This was a crazy ride. There were a couple of twists that sent me reeling and I had to regroup to understand everything that was taking place. There were some very clever moments that had the tension cranked up as if anything could happen...because things kind of went off the rails a bit.

A perfectly enjoyable read and a good plot basis, I had fun with this one. But it does have some issues that lent it to being a more average rated book.

My primary issue: the characters. I really didn't like any of them. There was a lot of whining and self-deprecation and just a whole lot of psychological issues. I didn't feel like the protagonist learned a dang thing and the people around her all had some sort of problem. Is there something in the water in this town? Because everyone is wildly damaged in some way. Obsession is a major issue for a lot of them and everyone seems to be very selfish and insulated. It drove me nuts. I just wanted one person who wasn't a whack-a-do.

Second main issue that prevented a higher rating: The motivation behind the events in the narrative seems a little weak. I mean, I get it, but the set up and background for it wasn't super solid. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, I guess? It just seemed a little thin and didn't really feel emotionally believable. Meh. Maybe I'm just picky.

Anyway...despite my issues with the overall technical merit of the story, I still enjoyed the read. It was fast-paced and interesting and it kept my attention. Not a bad pick for a beach read, travel read, or palate cleanser.