My fondest wish is that Kristan Higgins would go back to writing romance with quirky characters filled with heart and humor. This is something altogether different, and what she seems to have switched to. Fans of Nicholas Sparks will appreciate the change.

For my part, I don't really appreciate all the angst, the bonding over shared deadbeat dads, the quick forgiveness for years of mistreatment. She does a brilliant job of justifying all of it, and giving it a therapist twist (and funny how they all become therapists all of a sudden). I wasn't really pulling for anyone, and a lot of the characters were overdrawn for me. Exaggerated. A perfect mom? A perfect daughter? Call out the therapists, because there are certain life stages we all have to go through. The three-year-old terror? There's a lot going on.

The writing is solid, as always. The POV is deep, so we get to see inside everyone's mind and thought processes. As far as story goes, I miss the old Kristan Higgins.