This book got better as it went on because I started to genuinely care about the characters. The Son of Sam angle felt a bit forced at times, so I really disliked it at the beginning of the book. As the book went on, though, I felt that it was less important, and therefore, more palatable. 
 The characters, particularly Nora, Pablo, Sal, and Kathleen, are what really make this book about a young woman's coming of age in 1977 shine. 
 3.5 stars for me.