It was hard for me to get into the book and at times it was tiresome to read. Then once it did hold my interest, the ending was tragic and disappointing. I wish that Amazon had a minus category because this one would be in that category for me.

Don't read if you like happy endings. My first and last Delinsky book.

This is an amazing book. I sometimes like books that break from the typical happy ending mold and test me. I think the whole point of this story was to see how Tom changed, not how Bree died. If you read the epilogue you see that Tom, while struggling at times, continued his life in Panama being the changed man he became with knowing Bree. I think that was the point of the story. If you focus only on Bree dying then you will be disappointed. I felt Tom was the focus of the story and he was the character we were supposed to watch transform through Bree's life and eventual death.

This love story was very enjoyable to read along and enjoy--yet, as a realists you have to wonder is it over the top? I felt Ms. Delinsky hints she believes so. Love stories like this are real, but few. As someone mentioned in another review, "it was a daring story line!"

This story is comforting--yet disconcerting too (for someone like me whose marriage was wrong from the start)--because Tom and Bree had what we all seek and yet few find. Would living through grief of utter devastation be worth a love described as theirs? Given the choice, seriously, I would say yes. I have never come close to feeling or receiving anything close to what these lovers felt for each other. To love another and be loved in entirety is a life worth having lived, no matter the length. I think this was the point of the book.

Ms. Delinsky wrote the scene of the reunion between father and son where I did not expect it. I plotted along with her, and in my dreams thought up different last wishes too. The climatic one line, "...standing a short distance across the newly tamped snow was his father" was a shocker and I cried. I actually cried in a novel. I suppose for some people, that's not unusual, but for me it was. Well done.

Another of her books I recommend is "Coast Road."

This tearjerker will draw you in and make you feel connected to the characters. You'll need the Kleenex while reading this book!

I loved this book very much. The story was grabbing and intriguing and I felt drawn and connected to the characters. While the ending is very sad and I didn't understand why it happened was affected really deeply, even though it was just a book, I felt that it was a really powerful ending. I understand how many people could dislike the book because of this, but I enjoyed the book so much. Any book that can make me cry that much obviously is well written.

And I think it's not very cool that B. Allen told everyone reading the reviews the ending. It was one of the biggest plot turns, and what is the point of anyone reading it now? You should at least write SPOILER on it.

Also, this was my first Barbara Delinksy book, and it did NOT turn me away from her. I'd love to read more.