Like other reviewers I started this book without knowing about the 'life changing event' which would take place part of the way through the book. I read most of the book while sitting in a hospital corridor whilst my husband was having a serious operation, so perhaps not the best place to be!
I liked the book but didn't love it. I didn't feel that the writer explored the characters in much depth, and much of the story was predictable and convenient. Some of the outcomes, such as that of the parents, were just too good to be true. I have known a friend suffer in a similar situation, at the same age, with the same outcome, and it just wasn't such a comfortable, attractive experience as the author painted. For such a serious subject the story was just too full of lovely homes, nice people and nice situations. Real life just isn't like that.
I normally enjoy Jane Green's books and my only problem with this book was that the central story just didn't fit with the rest of the 'romantic' tale. That being said, it was terribly moving and I can understand, having read the story of her friend on the bookjacket, why she wrote it.