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I was in a mood for a literary novel and this certainly fit the bill. Strikingly good for a debut, if only all too bleak as the realities of the American dream often can be, this novel is essentially a mother daughter story, told in alternating perspectives from both at around the same age. The mother plotline is definitively more compelling and interesting, taking up the bulk of the book and rightly so. Drawing on autobiographical experiences in this case works really well for the author as she presents the small town USA life and an intercultural economically and otherwise challenged romance, something of a quintessential melting pot story, something like a Springsteen or Mellencamp song. It's utterly unflinchingly realistic and the sort of thing that will engage readers in direct proportion to how much they'll be able to relate to the story. The main characters are indeed tough as brass, which is pretty much the prerequisite amount of toughness it takes to survive this world or, at least, their world. Very well written somewhat depressing slice of life tale from a promising obviously talented author. Thanks Netgalley.