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Hobbs #10
Extended Capacity
A school shooting is a nightmare that happens in other towns until it comes to yours.A small town in Maine wakes up thinking it’s just another winter day, but a tragedy has been set in motion by dark secrets from the past and an unfortunate series of recent events. The horror that every town fears is about to come to Hobbs.
Dr. Liz Stolz is preparing to teach a gun safety class. Police Chief Brenda Harrison is heading to present her new conceal carry requirements to town manager, Olivia Enright. The principal of Hobbs Elementary, Courtney Barnes, and the new teacher, Susan Gedney, aren’t looking forward to an after-school meeting about active shooter drills. On the other side of town, Sam McKinnon is finishing work on the school bathroom. Each woman will unwillingly play a critical role in the drama that is about to unfold. Hobbs will never be the same again.
"Extended Capacity is probably the best book of the Hobbs series. Graf handles these emotionally charged subjects with deliberate and dedicated care. She masterfully avoids embedding the narrative with gratuitously graphic details, instead relying on her skills as a true storyteller to pen this gripping tale. Make no mistake; this is an an intense, affecting story. Her bravery for putting it to paper should be commended. Then again, Graf has never been one to take the easy road when it comes to storytelling. She’s the consummate raconteur and her readers always benefit from her bold choices." - Women Using Words
Dr. Liz Stolz is preparing to teach a gun safety class. Police Chief Brenda Harrison is heading to present her new conceal carry requirements to town manager, Olivia Enright. The principal of Hobbs Elementary, Courtney Barnes, and the new teacher, Susan Gedney, aren’t looking forward to an after-school meeting about active shooter drills. On the other side of town, Sam McKinnon is finishing work on the school bathroom. Each woman will unwillingly play a critical role in the drama that is about to unfold. Hobbs will never be the same again.
"Extended Capacity is probably the best book of the Hobbs series. Graf handles these emotionally charged subjects with deliberate and dedicated care. She masterfully avoids embedding the narrative with gratuitously graphic details, instead relying on her skills as a true storyteller to pen this gripping tale. Make no mistake; this is an an intense, affecting story. Her bravery for putting it to paper should be commended. Then again, Graf has never been one to take the easy road when it comes to storytelling. She’s the consummate raconteur and her readers always benefit from her bold choices." - Women Using Words
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2023
20 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Elena Graf
19 books97 followersAward-winning novelist Elena Graf has been scribbling stories since high school. Her first novel, Occasions of Sin was published in 2012. She considers herself primarily a historical novelist, but she is probably best known for the contemporary Hobbs series, featuring a group of middle-aged women living in a small town in Maine.
The novels in the Passing Rites series are set in Europe in the early 20th century and show how a noble family dealt with the momentous changes of the period. Two volumes in the series won both Golden Crown Literary Society and Rainbow Awards for historical fiction.
Elena Graf pursued a Ph.D. in philosophy and often explores difficult moral situations in her fiction. She ended up in the “accidental profession” of publishing, where she worked for almost four decades. She lives in coastal Maine.
The novels in the Passing Rites series are set in Europe in the early 20th century and show how a noble family dealt with the momentous changes of the period. Two volumes in the series won both Golden Crown Literary Society and Rainbow Awards for historical fiction.
Elena Graf pursued a Ph.D. in philosophy and often explores difficult moral situations in her fiction. She ended up in the “accidental profession” of publishing, where she worked for almost four decades. She lives in coastal Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 24, 2023
I have to put this out there on the front end of this review: If you are triggered by gun violence or childhood sexual abuse, this may not be the book for you. That being said, Extended Capacity is probably the best book of the Hobbs series. Graf handles these emotionally charged subjects with deliberate and dedicated care. She masterfully avoids embedding the narrative with gratuitously graphic details, instead relying on her skills as a true storyteller to pen this gripping tale. Make no mistake; this is an an intense, affecting story. Her bravery for putting it to paper should be commended. Then again, Graf has never been one to take the easy road when it comes to storytelling. She’s the consummate raconteur and her readers always benefit from her bold choices.
I can only speculate, but this might’ve been a bit cathartic for her to write. In December of 2012, Graf was working in her home office when a friend texted her: “Go to CNN. Your town is about to hit national news.” What she tuned into was the Sandy Hook massacre. Living only four miles away, she felt the devastation acutely. These weren’t strangers; she knew some of these families. Eleven years later, she still feels the raw emotions of this horrific event. For her, Extended Capacity was a way to show how school shootings impact not just the victims and their families, but the entire community.
Because Graf knows how devastating a mass shooting is to a tight-knit community, she brings a level of delicate realism to the storytelling that’s often hard to achieve in these types of storylines. Though many of the incidents described in the book are thinly disguised versions of what actually happened that horrible day, this is still an original work of fiction and she does a commendable job of maintaining a balanced sensitivity to the subject matter. Yes, the storytelling is vivid and believable, but never once does Graf sensationalize things. She uses what she’s already built in this series to drive the plot, namely the characters. They tell this story, and they do it beautifully. They are the reason readers care about Extended Capacity and why it works.
There were a couple of things that struck me while reading this book. First and foremost, Graf writes with authority and conviction. It’s obvious she researches the heck out of something before she incorporates it into the narrative. This is timely, relevant stuff. Building scenes via paper-thin research and guesswork falls flat every time and Graf knows it. She doesn’t bluff her way through this heavy-handed, hot subject matter. She does the work and creates relatable, reliable story worlds and characters. It drives reader engagement, making the narrative hard to turn away from.
Secondly, she masterfully uses character development as a tool for readers to gain perspective and insight. Doors to understanding and compassion are opened up with her carefully planned character arcs; readers connect with the story. Furthermore, this smart utilization of character development helps readers experience the story on a deeper level, making it feel more personal. Ultimately, these choices make the storytelling more meaningful and memorable, two words one can definitely use to describe Extended Capacity.
Lastly, she excels at writing stories with large ensembles, and it’s a thing of beauty. She knows how to insert the right character at the right time to advance the story. She does this wisely, picking her moments for characters to enter scenes. What they say and what they do pushes the narrative in positive ways, making it compelling as well as entertaining. Overall, it gives the narrative a depth and dimension that’s hard to find in a series that contains double-digit character numbers.
Final remarks…
Extended Capacity is an intense, gripping read and well worth the investment. It’s a well formulated and well constructed piece of fiction—maybe even one of Graf’s best. Either way, it’s certainly one of her finest in the series. The Hobb’s characters have come to mean so much to so many, and because they have, this story will stir things in its readers. Make no mistake; this is a story they won’t soon forget.
