This book was compulsive reading, but the story of Claire, her daughter Rosie, her new husband Richard and her ex-husband Mark was often painful to read. The story reminded me of how messy and complicated many of our lives can be; and Mel Menzies scrupulously examines the interpersonal relationships of every member of the family closely involved with the tragedy of Katya, who dies an untimely death following drug abuse. As the mother of a 17 year old girl myself, I must admit I found this story heartbreaking to read. I often felt angry with the boorish, insensitive ex-husband, Mark and his behaviour. I felt huge pity and empathy for Katya, and ultimately wish the author had written this story from Katya's point of view. It would then of course be a different book, and would probably come over more with the structure of a novel... it would also perhaps be trespassing on the territory of other writers whose main protagonist is the one who dies.