Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This wasn't a book I really had high hopes for, but after reading the first few chapters I was engaged by the characters and hooked. Although the book description on Amazon implies this is a story of random people fulfilling the dying wish of a friend to care for her teenage daughter, it's really the story of friendship. I came into this expecting to read about how they fulfill their commission, yet the book is more about how each person came to be part of the mother's life, and why she would want them to remain in her daughter's life. The first few chapters do begin with the meeting of 4 people at a solicitor's office to hear the last request of their long-time friend to mentor her nearly-grown daughter, but after giving us an idea of the future, the book delves onto the past, helping us to know each character, and how their lives all intertwine. The friendships begin during college in the 80's, and the story moves progressively forward, giving the reader a window into each person's life and personality. The book is fast-moving, yet flows smoothly and naturally. The book is told in 3rd person, and the author spends several chapters focusing on one character followed by several chapters focused on a different character, so we get a fuller picture of each personality. Except for the introduction, which starts in 2017, the story moves consecutively, from 1985 forward, making it easy to follow. A few swear words here and there, some characters sleep with each other, but nothing graphic. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, well told and engaging, one which has more depth then the description would imply. I rarely rate books 5 stars, but I would give this a solid 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.