Strengths…
Well-written
Well-plotted
Well-paced
Excellent use of characters
Engaging storyline
Relevant and timely
I can only speculate, but this might’ve been a bit cathartic for her to write. In December of 2012, Graf was working in her home office when a friend texted her: “Go to CNN. Your town is about to hit national news.” What she tuned into was the Sandy Hook massacre. Living only four miles away, she felt the devastation acutely. These weren’t strangers; she knew some of these families. Eleven years later, she still feels the raw emotions of this horrific event. For her, Extended Capacity was a way to show how school shootings impact not just the victims and their families, but the entire community.
Because Graf knows how devastating a mass shooting is to a tight-knit community, she brings a level of delicate realism to the storytelling that’s often hard to achieve in these types of storylines. Though many of the incidents described in the book are thinly disguised versions of what actually happened that horrible day, this is still an original work of fiction and she does a commendable job of maintaining a balanced sensitivity to the subject matter. Yes, the storytelling is vivid and believable, but never once does Graf sensationalize things. She uses what she’s already built in this series to drive the plot, namely the characters. They tell this story, and they do it beautifully. They are the reason readers care about Extended Capacity and why it works.
There were a couple of things that struck me while reading this book. First and foremost, Graf writes with authority and conviction. It’s obvious she researches the heck out of something before she incorporates it into the narrative. This is timely, relevant stuff. Building scenes via paper-thin research and guesswork falls flat every time and Graf knows it. She doesn’t bluff her way through this heavy-handed, hot subject matter. She does the work and creates relatable, reliable story worlds and characters. It drives reader engagement, making the narrative hard to turn away from.
Secondly, she masterfully uses character development as a tool for readers to gain perspective and insight. Doors to understanding and compassion are opened up with her carefully planned character arcs; readers connect with the story. Furthermore, this smart utilization of character development helps readers experience the story on a deeper level, making it feel more personal. Ultimately, these choices make the storytelling more meaningful and memorable, two words one can definitely use to describe Extended Capacity.
Lastly, she excels at writing stories with large ensembles, and it’s a thing of beauty. She knows how to insert the right character at the right time to advance the story. She does this wisely, picking her moments for characters to enter scenes. What they say and what they do pushes the narrative in positive ways, making it compelling as well as entertaining. Overall, it gives the narrative a depth and dimension that’s hard to find in a series that contains double-digit character numbers.
Final remarks…
Extended Capacity is an intense, gripping read and well worth the investment. It’s a well formulated and well constructed piece of fiction—maybe even one of Graf’s best. Either way, it’s certainly one of her finest in the series. The Hobb’s characters have come to mean so much to so many, and because they have, this story will stir things in its readers. Make no mistake; this is a story they won’t soon forget.
Strengths…
Well-written
Well-plotted
Well-paced
Excellent use of characters
Engaging storyline
Relevant and timely
September 6, 2023
A moment in time will change a community forever.
I recieved an ARC copy of this book but as often I do, I bought this copy for my collection of this authors work. I have read this story several times gripped by the very widespread effect it has on the community. It is all too common a reality these days but the media never covers the true effect. This story shares the affect one person's act has on the community and the women of Hobbs.
I love how brilliantly the author's caring about my favorite characters and the community blend. We see Liz, Lucy, Brenda, Susan and Courtney who are at the center of this active shooter story. We also see how the other characters experience relationally or through encounters in town. The broad scope of how so many are effected is not lost in characters lives. I felt on a visceral level the days events and cried much as the story unfolded. Knowing the shooters story, feeling the pain of guilt for a moments bad choice all had me on on edge as I read.
The author shares that she was in a community that this kind of thing happened so I am grateful she could tell this in such a powerful way. There are so many aspects that I never thought about how people delt with them. I have loved each Hobbs book, the characters feel like friends, yet this book takes everything to a deeper level. Seeing the affect as they try to move forward with gut wrenching moments of honesty was powerful. Thank you Elena Graf for sharing this story in the most lovingly kind way.
I recieved an ARC copy of this book but as often I do, I bought this copy for my collection of this authors work. I have read this story several times gripped by the very widespread effect it has on the community. It is all too common a reality these days but the media never covers the true effect. This story shares the affect one person's act has on the community and the women of Hobbs.
I love how brilliantly the author's caring about my favorite characters and the community blend. We see Liz, Lucy, Brenda, Susan and Courtney who are at the center of this active shooter story. We also see how the other characters experience relationally or through encounters in town. The broad scope of how so many are effected is not lost in characters lives. I felt on a visceral level the days events and cried much as the story unfolded. Knowing the shooters story, feeling the pain of guilt for a moments bad choice all had me on on edge as I read.
The author shares that she was in a community that this kind of thing happened so I am grateful she could tell this in such a powerful way. There are so many aspects that I never thought about how people delt with them. I have loved each Hobbs book, the characters feel like friends, yet this book takes everything to a deeper level. Seeing the affect as they try to move forward with gut wrenching moments of honesty was powerful. Thank you Elena Graf for sharing this story in the most lovingly kind way.
July 30, 2023
The Hobbs saga continues: Heartbreak arrives in spades
Hobbs #10 comes with flashing warnlights, so read the blurb first before you venture into this new, brilliantly told new installment. It is totally worth the read, but not if it triggers you!
Graf does an excellent job throughout the story. At the outset we experience a winter day in Hobbs which starts placidly as any other day - we meet our beloved crew of women at their early morning chores. Nothing out of the ordinary, business as usual in a small, rural Maine community. But the tension subtly is mounting because of course we as readers know that in a few hours nothing will be the same: This is story-telling, building up to the turn of events at its very best!
I don’t want to give away too much: But I loved how Elena Graf explored the stark reality and the subtle nuances of a school shooting and its aftermath. There is more than meets the eye. Graf‘s prose, her story-telling skills, the pacing and the story-arc are excellent as we have come to expect from this great author.
Kudos to Elena Graf for tackling such a sombre and touchy subject. At the same time she gives us glimpses of hope: It can indeed hit any community anywhere - but the community of Hobbs eventually stands together even in the direst of circumstances.
Thanks to Purple Hands for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily.
Hobbs #10 comes with flashing warnlights, so read the blurb first before you venture into this new, brilliantly told new installment. It is totally worth the read, but not if it triggers you!
