What an amazing book! For a start, this is Dutch writer writing in English, but also in a very Dutch way (in a good sense). And then the astonishing plot. Just when you think you know what it is all about, everything is turned on its head and you discover that the story is actually very different that you thought it was.  
Typically Dutch, there is far too much sex. It is functional and it exceptionally well written. But still.
Something that was very well done was that in the dialogues, especially in the beginning, the speakers interrupt each other resulting in unfinished sentences, where it is nevertheless clear what is meant. That is how real dialogue between people goes, and van der Wouden showed some exceptional skill in getting that just right. She did use some odd punctuation, for instance with some quotes in italics for no apparent reason. Despite English not being her first language, it was impeccable, I only spotted one 'mistake' (she wrote finish school instead of finishing school). Considering the level of my Dutch, after decades living here, that is very impressive.
It clearly deserved its place on the Booker shortlist.