Blended families are challenging enough, but when the father of Char's stepdaughter dies, she realizes she has no legal authority over this child. Although there is more going on than just this, I appreciated what some might consider Char's lack of a backbone. She let Allie get away with things a biological mother probably won't but she was in a strange spot. Lindy, the biological mother, was the legal guardian. It gave me a lot to think about as I, too, am a stepmother.

Char left a job she loved in a city she also loved (DC) to follow her new husband and stepdaughter to a small town in Michigan. When he dies suddenly, she finds herself marooned in a town she doesn't love with a stepdaughter she does love, but that legally has no connection to her. As both Char and Allie try to come to grips with this new normal, things start to fall apart.

The emotions and dilemmas presented here are true-to-life, especially Allie's reactions to the upheaval in her life. In addition, I appreciated Char's angst over losing Allie and her attempts to avoid "over-parenting", but the story seemed to drag as she labored to make even the most simple decision.

I wanted to really like this book. The premise is intriguing and the writing average or better, but the story is bogged down by too much introspection on Char's part. Every thought/concern she has gets voiced, discussed, and re-voiced and re-discussed. In addition, I was able to predict the ending less than half-way through. There was one scene concerning Morgan, the young girl that Allie tutors, that was mildly surprising, but otherwise.... I think I just expected more.

A gripping family story about a family not related by blood.
"Who loves us more" seemed to be the theme.
I enjoyed this book and needed a box of tissues for the last few chapters as a happy ending came to be.