Graf does an excellent job throughout the story. At the outset we experience a winter day in Hobbs which starts placidly as any other day - we meet our beloved crew of women at their early morning chores. Nothing out of the ordinary, business as usual in a small, rural Maine community. But the tension subtly is mounting because of course we as readers know that in a few hours nothing will be the same: This is story-telling, building up to the turn of events at its very best!
I don’t want to give away too much: But I loved how Elena Graf explored the stark reality and the subtle nuances of a school shooting and its aftermath. There is more than meets the eye. Graf‘s prose, her story-telling skills, the pacing and the story-arc are excellent as we have come to expect from this great author.
Kudos to Elena Graf for tackling such a sombre and touchy subject. At the same time she gives us glimpses of hope: It can indeed hit any community anywhere - but the community of Hobbs eventually stands together even in the direst of circumstances.
Thanks to Purple Hands for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily.
March 30, 2025
This is a lovely series, I wish I knew the author in real life.
October 7, 2023
This is a novel about a school shooting in a small town in Maine. This town is the setting for the first 9 books in the series, each of those focused on a Sapphic romance. The characters in the previous books are all included in this one, most highly impacted by the shooting, including the school's principal, the town manager, the Episcopal ministers, the police chief, and the doctor who ends up trying to free the shooter's hostages.
The author does a great job detailing the shooting and its aftermath through the eyes of these characters. But the shifting around from couple to couple, especially if you haven't read books 1-9, can get confusing as the reader tries to keep remembering who each of these characters are and what they do.
The author does a great job detailing the shooting and its aftermath through the eyes of these characters. But the shifting around from couple to couple, especially if you haven't read books 1-9, can get confusing as the reader tries to keep remembering who each of these characters are and what they do.
February 14, 2024
4.5
5 Amazing Stars Overall for this series! I loved it so much I am going to listen to them again on Audible.
5 Amazing Stars Overall for this series! I loved it so much I am going to listen to them again on Audible.
August 16, 2023
“A school shooting is a nightmare that happens in other towns until it comes to yours.” With these chilling words, Elena Graf introduces the blurb for the 10th book in her Hobbs series, Extended Capacity. In this novel, Elena, again uses her wordcraft to paint believable portraits of not only her main characters, but also numerous secondary characters, many of whom have been introduced in prior books in the series. While the novel draws the reader once again into the largely fictional coastal town of Hobbs, Maine, where most of the movers and shakers are GLBT+, this time the story revolves around a horrific, but all too common event.
The novel starts like a documentary, providing almost minute by minute descriptions of the beginning of a “normal” day for most of the featured characters. A day that quickly dissolves into horror and chaos. The novel explores (albeit briefly) the tragedy of the deaths of innocent young students, but perhaps the most remarkable thing about this story is its depictions of the lives of so many different people after the shooting. Elena paints pictures of not only the trauma and the “what ifs” experienced by the first responders, school employees and others, but she also explores the background of the shooter, and how his family is treated in the aftermath.
Elena, who clearly is a gun owner, skillfully weaves into this story non-preachy elements of gun safety and explores the need for “common sense gun laws”. Neither she, in her “Author’s Note” at the end, nor her characters, call for gun bans. If there is one chapter in this novel that I think everyone, no matter which side of the “gun control” debate they are on, should read and really give thought to, it’s Chapter 16, Liz’s Sixty Minutes interview.
In many ways, Extended Capacity is perhaps the best Hobbs book by Elena that I’ve read. While she had initially stated that “Number Ten” would be the last book in the series, evidently some of her characters have been recently telling her that she still has more of their stories to tell. Let’s hope so, because her characters are so life-like that I find myself getting so mad at their actions that I resolve not to read any more of their stories, only to be induced to read “just one more”, time and time again.
[Full disclosure, I was given an ARC copy of this novel to read.]
The novel starts like a documentary, providing almost minute by minute descriptions of the beginning of a “normal” day for most of the featured characters. A day that quickly dissolves into horror and chaos. The novel explores (albeit briefly) the tragedy of the deaths of innocent young students, but perhaps the most remarkable thing about this story is its depictions of the lives of so many different people after the shooting. Elena paints pictures of not only the trauma and the “what ifs” experienced by the first responders, school employees and others, but she also explores the background of the shooter, and how his family is treated in the aftermath.
Elena, who clearly is a gun owner, skillfully weaves into this story non-preachy elements of gun safety and explores the need for “common sense gun laws”. Neither she, in her “Author’s Note” at the end, nor her characters, call for gun bans. If there is one chapter in this novel that I think everyone, no matter which side of the “gun control” debate they are on, should read and really give thought to, it’s Chapter 16, Liz’s Sixty Minutes interview.
In many ways, Extended Capacity is perhaps the best Hobbs book by Elena that I’ve read. While she had initially stated that “Number Ten” would be the last book in the series, evidently some of her characters have been recently telling her that she still has more of their stories to tell. Let’s hope so, because her characters are so life-like that I find myself getting so mad at their actions that I resolve not to read any more of their stories, only to be induced to read “just one more”, time and time again.
[Full disclosure, I was given an ARC copy of this novel to read.]
August 6, 2023
Another great Hobbs novel from Elena. Reading the books in these series feel like going home to your childhood town, or to your family - of course, a slightly disfunctional family, as most of them are.
After Covid, another catastrophe hits the town, and as usual, everyone, friends, enemies, and frendemies all band together. And for once, the heroine of the moment is an older, flawed and realistic woman.
A great read altogether
After Covid, another catastrophe hits the town, and as usual, everyone, friends, enemies, and frendemies all band together. And for once, the heroine of the moment is an older, flawed and realistic woman.
A great read altogether
September 11, 2023
Wonderful in the face of tragedy
This series of books is a must for all readers who love tales from a small town and loving community. There are so many diverse characters in this town that you grow to love and feel that you live with them throughout the trials and tribulations if their complicated lives.
This book in particular is really tragic considering the subject of a shooting at the school, which happens so often in the US which is quite incomprehensible to those of us in Australia although we are not completely immune to this barbaric crime. The townspeople have to try to come to grips with what has happened and we are swept along with them with heartache and tears.
As with the others in the series we are left wanting more, I enjoyed the utube links to music in the series I particularly like Lucy the operatic character and noted a couple of mentions if my fav singer through the years Kiri te kanawa who did retire from full Opera in her early 60s so tiring she said, however sang on in recital and concerts for many more years, still involved with master classes and judging, so plenty more years for Lucy and Liz to travel the world of Opera,.
I look forward to many more sagas from Hobbs and thank you for so many great reads.
This series of books is a must for all readers who love tales from a small town and loving community. There are so many diverse characters in this town that you grow to love and feel that you live with them throughout the trials and tribulations if their complicated lives.
