that was previously taken over 30 years ago when they were younger around the world. Kate attempted suicide and survived after several things have happened in her life one her Ex and his wife are pregnant and the board of the company she created fired her. Lydia needs to take care of someone as she is now a retired teacher, widowed and her daughter is off to college. Both are unsure of their future and what to do next, so they go on a trip Lydia is hoping to save her friend and Kate is just getting by and trying to let go.
I absolutely loved this book! For someone who has dealt with depression I think it made it more emotional for me at times.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Story of friendship. Yet a story of depression and sorrow. Five Tries to Get it Right seems to have it all. It pulls at the heartstrings, while reminding the reader tomorrow is never promised. The author writes about an eternal friendship between two women headed in different directions in their lives. One on a path of self discovery and one who feels she has nothing left to give. Ending up on a modified redo of all the places they traveled to together in their 20s. With hopes of recapturing a little bit of what they had back then.
Lydia was devastated when she found out Kate tried to end it all. After the loss of her husband and her daughter pushing her away Kate is all she has left. And she wants to help her. However Kate doesn’t want any help. She doesn’t want to move forward. She feels she accomplished everything she set out to do and it’s time to move on before a disease takes her anyway as it did her mother and grandmother before her.
Lydia comes up with an idea of an adventure. One with hopes of finding herself and who she truly wants to be. Two to show Kate that she has more purpose in the world. At Kate’s insistence that money isn’t an issue they decide to revisit the 5 places they went to in their 20s. Lydia hopes it’s the beginning of starting over, not realizing Kate’s only doing it for her.
What happens on their adventures?
Does Lydia discover who she is and what she wants?
What about Kate, does she discover there’s more to life?
These women are selfish & stubborn but one thing they do have in common is they love each other fiercely and only want what’s best for the other. It’s a story that reminds the reader of their close friends. For me, my best friend, we’ve gone on trips together and our lives are in different places which is sometimes difficult to understand. But we will always have each other. Like I said before this book reminds us that tomorrow is never promised. So don’t settle. Live your life to the fullest. And never forget to tell your loved ones, that you love them!
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kathryn Dodson’s Five Tries to Get It Right is not my typical read of spice, fantasy, or mystery. But, it did not disappoint in the journey. Hitting rather close to home, the story begins when Kate ends up in the hospital after attempting suicide. Her best friend, Lydia, is there to pick up the pieces. A crazy idea surfaces and they begin a journey to five different countries they traveled to in their twenties. The world building in this book is amazing! I felt all of the emotions coursing through me and saw (in my mind) all the wonderful places they visited. The characters are perfectly imperfect and tragically believable. There is so much going on in this story; there’s love, friendship, heartbreak, loss, romance, and mental illness. I love how Dodson explores sensitive topics and urges those who are struggling to seek help. Overall, a great read that will have you turning pages quickly. I can’t wait to read more by Kathryn Dodson.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
With each book I read by this author I am more and more in awe of the talent she has in creating captivating storylines and relatable heartfelt characters. While some of this books topics can be difficult ones to present, this amazing author does it in such a way that it is so heart warming even while it is breaking your heart. this is a book not to be missed.
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210594018-five-tries-to-get-it-right” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Five Tries to Get It Right” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1711939651l/210594018._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210594018-five-tries-to-get-it-right”>Five Tries to Get It Right</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36094489.Kathryn_Dodson”>Kathryn Dodson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6544870859″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Kate and Lydia have been best friends since grade school. Lydia is now a widow, has a grown daughter and was a school teacher for many years. Kate had a successful business, and now divorced. Lydia received a call one day that Kate was in the hospital. The two best friends travel the world together. Lydia wants Kate to live. They have their ups and downs through out the trip. But it makes their friendship so strong. I was rooting for Kate to live through the whole book! Lydia and Kate are a powerful team going through everything life has thrown at them.
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Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a great 5 star read. My emotions were all over the place with this one.
