I'm impressed by the weight of the novel, even though reading it was a breeze. Thorpe's story of two childhood friends on diverging paths is at times overwhelming heartbreaking, but always honest. The exploration of outside perceptions of one's self and the reality of self is fascinating. I feel like the ending was happy enough, so the book is not too depressing despite some of the darker plot turns. ( )

While I enjoyed the quality of the writing, the assuredness of the storytelling, and the depths of the character development, I didn't really care for the story arc, and found most of the characters to be self-absorbed, petulant, and often unlikeable. In too many places, this felt like a screed on abortion, painting complex issues with judgemental moralism, rather than empathy. ( )

A different type of friendship read. Couldn't put it down.
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This was definitely one of my better picks this summer. Well written with sympathetic characters and a story that kept moving.

The book tells the story of two best friends, Lorrie Ann and Mia. In Mia's eyes Lorrie Ann or Lola, has it made. She comes from a close-knit, loving family, she's beautiful and good. Mia's own family life is more problematic and less happy. Mia herself is not a happy person.

The story follows them through their teen-aged years into adulthood. Their lives follow very different trajectories, with Mia escaping her hard-scrabble background, while Lola becomes pregnant before graduating from high school. I don't want to describe too much more, for fear of giving away plot points. I will say the novel is well written, and I especially appreciated the well-drawn characters. I felt I knew these women and understood the choices they made. Even when I didn't agree with them or thought they were bad choices.

The book is rather bleak in points, and the theme of bad things happening to good people is its cornerstone. It's also about the interplay of personal choices and happenstance. Things we control and things we have no control over and how these influence our lives and the evolution of friendship. ( )

Decent ( )