It's been a long time since a book has made me cry and this one ended my dry streak. I wasn't expecting it to do that and it was refreshing to cry tears of joy for a change. Although the plot turned a little too obvious and ended a little too wrapped up I could still appreciate the story because of how real McFadden made it. I could believe that these characters, despite the somewhat dramatic plot (at times) actually exist. If I had to sum this book up in one word I'd call it pleasant. I enjoyed reading it from beginning to end and it didn't slow down in the middle or go through a dry patch.

The characters of Lucy and Ruth both interested me and McFadden revealed just enough about their lives through their alternating narratives to keep me interested and somewhat frustrated.

I loved that the characters drank wine without guilt or abandon. I thought the two or three sentences dedicated to a lost relationship with prayer/god could have been omitted and the story would have been better; that subject was never addressed and it's too heavy to casually introduce and never explore. The subjects it *did* explore were fantastic - the breakdown of a marriage; the loss of a child/miscarriage; the beginning of a relationship while separated; the beginning of a relationship when much, much older; making peace with one's past; the struggle with personal fears and acceptance; and the pursuit of one's dreams. It's beautiful.

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