The premise behind this story intrigues me... I can't wait to read it.

For a book I bought because I was intrigued by its cover art (ie: I judged a book by its cover), this delivered a lot more than I might have hoped.

I'm finding that I really enjoy novels where there really is no clear black & white, cut & dry, right & wrong answers, but a million shades of gray to choose between. Ms. Picoult provided every one of those shades in a cast of wonderful, very human characters as they faced choices and consequences no one should have to endure.

Based on the cover, I expected a heart-wrenching story with no easy answers. I expected to be thinking about the story several days after I'd finished it. I didn't expect to be compelled... and surprised, right through the final chapter. Wow... this is the best book I've read this year and I'll be recommending it to everyone I know.

I'm now the proud owner of several other of Ms. Picoult's titles, and I look forward to losing myself in the other stories she has to tell.