This book in particular is really tragic considering the subject of a shooting at the school, which happens so often in the US which is quite incomprehensible to those of us in Australia although we are not completely immune to this barbaric crime. The townspeople have to try to come to grips with what has happened and we are swept along with them with heartache and tears.
As with the others in the series we are left wanting more, I enjoyed the utube links to music in the series I particularly like Lucy the operatic character and noted a couple of mentions if my fav singer through the years Kiri te kanawa who did retire from full Opera in her early 60s so tiring she said, however sang on in recital and concerts for many more years, still involved with master classes and judging, so plenty more years for Lucy and Liz to travel the world of Opera,.
I look forward to many more sagas from Hobbs and thank you for so many great reads.
October 4, 2023
This was better than the other entry by the same author in my view. The focus of this book is on an external event (an elementary school shooting) but it continues with the primary problem in this series: too many characters with similar or identical voices, too much telling (infodumps about previous pairings, histories, emotions from the past, motivations) rather than showing these or paring down the number of characters we follow around to reduce confusion and let us focus on the main tragedy at the heart of this book.
Going to be honest with the things I did not appreciate as well:
- Outing a trans character to a third person in their presence, which is just not cool.
- Referring to a trans woman character's childhood as "when he was a young boy"
- Referring to one of the few Asian characters' eyes as exotic
Going to be honest with the things I did not appreciate as well:
- Outing a trans character to a third person in their presence, which is just not cool.
- Referring to a trans woman character's childhood as "when he was a young boy"
- Referring to one of the few Asian characters' eyes as exotic
July 5, 2024
This is Book 10 of the series. I don't know if there are any more planned but things feel sort of settled at the end so it might be the end of the series.
This is quite an emotional book and if you are bothered by mass shootings, children dying and sexual abuse you might want to end the series on book 9.
The grief within the community is very well portrayed here and with the dedication to the Sandy Hook community I can see why.
Even the emotional stalwarts are struggling in this story.
It's very good - particularly as it also looks at how the community blame someone (who had done something stupid but who hasn't)
I'm glad I read this series - and not just for the obvious lesbian storylines - it was good to get a perspective on world events in another country).
This is quite an emotional book and if you are bothered by mass shootings, children dying and sexual abuse you might want to end the series on book 9.
The grief within the community is very well portrayed here and with the dedication to the Sandy Hook community I can see why.
Even the emotional stalwarts are struggling in this story.
It's very good - particularly as it also looks at how the community blame someone (who had done something stupid but who hasn't)
I'm glad I read this series - and not just for the obvious lesbian storylines - it was good to get a perspective on world events in another country).
December 20, 2025
Another solidly written story in this continuing series. This focuses on the kind of mass shooting that seems to be all too prevalent in American schools, but rather than sensationalising the incident, instead the focus is very much on the ramifications on all the characters we’ve come to know and love in the previous books. Some are directly involved; others indirectly; but the author does a fine job of showing the impact of such an event on everyone living in a small town in the US. I have to say that it makes me glad to live in the UK, where we have sensible gun laws and such events are blessedly few and far between. Indeed, there has not been a school shooting in the UK since the Dunblane massacre in 1996…
October 5, 2023
I love this series and the couples throughout. We pick up the various couple stories, Liz and Lucy, Cherie and Brenda, etc., so it’s like we’re visiting with old friends who we know well. And there are some- Olivia, Sam and Maggie- who may be with different women in the group, but are old friends nonetheless. As Elena says, “this is not a love story” per se but a drama about a boy who goes unheard in his childhood pain and the resulting pain/horror that he inflicts on the community. Because it is told through the eyes of the people we care about, it is palatable and we can relate to the emotions and psychology. I hope this series just keeps going!
December 25, 2023
Extended Capacity by Elena Graf (Hobbs book #10) ~ my review
I love the Hobbs series by Elena Graf because of the amazing characters she has created, they are smart, emotional and vibrant and every addition to the Hobbs community is a special one and the stories they are involved in. It’s wonderful to read a ten book series that keeps the reader wanting for more and I think Elena Graf did a great job in writing it.
So, yes, „Extended Capacity” is book nr.10 in the Hobbs Series by Elena Graf, but it can also be read as a standalone book.
The Hobbs characters are not the typical lesbian romance characters, because the Hobbs series is not about romance, but about real life, and in real life people are flawed, thus the Hobbs characters are far more complex than romance characters. They are at different stages in life: Liz (the town’s family doctor) and Lucy (the Episcopal rector and opera star) are happily married and Lucy’s soprano career heads off again, Sam (the architect and Liz’s best friend) and Maggie (Liz’s ex-wife , Lucy’s friend and a former actress) are connecting deeper within their relationship, Sam is working, while Maggie didn’t go back to the stage, but is helping her daughter Alina with her grandchildren , Cherie (Liz’s nurse) and Brenda (Hobbs’s sheriff), Olivia (the Hobbs town manager) and Amy (cardiologist, Liz’s colleague) are getting closer, Courtney (the Hobbs Elementary School school principal) and her partner, Melissa (a lawyer in Boston) Susan Gidney’s (Lucy’s first lover and, now, priest and teacher in Hobbs) relationship with Bobbie (Liz’s new P.A.) flourishes and they become closer, the deacon soon to become priest Sudan refugee, Reshma John, than Teresa, Grace, the Sudan refugee family Reshma helps out.
The meaning of the title : „Extended Capacity” – can have more meanings:
“Extended capacity magazines protruding more than on (1) inch below the firearm are prohibited.
Extended capacity within the partnership offers more opportunities for such partnerships to be established and nurtured.
Extended capacity signifies the number of before- and after-school children a provider may care for on top of their regular capacity.
Extended capacity means the capacity as defined in Section 9.2 of this Agreement.
Section 9.2. 17 Each new hire shall remain in probation status for a period of not more than ninety (90) work days 18 following the hire date. During this probationary period the District may discharge such employee at its 19 discretion.”
Source: https://www.lawinsider.com/
I think it’s about the first and the last one.
The Hobbs characters have been through a lot, they are mature women in their sixties or seventies, they have been through life and they have vast life experience in so many areas: the hardships, the risk taking, the effort and the drama of reality, love, sexuality, religion, self-discovery, self-understanding, self-acceptance, the improvement of character, knowledge and talent, the becoming more confident, more assured of themselves. Yet, Elena Graf puts them in a new, unexpected, sad situation : a shooting at the Hobbs Elementary School.
