Because, by the end, I had such strong distaste for the main character, I'm not sure whether I liked or loathed this book. I was going through it quite happily, thinking I liked it, until I realized just how selfish the main character was. Seriously, horribly selfish (and, really, the realization didn't come until the last 50 or so pages and I had had time to really dissect Ellie's behaviors and motives). Even her seemingly kind gestures (staying abroad to care for her deceased best friend's young daughter) have within them underlying self-interested and narcissistic motives. That being said, you may wonder why I still gave the book three stars...but, if you know me, you'd know that sometimes I like to get myself riled up. This book definitely did that. I read this because I enjoyed Buxbaum's first novel so much;and, while this book certainly didn't live up to the first and while I ended up really despising its main character, I wouldn't say I was disappointed that I dedicated some hours reading it.