Nikki, the central character, takes some getting used to. She seems aloof and insincere at times but she is worth getting to know. As the story develops so does one's empathy for her as she struggles to connect with a family that seems to be falling away from her. She resolves issues slowly, but with her own style and eventually a warmth replaces the frost. Amusing and obnoxious characters step in (and out) of her life and it is easy to feel you have known all of them personally. Like many of her books, I reached the end with a sense of melancholy and accomplishment. It is hard to step away from a decent story.