Elena Graf writes about violence against children in Hobbs, a small town in Maine with empathy and sensitivity. This must be really hard, because the author herself has witnessed it and she wanted to write about it, to draw attention on how the victims’ relatives , teachers, friends feel about such raw pain and how their lives go on, how the shooter’s mother feels or how the person who left one school door open and the shooter might have gone through it feels.
I think this is one of a kind book, that needs more appreciation because of the above.
There are so many new situations the characters are going through that leave the reader amazed.
When the shooting happens every woman from Hobbs gets involved and helps as they are a strong community. Lucy, Maggie, Amy and Reshma help the relatives of the victims while Liz and Brenda create a plan to save Susan and Courtney who are held captive by the shooter.
Liz becomes the Hobbs hero as she manages to free Susan and Courtney.
However, the psychological scars are deep for Liz and they influence all her relationships.
Susan and Courtney encounter similar problems (coming from the same source) but they are affected differently than Liz.
I really liked how Elena Graf exposed Liz’s feelings, hurts and her anti-hero attitude.
It was very perceptive how she could evoke through words raw emotions like everyone’s initial reaction or the attitude against the devastating horror the shooter made, then the emotional meltdown for the victims’ relatives and teachers.
The Hobbs lesbian community seems to get through this sad event in their lives and Lucy’s music or Liz’s and Cherie’s and Maggie’s homecooking are rays of light after the darkness of the situation they were all into.
The book ends in a more positive tone and, hopefully, with new stories involving the Hobbs women.
I highly recommend „Extended Capacity” by Elena Graf as an exquisite read.
P.S.: The book is dedicated to the victims killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. However, some weeks after the book was released, on October 25, 2023, sadly, a spree shooting took place at two locations in Lewiston, Maine (a sad coincidence that should have never happen).
https://inkmarksonemptydreams.com/
#ExtendedCapacity #ElenaGraf #HobbsSeries #Book10
I love the Hobbs series by Elena Graf because of the amazing characters she has created, they are smart, emotional and vibrant and every addition to the Hobbs community is a special one and the stories they are involved in. It’s wonderful to read a ten book series that keeps the reader wanting for more and I think Elena Graf did a great job in writing it.
So, yes, „Extended Capacity” is book nr.10 in the Hobbs Series by Elena Graf, but it can also be read as a standalone book.
The Hobbs characters are not the typical lesbian romance characters, because the Hobbs series is not about romance, but about real life, and in real life people are flawed, thus the Hobbs characters are far more complex than romance characters. They are at different stages in life: Liz (the town’s family doctor) and Lucy (the Episcopal rector and opera star) are happily married and Lucy’s soprano career heads off again, Sam (the architect and Liz’s best friend) and Maggie (Liz’s ex-wife , Lucy’s friend and a former actress) are connecting deeper within their relationship, Sam is working, while Maggie didn’t go back to the stage, but is helping her daughter Alina with her grandchildren , Cherie (Liz’s nurse) and Brenda (Hobbs’s sheriff), Olivia (the Hobbs town manager) and Amy (cardiologist, Liz’s colleague) are getting closer, Courtney (the Hobbs Elementary School school principal) and her partner, Melissa (a lawyer in Boston) Susan Gidney’s (Lucy’s first lover and, now, priest and teacher in Hobbs) relationship with Bobbie (Liz’s new P.A.) flourishes and they become closer, the deacon soon to become priest Sudan refugee, Reshma John, than Teresa, Grace, the Sudan refugee family Reshma helps out.
The meaning of the title : „Extended Capacity” – can have more meanings:
“Extended capacity magazines protruding more than on (1) inch below the firearm are prohibited.
Extended capacity within the partnership offers more opportunities for such partnerships to be established and nurtured.
Extended capacity signifies the number of before- and after-school children a provider may care for on top of their regular capacity.
Extended capacity means the capacity as defined in Section 9.2 of this Agreement.
Section 9.2. 17 Each new hire shall remain in probation status for a period of not more than ninety (90) work days 18 following the hire date. During this probationary period the District may discharge such employee at its 19 discretion.”
Source: https://www.lawinsider.com/
I think it’s about the first and the last one.
The Hobbs characters have been through a lot, they are mature women in their sixties or seventies, they have been through life and they have vast life experience in so many areas: the hardships, the risk taking, the effort and the drama of reality, love, sexuality, religion, self-discovery, self-understanding, self-acceptance, the improvement of character, knowledge and talent, the becoming more confident, more assured of themselves. Yet, Elena Graf puts them in a new, unexpected, sad situation : a shooting at the Hobbs Elementary School.
Elena Graf writes about violence against children in Hobbs, a small town in Maine with empathy and sensitivity. This must be really hard, because the author herself has witnessed it and she wanted to write about it, to draw attention on how the victims’ relatives , teachers, friends feel about such raw pain and how their lives go on, how the shooter’s mother feels or how the person who left one school door open and the shooter might have gone through it feels.
I think this is one of a kind book, that needs more appreciation because of the above.
There are so many new situations the characters are going through that leave the reader amazed.
When the shooting happens every woman from Hobbs gets involved and helps as they are a strong community. Lucy, Maggie, Amy and Reshma help the relatives of the victims while Liz and Brenda create a plan to save Susan and Courtney who are held captive by the shooter.
Liz becomes the Hobbs hero as she manages to free Susan and Courtney.
However, the psychological scars are deep for Liz and they influence all her relationships.
Susan and Courtney encounter similar problems (coming from the same source) but they are affected differently than Liz.
I really liked how Elena Graf exposed Liz’s feelings, hurts and her anti-hero attitude.
It was very perceptive how she could evoke through words raw emotions like everyone’s initial reaction or the attitude against the devastating horror the shooter made, then the emotional meltdown for the victims’ relatives and teachers.
The Hobbs lesbian community seems to get through this sad event in their lives and Lucy’s music or Liz’s and Cherie’s and Maggie’s homecooking are rays of light after the darkness of the situation they were all into.
The book ends in a more positive tone and, hopefully, with new stories involving the Hobbs women.
I highly recommend „Extended Capacity” by Elena Graf as an exquisite read.
P.S.: The book is dedicated to the victims killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. However, some weeks after the book was released, on October 25, 2023, sadly, a spree shooting took place at two locations in Lewiston, Maine (a sad coincidence that should have never happen).
https://inkmarksonemptydreams.com/
#ExtendedCapacity #ElenaGraf #HobbsSeries #Book10
February 27, 2024
good representation of the horror a school shooting holds
Characters were well fleshed out and developed. Liz’s role in neutralizing the shooter was very moving. I’m glad the story didn’t get overly religious but just enough to hit the areas where the real school shootings have shown to be effective. Counseling, music, and not finger pointing were some of the areas shown to be helpful in helping the Hobbs community heal.
