I haven't read a lot of fiction in the recent past-but this story grabbed my heart and wouldn't let me go. I laughed and cried-cried a lot..and in public..these were real people-people I came to love and only want the best for and hurt for them when they were hurting. I didn't want the story of this family to end.....I want more......you will too. Most importantly every page made me appreciate my health and my family more-made me want to be a better mother, wife and sibling. Made me want to create what their family has managed to create over the years-made me hopeful that perhaps someday our family will reach that place. And perhaps the reason why I was so moved by this book was that this was the life of a step-family-one that was disfunctional at times, but that over the years was able to function like there were no divisions by blood. But I do not think that you have to be familiar with step-family dynamics to relate to this book. Pick it up!!!!