Don’t get me wrong, this book is well written but I can’t say I like the story. Looking at it purely, the love is deeply felt between two people. Seeing it as black and white, the age difference is disgusting and wildly inappropriate. If she were older, even a teenager, it would be better than a child of 8 having a romantic relationship with an adult. It crosses an ethic line. But so many lines are crossed in this twisted tail; the burden of family ties, the weight of lies, untreated mental illness, taking advantage of people, verbal, physical, mental and sexual abuse, suicidal thoughts, neglect, abandonment… This was a heavy read. It definitely makes you feel and think. It has somewhat of a happy ending but it didn’t sit well with me. It’s so messed up. This story provided a great discussion in book club, touching on many topics but its not for the faint of heart. Well done.