This book was a slow start. I said to my husband: "None of these people is happy, it's kind of depressing to read." That was after the first 3 or 4 short chapters. But I'm a perseverant reader and I kept going. You get into the family and think 'it's got to get better'. Well it did. You get frustrated with all the issues and stupidity of people, but it really is like Real People! Then there is the crisis of the story and you see people turn around slowly and the liars start to see and tell the truth as it leads to a satisfying ending.