The Sisters of Alameda Street

Contrived and convoluted. Hughes clearly had this story all planned out in her head; and if obstacles arose, such as inverosimilitude, the story just plowed right through them. Because otherwise the story wouldn't work. Douglas Adams, creator of the Infinite Improbability Drive, might've raised an eyebrow over some of the liberties taken with the laws of serendipity.

Funny thing, though: it hooked me. Despite the drama and the increasingly improbable twists, despite not being able to keep half the characters straight, I kept reading. Enjoying, too. Is this what soap operas are like? Secrets and lies and intrigue, infatuation mistaken for love, suffering silently for the sake of appearances? Loss, misunderstandings, regret? Thank goodness there's none of that in real life.

Strong, interesting female characters. Shallow, toxic, and sadly too believable male ones. Tragedy. Drama and suspense. Stylistically on the simple side, but the writer shows promise.