This book is a series of snapshots of the life of a woman who loves, lives, and grows in the wonderful world of New England (with a splash of Minnesota). We go along with Jennifer as she matures from a precocious child to a grown woman who has come into her own in a world that made it hard for her to get there. 

This book transcends genre. It has deep moments, and a few that had me laugh out loud. Each of the sixteen men is a unique presence in Jennifer's life (Leo and the Mac Guy are particular standouts). Not all the moments are romantic connections either, some are just men that are kind or helpful to Jennifer, leaving a lasting impact. While I love a good romance, the more moving moments in this novel are the ones with people who are not romantic (like the tollbooth man) and give Jennifer some light in her life. This is especially true when the romantic connections aren't going so well. 

However, a little over halfway through the book, Jennifer's past starts to catch up to her in ways that she was not expecting.  She has to grapple with past trauma, and we see her grow and change as she rediscovers who she is and what she wants from life. This is really the heart of the story where Jennifer decides that she is not defined by men and what they've done to her, but who she is on her own. Watching her learn to find love again after heartbreak and devastation is moving. This is a book for our time. We see a woman who was sexually assaulted as a child (when victims were silenced) come to realize her trauma and learn to speak her truth as an adult. This book was important and moving, and I recommend it!