Elin Hildebrand has written a novel (read from CDs in this case) that is well suited for a long read on the beach or a long trip.

When Greg and Tess MacAvoy are killed in a sailing accident, the reader begins to see how these characters' lives were interrelated. And the reader gets a gossipy type of story about the skeletons in each of their closets. The story is long (approximately 13 hours of playing time), but Hildebrand has inserted (whether intentional or coincidental) natural breaks, as the CD certainly will take a few settings to finish.

The writing is excellent and the author owes a lot to her reader Katie Hale. It is almost as if she is saying: "You won't believe these four couples and how their lives are so tied together." Then she spins a tale that is intriguing and poignant.

At first the use of different points of view may be distracting, but soon the reader knows whose turn it is to tell his / her story and the transitions become smooth and natural. Even though this is a gossipy type of story, the characters are well developed and earn our respect as they face their past mistakes, forgive, and get on with their lives.

This is a good novel if you have a big chunk of time to devote to it or time over a long period.