Let me start by saying, this book had me hooked from the first chapter. The way Erica James portrays the emotional rollercoaster of a broken marriage and its aftermath is both raw and relatable. I found myself nodding along as Kip and Louisa navigated their new 'normal' - it felt like peeking into someone's real-life struggles.

The character development is where this book truly shines. Louisa, with her quiet strength, became someone I rooted for throughout. Her journey of self-discovery after decades of marriage was inspiring, though I'll admit - her saint-like patience with Kip sometimes stretched believability.

Now for the not-so-great parts. About three-quarters through, the story started losing steam for me. The resolution felt too neat, too quick, especially regarding Kip's redemption arc. As someone who's been through relationship ups and downs, his transformation seemed unrealistic - real healing takes much longer than depicted here.

The writing style is accessible and engaging, perfect for when you want an emotional but not overly heavy read. While some plot points felt contrived (that rushed ending!), the exploration of family dynamics kept me turning pages late into the night.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with caveats. If you're looking for deep psychological realism or gritty drama, this might disappoint. But if you want a comforting story about second chances with well-drawn characters (flaws and all), it's worth your time - just don't expect complete realism in how everything wraps up.