Overall, this was a fun read with a predictable outcome (if a little too nicely tied up). One of my favorite aspects of the story was the protagonist's close friendship with her elderly neighbor, which I found to be both refreshingly unexpected and nicely realistic. I thought the children characters were mainly stereotypes, which was disappointing (they barely even talked), and the ex-husband was very flat, which seemed like a missed opportunity as well. For such a talked-up relationship, I didn't really buy the close nature of the "best friends," especially with the reveal that

Scooter is Ethan

seemed stupid - she really wouldn't recognize her BEST friend's little brother? But the discussions of grief didn't feel staged, and the romantic relationship did develop mostly gradually.