At first, I found that I was really enjoying this book. The story was mundane, talking about every day events (going to work, shopping for clothes), but the writing was lovely. The story was told in a way that I grew attached to Eilis and wanted to find out where she ended up. 
 But as I was further into the book, looking back at what I had read, I felt like a lot of the story was simply skimmed. I didn't believe in Eilis' relationship with Tony, because no time had been invested in their romance. I felt the more physical scenes felt out of place, with no actual chemistry between them. 
 I started to dislike Eilis towards the end. She couldn't make any decisions for herself. Only when she was cornered and coerced did she take action. She seemed content to let other people drive, but seemed melancholy about the outcome. I definitely didn't agree with her moral ethics, and the fact that she felt zero guilt for her actions made me feel even worse about her being with Tony. 
 Overall, it was a mostly enjoyable read. The writing was nice, though shallow, and the story felt mostly realistic.