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The epilogue in particular was a dissatisfactory point to me. Yeah, I understand it shouldn't have spoilers but at the same time it brought out a heavy topic to deal with all together.
We would have been left wondering about what could have happened to Natalie next.

What I liked about the ending was that most people wanted a different ending, in a way it's refreshing when an author goes against what people would want or expect. But I feel it was too much RIGHT at the end. I was personally a bit disappointed. (Moreso in Natalie than I was the ending).

I loved the ending in terms of both what happened to Alex and the wrap-up on Natalie's mature life. I have read the previous discussions above, so I am aware of all the controversy and why some people may not have enjoyed such an ending. To cut a long story short, I loved it because of its sadness and authenticity.

jwalker73 wrote: ↑10 Apr 2018, 04:21 I wasn't satisfied with the ending. I know such situations exist (not giving away spoilers), but I found this threw in a quite heavy, additional topic right at the end of the book as if it was insignificant. I do not know if this was for shock value or what, but it left me with too many unanswered questions at the end instead of a sense of closure.

I felt the same. The additional topic was very significant, and left me feeling like it wasn't resolved. I like a more tidy ending and a sense of closure to books, unless I know they are part of a series that will carry the themes into the next book.

I do not like the ending but I must admit that it does feel realistic that her weakness from her most emotionally damaged years still held her captive even at an advanced age. I do not like it but I can agree with it.

Yes, I think the ending would be more realistic if Natalie's feelings for an married, older man were dropped at the end. I do not agree with the acceptance of her family and Bruce's wife of the relationship without comments and gossip is quite right.

I think the ending without the epilogue would have been nice.

I think the Epilogue could have been included in the storyline.

I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending either, but not particularly due to the life decisions so much as how the author concluded what was a beautifully and completely enthralling course of events with a 30 year jump and only a few neat and tidy paragraphs. While I believe Natalie's course in life makes sense in correlation to what we know of her, some of the final actions in the story don't seem to carry any natural consequences at all. Or at least we are not privy to any of that. It doesn't quite make enough sense to me. While I am satisfied as a reader, I'm not sure if the story isn't manipulated a little TOO much for that satisfaction. Would there really be no investigation into the fire that could lead back to the Townsend household? And Alex the drunk would really keep that information about Nat to himself for just the right moment? Which of course, proves his downfall. And NO ONE is ever shocked over Nat and Bruce's relationship, or even concerned?
I really loved this book; the characters are very real- good, bad and ugly. But I wish the ending seemed as rooted in reality as the people.

I was satisfied with the ending. All of my questions were answered. I wouldn’t make any changes.

heidifinger wrote: ↑11 Apr 2018, 09:58 I am not happy with the ending. I was happy with the outcome of Alex and I like how that scene played out. But I did not appreciate Natalie's relationship. I think it ruins her strong woman vibe the author is trying to portray.

I completely agree. I admired Natalie's strength and determination throughout the book, but the epilogue left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

I cannot answer without spoiling the book, so I choose to pass on this question. But, however, I think it had a good ending according to the author's view point.

I thought the ending was just right! As I was reading the book, I was kind of rolling my eyes. I was so sure of how the book was going to end. I was very pleasantly surprised when it didn't end as expected. The ending also made sense to me when I sat back and considered the personalities of those characters. It just seemed to fit.

It should be. Be unique and different, it can make your own story stand out from others.

I think I like the outcome of the story. It's not the typical "and they lived happily ever after" kind of ending, but it is still a satisfying ending for me. It depicts Natalie as the same girl we read about throughout the novel and I like that about Linnane's writing. At the end, Natalie is older and wiser but still retains the same wit and same personality that made me fall in love with her in the first place.