I knew from the first few chapters of reading this book that this was going to be a 5 star read for me. The prose was evocative; I was transported to this unnamed Latin American country with Isabel Allende's lyrical writing style and thought provoking cast of characters. This is a story I will never, ever forget! This author has a bunch of books on her backlist and I will make it my mission to read them all.  

I needed a day or two in between reading because this novel is just so utterly heartbreaking at times. Other times, it featured tender moments that is, in summary, what a well lived life consists of. The reader quite literally follows Violeta from her birth to her death in this unputdownable book. You become so attached to this character and all of her mistakes and triumphs- it's what makes Violeta's character arc so fucking satisfying to read. The author did a masterful job!! 

I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this to all. In fact, this is officially required reading!