Characters were well fleshed out and developed. Liz’s role in neutralizing the shooter was very moving. I’m glad the story didn’t get overly religious but just enough to hit the areas where the real school shootings have shown to be effective. Counseling, music, and not finger pointing were some of the areas shown to be helpful in helping the Hobbs community heal.
September 5, 2023
I have read all of this author’s books and this is the best. It takes a difficult and almost unbelievable topic and handles it with grace and compassion and a realism that one often doesn’t find in fiction. The characters responses to what occurs are based in a knowledge of what truly occurs in instances such as those about which she has written. I highly recommend this book.
September 10, 2023
A school shooting, so if that triggers you, don't read it. I love this series of books. The MCs are mature women and very relatable. This book had my "heart" in my throat through most of it. You know something is going to happen, when it does it smacks you in the face. Everyone is affected and I feared the worse for some of them. It is more than worth while reading and will make you think
February 25, 2024
Another Amazing Read
There just are no words to describe the amazing character building, the intertwined story lines, and the awesome writing of Elena Graf in this 10th book of the Hobbs Series. This is high excellence.
There just are no words to describe the amazing character building, the intertwined story lines, and the awesome writing of Elena Graf in this 10th book of the Hobbs Series. This is high excellence.
September 6, 2023
Excellent
Elena Graf's characters come off the page and into our hearts, with true emotions and complex relationships. Sorry it's the last of the series.
Elena Graf's characters come off the page and into our hearts, with true emotions and complex relationships. Sorry it's the last of the series.
September 20, 2023
So Much Pain
Ms. Graf's approach to school shootings was a painful story ! When will this nation realize it is the guns!
Ms. Graf's approach to school shootings was a painful story ! When will this nation realize it is the guns!
October 6, 2023
Another hit for Hobbs
I love this series and each new one feels like going home to friends. This book took one gun violence and managed to portray a complex problem well.
I love this series and each new one feels like going home to friends. This book took one gun violence and managed to portray a complex problem well.
December 18, 2023
Tough topic handled well.
Insightful coverage of a school shooting, from the perspective of teachers and first responders! Well done. I love the Hobbs community!
Insightful coverage of a school shooting, from the perspective of teachers and first responders! Well done. I love the Hobbs community!
August 28, 2023
Extended Capacity (Hobbs Book 10)
by Elena Graf
A review by Ka
*****
An excellent extension of the Hobbs series.
From book one, Elena Graf has put her characters through a lot. What might have been a second chance romance in book 1, turned into one of life's most frightening experiences instead: having to deal with a life threatening illness. The author doesn't shy away from life's challenges and tackles at least one of them per book: the sudden ending of an abusive marriage; the death of a parent; the consequences of rape; life and losses during a pandemic; the unexpected death of a spouse; the painful dissolution of a marriage; addiction; domestic violence; the questioning of one's beliefs; aging and dementia.
Also from book one, Graf has created an ever expanding community of true-to-life characters, mainly older lesbians, but also other LGBTQ people, interrelated through friendship and love, helping each other through their various crises.
Hard to believe that we have now arrived at number ten, which deals with the devastating situation of a school shooting and its aftermath.
In her unparalleled, skillful manner of storytelling, Graf depicts our Hobbs friends on what should have been the early morning of an ordinary day, taking the reader with them right onto the scene of this fateful tragedy, which several of her characters will be crucially involved in, many others responding to immediately, until almost anyone from the large set of the Hobbs population is assigned a role in dealing with the losses and life following the carnage.
With great sensitivity, the author manages the feat of bringing us close enough to the scene and the actors in the tragedy to grasp the horrible severity of the situation, while sparing us from witnessing the most gruesome details. By portraying with great empathy even the perpetrator as a sadly struggling human being, Graf sheds light on the subject matter extensively and from various perspectives, making a compelling plea for reasonable gun control as a common humanitarian goal beyond adversarial party line politics.
In her signature to the point style, Graf takes us to the bottom of despair along with her characters and lifts us up again with beautiful music performed to console the bereaved. It is impossible to do an immensely nuanced book of three hundred plus pages justice in a review. You'll have to read it to discover its riches and gems of human interaction for yourself. It is one of those rare books that I'd be glad to rate with many more than the accepted maximum of five stars.
This review is based on an ARC, kindly provided by the author's publisher.
by Elena Graf
A review by Ka
*****
An excellent extension of the Hobbs series.
From book one, Elena Graf has put her characters through a lot. What might have been a second chance romance in book 1, turned into one of life's most frightening experiences instead: having to deal with a life threatening illness. The author doesn't shy away from life's challenges and tackles at least one of them per book: the sudden ending of an abusive marriage; the death of a parent; the consequences of rape; life and losses during a pandemic; the unexpected death of a spouse; the painful dissolution of a marriage; addiction; domestic violence; the questioning of one's beliefs; aging and dementia.
Also from book one, Graf has created an ever expanding community of true-to-life characters, mainly older lesbians, but also other LGBTQ people, interrelated through friendship and love, helping each other through their various crises.
Hard to believe that we have now arrived at number ten, which deals with the devastating situation of a school shooting and its aftermath.
In her unparalleled, skillful manner of storytelling, Graf depicts our Hobbs friends on what should have been the early morning of an ordinary day, taking the reader with them right onto the scene of this fateful tragedy, which several of her characters will be crucially involved in, many others responding to immediately, until almost anyone from the large set of the Hobbs population is assigned a role in dealing with the losses and life following the carnage.
With great sensitivity, the author manages the feat of bringing us close enough to the scene and the actors in the tragedy to grasp the horrible severity of the situation, while sparing us from witnessing the most gruesome details. By portraying with great empathy even the perpetrator as a sadly struggling human being, Graf sheds light on the subject matter extensively and from various perspectives, making a compelling plea for reasonable gun control as a common humanitarian goal beyond adversarial party line politics.
In her signature to the point style, Graf takes us to the bottom of despair along with her characters and lifts us up again with beautiful music performed to console the bereaved. It is impossible to do an immensely nuanced book of three hundred plus pages justice in a review. You'll have to read it to discover its riches and gems of human interaction for yourself. It is one of those rare books that I'd be glad to rate with many more than the accepted maximum of five stars.
