I'm not sure I can explain it, but this is one of the few books I've read more than five times. It's a few years since I read it last time, but this is certainly my "feel-good" book. No matter how many times I read this, it's still just as good as the first time. 
 I think one of the reasons why I love this story so much, is cause the heroine is less than perfect look- and body-wise. I mean, how many times can we read about tall, thin, statuesque, legs for miles girls before we get tired of it... The heroine in this book is normal. Believeable.