I really enjoyed Lydia and Kate’s story. The things these ladies experienced just kicks you in the stomach at times and to watch them grow stronger and become the women they did was great. This is a very special once in a lifetime friendship that we all wish to have. And the journey they took to so many amazing places added to the story. If you want to read a great story with great meaning and friendship this is the one for you. The content can be tough at times due to what is happening at times but it is a truly beautiful read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Reviewed by @mab54615
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Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A heartwarming and at times heartbreaking story celebrating female friendships and women choosing their own destiny’s. I was captivated from start to finish by this book about two friends Lydia and Kate, who decide to retrace their wild youth and go on a worldwide voyage. Lydia is a widow living and working as a teacher in a small town but is feeling lonely following her husbands death. Having married and built a successful career Kate is now divorced and facing professional failure, having hit rock bottom she believes she has only one option. However, her longtime friend Lydia offers her a different option, and with one hoping to heal her heartache and the other needing to find a meaning in life again, they travel to all the exotic locations they visited when they were younger. Amidst the heartache and loss their passion for life and love is reignited, but Kate still has plans to end it all. When a surfer from Lydia’s past offers her a second chance at romance and love she is forced to choose between saving herself or Kate. This heartfelt story took me on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey and it does deal with some upsetting and difficult themes. However, these are handled with sensitivity and honesty and overall I found the storyline to be an inspirational one. I found both Lydia and Kate likeable and relatable and I felt instantly engaged with them and invested in their journey. The wonderful places they visited came to life through the descriptive narrative and I felt fully immersed in the story.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Five Tries to Get It Right is a heart-wrenching and yet tugged at my heart-strings story of love, friendship, loss, grief, promises and mental illness. The author did a great job navigating the friendship between Lydia and Kate in this story that really brought issues to light. What would you do to keep hope to save your best friend…..this story really brings that question to mind as Lydia and Kate pack up and explore Spain, Amsterdam, the Caribbean, Australia, and Costa Rica in hope to rekindle their bond of friendship.
Going on an adventure is all Lydia wants to do after dealing with the death of her husband and her daughter leaving to study abroad, Lydia is grasping to help as well with Kate as she does not want to feel that she will lose her as well. Kate is dealing with her issues of her divorce and losing her own company….the will to live is no longer there. Lydia will do anything not to lose Kate as well and with their time together on their trip, Lydia hopes that Kate will regain the spark she always had.
This story really is touching and while the topic is difficult, this story is very well written and I highly recommend this read. Another great story by Kathryn Dodson!
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 stars
This book is an absolute gem! This heartfelt and inspiring story is beautifully written, capturing the essence of perseverance and the human spirit. The characters are richly developed, and her narrative is both engaging and thought-provoking. I couldn’t put it down and was moved by the journey each character takes. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking an uplifting and meaningful story. Highly recommended!
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Five Tries To Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson. This is such a good family, drama, romance. Its the story of Lydia & Kate and they are both going thru a rough time in their lives. Lydia’s husband has passed away and her daughter has left to go on a trip so she feels all alone and lost. Kate has gone thru a divorce and finding out her husband’s new girlfriend is pregnant is the icing on the cake. Lydia & Kate have been friends for a long time so when Kate decides to end her life Lydia is by her side every step of the way. Once Kate is back on her feet they decide they need to go on a trip and get away for a while. While on their trip they have all kinds of adventure and fun. The friendship they share is truly beautiful and this story will stick with you for a long time.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
Five Tries to Get It Right is a wonderfully written Women’s Fiction/ Adventure that takes us on quite the emotional journey. This book hit very close to home on so many different levels. I’ve recently had some pretty big life changes and honestly couldn’t have gotten through them without my best friend by my side. This is a heartwarming story that has a fair mix of drama, love, loss, second chances, grief, heartache and so much more. I truly enjoyed reading this book and literally had to have kleenex near by. It’s really hit home and I’m here to tell you this is totally worth the read. I highly recommend reading this book and I must say this is definitely my favorite yet. I’m looking forward to reading more from this Author.
Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book offers such an incredible story of friendship that preservers throughout the years. It offers the perfect insight into two best friends navigating their way through life and how they find the strength to face everything. This book resonated with me on a level I did not expect. It felt so relatable to my own life and the things that I might have to face moving forwards.
The author has created a story that is appealing and so easy to connect with. It was a well written story that explored the lives of two women and made me feel hope about what the future could hold in the second part of my own life. This is a great story and I really enjoyed this so much more than I expected.
