This was a fast read, about the best I can say for it. She did a nice job creating her characters but they were basically losers. Their lives were sad, but in the hands of a writer like Annie Proulx, Alice Munro, or even Maile Meloy, losers like these are lifted out of that stereotype and become real people, or at least people I am glad to read about. Sad stories, sad lives, but somehow still worthwhile reading.
Packer's characters were completely forgettable and lackluster. I did not care about any of them, not at all. And the tying in of the start to the end was dumb. I would have preferred no tie in at all as it felt a little lame. I don't think she has the ability to create short stories or at least not the sort I enjoy reading. I don't like bashing her as her first novel was an unexpectedly good read, but her last one was a little trite and disappointing, and now with this one I am unsure whether I would choose to read anything more by her.

Hate this cover too.