I originally decided to start this novel because it had been compared to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine — another book I adored. While there can be comparison between the internal dialogues of Eleanor and Martha, they're quite different in terms of how they face the world. I felt an entirely different kind of heartbreak with Martha, who has made it nearly 40 years grappling with a mysterious mental health condition that has been diagnosed, rediagnosed, and diagnosed again. The subjects covered: familial relations, mental health, marriage, motherhood — were handled with humor, pain, and such surprising warmth. This novel was a surprise and delight.