(Won through a Goodreads giveaway! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me a free copy.)

3.5 stars.

The writing itself is accessible, if heavily populated with short-lived metaphors and sprinkled with contemporary and nostalgic references. It served its purpose in conveying the story, with some sense of place (particularly in the handful of scenes set among nature), but it wasn’t the best I’ve read. Also, other than a single early in-text appearance, I’m not really sure how fitting the title is.

What really made this work was the characters — I particularly enjoyed the wholesome interludes with the kids, but each of the adults is flawed but sympathetic, in over their head despite their genuine best efforts. Their neuroses and worries are realistic without being too melodramatic, and I was genuinely rooting for them to make a happy ending out of their situation.