I read this book as soon as I received it. I struggled with reviewing it because it was so well written. The author has an obvious gift. The premise of the book is wonderful but I found the stories too dark and unsettling to really enjoy. I felt unsettled at the end and vaguely disturbed. I would read this author again however because it would be interesting to see what she would do with a lighter subject.

In general I liked this book. I was able to read it quickly as it held my attention. The subject matter was interesting and would make for good discussion in book clubs. I felt the most compassion for the oldest daughter who was forced to keep the family functioning while losing her grip on her own life and identity. There was something, however, that kept it from being a REALLY good book though. There was something unbelievable about Ben's character. I just couldn't get a sense of why she was with him ever. Often times one sees the trail of the abusive relationship and understands the attraction but in this case it was just a bit too far of a stretch and it hurt the book.

My first impression of this book was that it was just plain weird. The story did grow on me and I was able to finish the book. The plot grew on me but the story and characters were just too darn depressing and left me with an unpleasant feeling. I did enjoy the book's references to the Pittsburgh area as that was where I was born and raised.

I was a big fan of this book. I found it to be depressing but without engaging characters. Although the subject of hoarding and the reasons behind the compulsion was interesting, the rest of the story did very little for me. I found the characters to be too flawed to be able to relate to them. Their choices in life were depressing and so flawed that it was difficult to relate to them. I was also put off by the fact that there was so little closure to the suicide. The fact that the author created a character that was clearly so disturbed but then failed to analyze his mental state any further simply left me with "a bad taste in my mouth". Depressing and flawed characters, in general, do not put me off but, in this story, they didn't work for me.

I really wanted to give it a 4.5 rating. This is a book with an unique plot which makes it a compelling read. It doesn't take one too long to realize the specific twists that is center to the story but the book continues to hold the reader's attention until the end. It is hard not to sympathize with all the characters and there suffering. I felt a bit let down by the ending but not because it was poorly written but because it seemed sad for all (at least for me).

I enjoyed this story and read it quickly. The characters are engaging and the author does a nice job of creating an engaging story while trying to deal with a very difficult subject matter. While I enjoyed the book on one level I never felt as though anyone would be so cavalier emotionally or medically with such a disabled child. The author makes a note about how she wanted Anna and Tobias to display extreme behaviors possibly as a way to address some emotions that real parents of disabled children feel but don't act upon. I just found the characters to be enjoyable and the story entertaining but as a fictional tale not something that I would think could be true in real life.

I fully anticipated enjoying this book. I tend to enjoy coming of age novels and, having attended a prep school, enjoy reading novels with a similar setting. For the most part, I did enjoy the story. I liked the characters as they all seemed complex and damaged and I was fully expecting an ending that would tie them all together and answer some of the questions that were posed throughout the novel. Unfortunately the ending did not meet my expectations. I felt that the author created a complicated story and then left the reader hanging. It just didn't come together which is unfortunate because the story had a lot of potential. Also the crew information dragged at times although it was somewhat integral to the story. If one knows nothing about the sport the story probably won't interest them.

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. As a reader you will "fall for" Max just as every one else in the story does. There are so many turns and twists to the story that one is immediately captivated and remains so until the last page. The relationships and dynamics of this family are heartbreaking as they struggle to deal with the "uniqueness" of Max's intersex condition. The decisions and turmoil that weigh on Max provide ample room for discussion. Fantastic book!

This was a quick easy read. The subject matter lends to good discussion for a book club. I found the three different stories to be easy to read and digest but I never found myself relating to any of the three women on any deep level. Although the subject matter is one that all women can relate to I felt the characters were not that believable or real and for that reason I wasn't a huge fan of the book.

This novel was a wonderful historical fiction read. The story dealt with issues of race and love in the early 19th century. I found the love story and its consequences to be quite believable and, while the end leaves the reader happy, the story itself is not trite in that it paints a realistic picture of the realities of unsanctioned romances. Both Emily and Andrew are characters that the reader must admire and those of Dorothy and Tom, while less admirable, are realistic and likeable in their own way. If I could give one criticism to the publishers it would be about the cover of the book. As a librarian I fully realize how ridiculous it might sound to say that but the reality is that many people DO judge a book by its cover when they are browsing. The cover of this books lends one to think they are about to read a poorly written romance novel. One would not even grasp that it is a historical fiction read based upon the clothing of the woman on the jacket. When I received it in the mail I thought to myself..."what the heck did I choose"? Fortunately. I pledged to read the novel and was very glad that I did.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it from cover to cover and wished there was more. I longed to know what choices Jason made in the future as I found him to be a faulted yet loving character. Dermont writes beautifully and creates a poignant story about adolescence. At the same time she creates an aura of suspense that keeps the reader riveted. I have to admit, however, that part of my attraction to the story was based upon the fact that I graduated from an East Coast prep school in 1986...just a year before this story takes place. I was easily able to relate to the prep school codes as well as the fashion and music of that era. Others who have not lived through an adolescence in a prep school might not understand the sad truth and reality of what Dermont writes about.

This book was riveting. At first glance I thought it might be a bit corny but I was completely incorrect. I found myself reading into far into the night and being as frightened as a young girl hearing a horrible ghost story. I loved it!

I enjoyed this book and read it very quickly. I'm not usually a big fan of this genre but I found the characters to be well defined and interesting for the most part. I was very curious to find out the conclusion...it was an interesting end to the story. The only criticism I had was that I felt the author developed the main character in order for the reader to feel that she was a sophisticated and intelligent woman but some of the scenes in the book didn't jive with that illusion. At times she appeared to be an immature, young girl with common language. This might have been purposeful but it is hard to believe that such an accomplished monetary scam artist would use the word the word "way".

I was really looking forward to this book. Historical fiction is, by far, my favorite genre. Unfortunately, as hard as I tried, I was unable to finish the book. It failed to grab my interest early on and I put it down to read another book. Frankly I read three other books while trying to finish this one. I don't think I have ever done that before. I will try it again in the future but this time I found it slow and was unable to keep up with the many characters.

I was grabbed from the first page and compulsively read it in one sitting.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read and I think it is a good choice for a book club. The issues of marriage and how it is affected by war are investigated well by the author. The characters are well-defined and have a realistic feel to them. The issue of marriage and why people enter that union is always an interesting discussion. I enjoyed the book.

This novel was a quick read. It is the type of book that you want to read after you have finished a difficult or particularly thought provoking novel. It doesn't require much thought on the reader's part. The story outcome and characters are predictable. It has enough of a plot to keep the reader going until the end but the characters are not as developed as they could be which is a disappointment. I started the book with the expectation that I would encounter complex characters who were grappling with unsettling life changes. The making of such characters is possible within the story but the author fails to do so which makes what could be a very good book only an average book. I wouldn't recommend it to patrons as a bookclub choice.