There are so many books whose covers disappoint and then there are those whose cover delivers as promised. This book by David Guterson comes in the second category which delivers problems faced by people as promised on the cover of it.

To be frank, it is not all gloom and doom narrative but rather peculiar life events narrated with a sharp tone. As mentioned earlier, there are multiple people facing numerous problems and we come across one after another in each story. Some are facing anxieties, some are going through boredom while some are aching for something from the past.

What connects them to each other is heartbreak. That aching pain carried by all the protagonist in their heart. Few of them try to get over by blunt and uncalled for confessions, few have learnt to grin and bear it while there are those who are uncertain about the consequences arising from such a troubled mind.

The author undoubtedly has narrated this in a nonchalant manner with a methodical tone. However, readers might find difficulty in connecting with any of these characters and that may prove to be a limitation of the novel.