Didn't really grip me until about the last eighth. I never connected with Jeanie, who narrates. Her sister Marlena also provides occasional narration and I liked her better, even though we see less of her. The back cover copy says “Jeanie and Matthew are strong” but I definitely did not get that impression of Matthew and didn't like him at all. If his mother had been around he would've been a mama's boy. Instead he let his ex call the shots.