This review is based on an ARC, kindly provided by the author's publisher.
August 16, 2023
Extended Capacity.
Elena Graf is a skilled and sensitive novelist, and those gifts have been put to excellent use in her latest Hobbs novel, a retelling of one of the most painful events ever to darken the classrooms of an American school. Extended Capacity may well be one of her finest novels. It certainly extends its remit beyond the usual genre boundaries, but this makes her book all the better.
Writing about violence, especially towards children, which must be still so raw and painful to all those affected, should never be done lightly. The author herself says she was deeply upset by the subject matter, because she too had witnessed a real-life mass shooting in an elementary school. But this has made her more equipped to try to explain to us readers just what it feels like.
I found this novel emotionally educational in the best sense. It taught me so much, partly because I live in a society where handguns and semi-automatic weapons are anathema in normal society, and where children do not have to have ‘shooter’ training as part of their school routine.
The reader is helped cope with the shooting and its consequences by the fact that the novel is set in a little fictional community we already know so well. We are among friends, and if we’ve been following the series, the main characters are already like family to us. In this, Elena writes within a long and noble line of ‘small town’ chroniclers – One immediately thinks of the Avonlea, Prince Edward Isla novels of LL Montgomery for example – and this softens the landing and soothes one’s spirit as we call in on all the various female households we have met in previous books.
On a lighter note, I also enjoy the Hobbs novels because of Elena’s reliable enthusiasm for home cooking. The characters can usually be found in the kitchen chatting to each other as food is prepared. I have often picked up good ideas for what to have for dinner that night while I read these stories. There are also all the extra lollipops of musical interludes. As a fellow opera buff, I find this both heart-warming and amusing. I know of no other novelist who does this, and it’s a brilliant spin-off, making use of the digital possibilities of E-books.
Elena Graf is a skilled and sensitive novelist, and those gifts have been put to excellent use in her latest Hobbs novel, a retelling of one of the most painful events ever to darken the classrooms of an American school. Extended Capacity may well be one of her finest novels. It certainly extends its remit beyond the usual genre boundaries, but this makes her book all the better.
Writing about violence, especially towards children, which must be still so raw and painful to all those affected, should never be done lightly. The author herself says she was deeply upset by the subject matter, because she too had witnessed a real-life mass shooting in an elementary school. But this has made her more equipped to try to explain to us readers just what it feels like.
I found this novel emotionally educational in the best sense. It taught me so much, partly because I live in a society where handguns and semi-automatic weapons are anathema in normal society, and where children do not have to have ‘shooter’ training as part of their school routine.
The reader is helped cope with the shooting and its consequences by the fact that the novel is set in a little fictional community we already know so well. We are among friends, and if we’ve been following the series, the main characters are already like family to us. In this, Elena writes within a long and noble line of ‘small town’ chroniclers – One immediately thinks of the Avonlea, Prince Edward Isla novels of LL Montgomery for example – and this softens the landing and soothes one’s spirit as we call in on all the various female households we have met in previous books.
On a lighter note, I also enjoy the Hobbs novels because of Elena’s reliable enthusiasm for home cooking. The characters can usually be found in the kitchen chatting to each other as food is prepared. I have often picked up good ideas for what to have for dinner that night while I read these stories. There are also all the extra lollipops of musical interludes. As a fellow opera buff, I find this both heart-warming and amusing. I know of no other novelist who does this, and it’s a brilliant spin-off, making use of the digital possibilities of E-books.
September 1, 2023
I love Elena Graf’s Extended Capacity. I’ve read each of her smart, impeccably-researched, and beautifully-written novels. This tenth in the Hobbs series is my new favorite.
Set in a small town in Maine, the series tackles complex issues from racism and homophobia to Alzheimer’s and Covid-19. Extended Capacity confronts Graf’s fictional town with an elementary school shooting. Some of the characters work in the school; others have partners or children there. Graf deftly avoids graphic violence and sensationalism while depicting the devastating aftermath of the carnage and exploring complicated issues of gun safety and gun control.
The title, referring to a pistol’s extended capacity magazine, equally applies to the survivors’ need to extend their capacity for grief, courage, and empathy for their stunned community.
The horrors are balanced by deep friendships, romantic lesbian love, and glorious music. (The Kindle edition of Extended Capacity contains embedded links to recordings of the music, a marvelous feature.) The description of the benefit concert for those affected by the shooting brought me to tears.
I love the fact that, although the Hobbs novels are multigenerational, most of the main characters are in their sixties and seventies. These women, with their wealth of life experience, skills, wisdom, and resilience, are powerful role models for me.
If I had to offer one criticism, I would ask for a bit more physical description of the characters, especially for readers who aren’t familiar with the previous nine books in the series.
I highly recommend Extended Capacity to those who don’t need happily-ever-after romances and who love smart, courageous, character-driven, deeply meaningful literature.
Set in a small town in Maine, the series tackles complex issues from racism and homophobia to Alzheimer’s and Covid-19. Extended Capacity confronts Graf’s fictional town with an elementary school shooting. Some of the characters work in the school; others have partners or children there. Graf deftly avoids graphic violence and sensationalism while depicting the devastating aftermath of the carnage and exploring complicated issues of gun safety and gun control.
The title, referring to a pistol’s extended capacity magazine, equally applies to the survivors’ need to extend their capacity for grief, courage, and empathy for their stunned community.
The horrors are balanced by deep friendships, romantic lesbian love, and glorious music. (The Kindle edition of Extended Capacity contains embedded links to recordings of the music, a marvelous feature.) The description of the benefit concert for those affected by the shooting brought me to tears.
I love the fact that, although the Hobbs novels are multigenerational, most of the main characters are in their sixties and seventies. These women, with their wealth of life experience, skills, wisdom, and resilience, are powerful role models for me.
If I had to offer one criticism, I would ask for a bit more physical description of the characters, especially for readers who aren’t familiar with the previous nine books in the series.
I highly recommend Extended Capacity to those who don’t need happily-ever-after romances and who love smart, courageous, character-driven, deeply meaningful literature.
August 20, 2023
A Day That Changes Everything
Opening Extended Capacity with a sense of what's coming our eyes are first drawn to the time, 6:00 AM, and we begin to wonder when, and if anyone will be ready. The contrast of the timeline counting down the morning as we greet those, we know going through their daily routines on a seemingly normal winter weekday in Hobbs is unsettling.
Elena Graf has successfully captured our attention as she brings us into this tragic day that changes everyone in Hobbs, other communities across the country, and even us readers. However, though this is an intense realistic read, the author has crafted it as sensitively as possible as we go through the heart-wrenching events of this day including formidable and chilling encounters, and their aftermath.
