I really wanted to give this 4 stars and I might have if it weren't for the ending. After reading 696 pages (large print edition) it just leaves you hanging and you hope she resolves it in her second book. After diving into this families life and wanting to know more and to see how these 2 relationships end up; she ends it...leaving you to make up how it goes; to have you decided how their conversation will go. (again hoping she resolves it in her second book) At times the book felt quite long although I wanted to know what happened to these characters. The main character, Marta, had so much pizazz but she changes when she has children and I turn from loving her spunk to hating her character. Makes you mad that families follow the same path as the one they really don't want. They try so hard to not be like 'so and so', but they always do. I will read the second one so I know how it turns out! If it is like any of her other books, she will leave you ending until the very end of book 2 with only 2 chapters left. That is how I've found every book I read of hers.

This book is well-written and maintained my interest overall. There are deeper levels of meaning throughout the book that the author did a good job of explaining,as well. The weakest point, I thought, was the one chapter towards the end that lapsed into preaching. The intended message was plain throughout the book and I thought this was unnecessary...and even somewhat weakened the message! Overall, I liked the characters and the two main characters were well-developed. I would encourage others to read this story!