I liked the way this book addressed abuse in relationships. It illustrated emotional abuse in a way that was realistic and sensitively done. It showed how emotional abuse is passed down through families much like cycles of violence are. 

What I didn't like was the level of perfection illustrated in Daniel and Wakan. Daniel had no flaws whatsoever. He was literally perfect. And the small town in Minnesota was magical and peaceful, and everybody loved everybody. Having grown up in a small midwestern town, I can tell you they are not like that. There are layers of toxic human b.s. in a small town just as there is anywhere else.  Wakan was a utopia that doesn't really exist anywhere, and Daniel was the perfect man who also doesn't really exist. I guess in a way that makes the book a good escape, but it also hurt to read. 

As a survivor of intimate partner emotional abuse, it hurt to read about the possibility of a relationship this perfect, because I just don't think it IS possible for a man like Daniel to exist, and it sets people (me mainly) up to be wildly disappointed with the love they do have or find. Am I just bitter and unhealed? Maybe. But that was my honest experience with this book.