As we grieve with the community of Hobbs, it is poignant to see them struggle to come together and reach out to take care of one another. And as we experience these hurting people grappling individually and as a community with why and who is to blame, many crucial issues are raised.
During this important process, my one concern with this book is the politicizing of this tragedy, which unfortunately is not unusual and belies the crux of the matter.
This story could have been an opportunity to step into the shoes of others and listen so that readers could be confronted with the hearts and thinking of people of various viewpoints so that we might understand and find ways to come together.
Still, it is worth the read. Thank you, Elena Graf, for the ARC and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
Opening Extended Capacity with a sense of what's coming our eyes are first drawn to the time, 6:00 AM, and we begin to wonder when, and if anyone will be ready. The contrast of the timeline counting down the morning as we greet those, we know going through their daily routines on a seemingly normal winter weekday in Hobbs is unsettling.
Elena Graf has successfully captured our attention as she brings us into this tragic day that changes everyone in Hobbs, other communities across the country, and even us readers. However, though this is an intense realistic read, the author has crafted it as sensitively as possible as we go through the heart-wrenching events of this day including formidable and chilling encounters, and their aftermath.
As we grieve with the community of Hobbs, it is poignant to see them struggle to come together and reach out to take care of one another. And as we experience these hurting people grappling individually and as a community with why and who is to blame, many crucial issues are raised.
During this important process, my one concern with this book is the politicizing of this tragedy, which unfortunately is not unusual and belies the crux of the matter.
This story could have been an opportunity to step into the shoes of others and listen so that readers could be confronted with the hearts and thinking of people of various viewpoints so that we might understand and find ways to come together.
Still, it is worth the read. Thank you, Elena Graf, for the ARC and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
September 5, 2023
Extended CapacityI must admit that I didn’t dive into the latest in the Hobbs series with my usual gusto. I’ve read most in the series and I’ve become endeared to all these women (and a few men) and their families. But as you can tell from the book cover, this one is a little different. First, there is the whole cast of characters! It’s not necessary to have read all the titles but it’s helpful. The descriptive character guide will come in handy if read as a stand-alone.
The author wanted to tackle the difficult topic of gun violence and she did an admirable job of covering all the bases. While there are some graphic descriptions, they are contained at the beginning of the book so do not be deterred. The story follows each character as they must deal with the tragedy in this small town of close-knit neighbors. The effects are felt by everyone and ripple throughout the community.
I am drawn to the Hobbs series for the characters, their stories, and the community building. This book is no exception. The Hobbs group has endured, thanks to the support of each other and the bonds they have formed over time. We would all be blessed and lucky to have a family such as this.
Verdict: Recommend for the characters and plot resolution. (The ebook with embedded music links is a bonus for me.)
The author wanted to tackle the difficult topic of gun violence and she did an admirable job of covering all the bases. While there are some graphic descriptions, they are contained at the beginning of the book so do not be deterred. The story follows each character as they must deal with the tragedy in this small town of close-knit neighbors. The effects are felt by everyone and ripple throughout the community.
I am drawn to the Hobbs series for the characters, their stories, and the community building. This book is no exception. The Hobbs group has endured, thanks to the support of each other and the bonds they have formed over time. We would all be blessed and lucky to have a family such as this.
Verdict: Recommend for the characters and plot resolution. (The ebook with embedded music links is a bonus for me.)
August 13, 2023
This is a much different Hobbs story. After the town becomes a site of a school shooting, the lives of the residents of Hobbs are forever changed. The grief in the tragedy as well as the aftermath for our usual characters has the reader running the gamut of emotions. How does one deal with the senselessness? How does one deal with the guilt? How does a close knit town continue to move forward? These are a few questions that arise as each member of the Hobbs community tackles in their own way. Graf does a terrific job shifting between character perspectives. The story flows incredibly well considering the number of characters there are to follow through this tragedy. While that isn’t necessarily surprising with a Hobbs book, the level and number of emotions dealt with here takes it up a notch. While Hobbs will never be the same, the love and support of this close knit group continues to shine through.
September 8, 2023
This is a book with triggers of gun violence and abuse.
Extended Capacity by Elena Graf is a general fiction, crime novel with older character leads that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
Life is good in Hobbs, until tragedy strikes, and the town is rocked to the core. You often hear about school shootings but never think it will happen in your town. It inadvertently changed the lives of so many in those moments and days following.
This is the tenth book in the Hobbs series, which I read as a standalone. There is a character map/reference available, which is interesting. I picked up most of the back stories as I progressed through the book.
A novel that kept me engaged throughout, with relatable and well-developed characters. Hobbs has a sense of community and belonging as friends’ band together in the aftermath of this tragic event. It’s refreshing to see the older generation represented.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
Extended Capacity by Elena Graf is a general fiction, crime novel with older character leads that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
Life is good in Hobbs, until tragedy strikes, and the town is rocked to the core. You often hear about school shootings but never think it will happen in your town. It inadvertently changed the lives of so many in those moments and days following.
This is the tenth book in the Hobbs series, which I read as a standalone. There is a character map/reference available, which is interesting. I picked up most of the back stories as I progressed through the book.
A novel that kept me engaged throughout, with relatable and well-developed characters. Hobbs has a sense of community and belonging as friends’ band together in the aftermath of this tragic event. It’s refreshing to see the older generation represented.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
September 13, 2023
Book 10 of the Hobbs Series is a confronting story of a school shooting and its devastating effects on a small community. While the topic is particularly gruesome, the author has managed to capture the horror and its effects in a way that is compassionate and sympathetic to the victims while maintaining honesty toward the perpetrator.
Each of the characters we’ve come to love throughout the series of books is involved in one way or another and each one travels their own path to reconciliation with the event and its effect on themselves and their loved ones.
If you have read the previous novels in the series, you will know Elena Graf is a master at her craft. Each character is so intricately interwoven that you feel like you’ve known them all your life. This book continues in that vein, and we see our MC’s under extreme pressure, both personally and circumstantially.
A must-read.
Each of the characters we’ve come to love throughout the series of books is involved in one way or another and each one travels their own path to reconciliation with the event and its effect on themselves and their loved ones.
If you have read the previous novels in the series, you will know Elena Graf is a master at her craft. Each character is so intricately interwoven that you feel like you’ve known them all your life. This book continues in that vein, and we see our MC’s under extreme pressure, both personally and circumstantially.
A must-read.
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