I can't deny that this book was addictive, but it was also extremely annoying. I know part of that was due to the buildup of suspense towards the big reveal, but at times it was infuriating how the barbeque was referred to so many times in the present-day narration while everyone refused to even think about what actually happened. 
 The twist at the very end was pretty crazy, though--it all went uphill from the point where the barbeque got serious and the characters were able to properly discuss and think about what had happened in the present-day scenes. 
 Another annoyance--why does EVERYONE have such dysfunctional families? Most people might resent their parents in their teenage years, and then quickly learn to be grateful for and close to their parents once they have grown up a bit. But there isn't a single character I can think of who had a normal relationship with their parents. They all seem to either have crazy parents (Erika and Oliver) or long-standing resentments that should have been left behind once they moved out (Clementine, Sam, and whoever it was that resented her father for spending so much time slaving over an unfinished novel--Pam possibly?). 
 I know the suspense of figuring out what had happened at the barbeque was part of the driving force behind the story, but I wish the author had chosen a different way to structure this novel. For instance, I have a feeling many of the present-day narrative scenes could be shortened or cut altogether, as they didn't have much purpose other than to prove how messed-up these characters had become.