This a delightful but serious, lovely but ultimately heartbreaking book. It's hilarious and realistic; Dex and Em seem like actual people who have a real, if at times strained, connection that they cannot deny nor escape. It is a very witty, dry observational take on life, love and how much two people can mean to each other, perhaps without ever being aware. Both Dexter and Emma each grow and mature from the miserable, self-centered duo in their twenties the the book begins with. This is a bittersweet book; Dex and Em go through their trials and tribulations and survive, with each other, with others, and alone. It is utterly impossible not to be drawn into their lives and become invested in their problems and loves; you cannot help but be sucked into the story inescapably. Dex and Emma as characters work best when they're together and are a foil for one another to bounce off. On the whole, Emma is the more sympathetic character with Dex the more intriguing, slightly more off-putting and self-centered. The humor is typically British, dry and sardonic, with a heavy dose of sarcasm for fun. It reads easily and well; it is a well-written, intelligent, engaging novel that resounds long after it has been finished and put away. More of my reviews here: http://bibliophileanonymous.blogspot.com/
