I feel like that I say this a lot when it comes to lezfic, but I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I actually did. I am so over the "straight woman discovers she's not so straight after all thanks to one hot lesbian" trope, which makes an appearance in this book, but I can usually overlook it - mostly - if the rest of the story is good - but this just isn't.

I believe that this is the author's first (and, so far, only) published book, which explains a lot. I have a feeling that if she had more experience as a writer the story would be much smoother. As it stands, the author has a distinct tendency to "tell" rather than "show" emotions and motivations, which prevented me from really getting involved in the story. The characters were left feeling rather wooden because of this, I believe. Also, the author had a tendency to switch perspectives mid-chapter, which gives the story a very disjointed feel. The book needs a thorough (and rather ruthless) editing, because I do believe that the story had potential.

I was also left rather confused by Lizzy. She has walled herself off from the world, as much as her busy career will allow her at least, after the death of her partner, but she doesn't bat an eye when she finds Judith and her daughter in her house? It might be because I'm an American, but if I found someone I didn't know in my house, I'd not be very happy about it...but even for Lizzy, that doesn't feel true to her character, at least to me. I would expect someone who has put herself into emotional limbo for years would have a much harder time adapting to sharing her living space with two people, especially two people who make emotional demands of her.

The reader is told that Judith's partner is abusive, but there isn't much about this abuse in the book. Judith is so frightened of him that she has to flee before he comes home from work, which sounds like it is probably physical in nature, but she doesn't have any of the behavioral "tells" that I would expect from someone who had lived in a physically abusive relationship. I mean, I grew up in an abusive home, and I still, at the age of thirty-five, have a moment of absolute panic (followed quickly by a moment of MAKE FISTS AND FIGHT AND CLAW AND SCRATCH) when someone touches my back unexpectedly. But Judith seems remarkably unscarred from her years-long abusive relationship, except for her slight self-esteem issues, which dissipate quickly. I just expected more. A lot more, to be honest.

Speaking of expecting more - the story is set in Amsterdam, but except for a few spare sentences describing architecture, I really feel that this could have been set anywhere. I would have really liked the city to be featured a little more in the book.

Altogether, I'd probably read something else from this author, because I do think there is promise in this book. But I wouldn't recommend this book. ( )

The writing in this book was a little awkward, and I feel like the author spelled out the character's motivations and actions a little too much, not leaving anything for suspense or mystery or for the reader to try and figure out on their own. The plot line was sweet but ultimately predictable. I did appreciate Judith as a character, as her life parallels mine in many ways... I just wish there could have been maybe a bit more character development and a little less rigidity in the plot. Ultimately, this was an enjoyable read but certainly not the best literature in the world. ( )