This is a small, simple story built around a big twist. The protagonist is relatable, despite being extremely privileged. Cady does a good job making the reader feel her confusion, depression and despair. Even though the book is largely about teenagers and adults making bad decisions, the author showed empathy and understanding.

The prose works well and the supporting characters are well drawn. The chapters are very short, and at times read more like poems than prose. I got through this book quickly and it was easy to pick up and put down.

The twist was well-executed, with a fakeout or two along the way, and the re-read shows that the author mostly played fair.

When reading the e-book edition, I printed out the family tree and map in the front and kept it tucked in my e-reader as a reference.