I didn't think I was going to like this book. It struck me in the first few pages as a bit twee. Then the main character talked to a sweaty dog and I thought, hmmm, maybe not so twee. I enjoyed this. I liked the main story and all the other peripheral stories and I thought all the characters were pretty convincing and well fleshed out. Especially the main character and I recognised the feckless husband, fortunately not from personal experience. I was a little frustrated with the main character for not standing up for herself from the start but her reluctance to do so was well written so I forgave her.

I think this book is lovely; it's up lifting but not without its dark subject matter, it's sweet without being cloying, and I really wanted to know what happened to all the characters, even the arseholes. Excellent.