Ann is a super private person, never wanting or enjoying the spotlight. It's seriously so bad that it almost feels like she wants the attention of not getting attention.
She is almost 40, is content with being single, and is 100% sure she never wants kids of her own. She thinks it's easier being single, because her view of marriage is that it has to be the most perfect relationship ever. One little hardship and she'll have failed. The problem is that she has all these secrets, and she's afraid that to tell her secrets, she won't be loved anymore.
So she meets Paul, and he is interested in her. So instead of asking her questions to get to know her, he goes behind her back to all her friends and asks them to tell him stories about her, and to tell him all about her personality and quirks. When he finally decides to talk to her, their conversations are so one-sided and stilted. It sounds like they are trying way too hard to impress upon the other person that they are genuine, normal people.
Throughout the first 3/4 of the book, she is stoically against the idea of marriage. Then you turn the page, and four months after she meets Paul, they are saying I do. SERIOUSLY?!? There is no way a 39 year old, staunchly opposed to getting married, is going to get married after knowing her husband-to-be only 4 months. Not in my experience, anyway!
The plot, however. The plot drives this book. It even makes up for the monologous conversations and unrealistic personalities. The plot had me turning the page in anticipation. It encouraged me to read this book in two sittings. There were some plot points I saw coming, which is unusual because normally I can't see anything coming. If you enjoy character-driven stories and could care less for plot, I highly DIScourage you from reading this book. Other than that, go for it. If you have time to read a 400 plus page novel, of course!