This book is so tedious. I expected something to happen but because the characters (the family especially) are completely one-dimensional, there is nothing to keep one engaged except a past event that really-- though visually pleasing-- is just a big yawn. By the midway …more point I found the daughters to be completely grating (how do 20 something year old girls behave like silly middle-schoolers?) The father -- although a hardworking farmworker is so ridiculously cheerful (anyone who knows a farmer during the summer months will know that this is so false!) How many times can the mother - Lara - say how MUCH she is in love with Joe and HOW MUCH she loves her girls and HOW PERFECT her life is... And Meryl Streep's reading of the audiobook does nothing to improve the writing. (less)