I really liked The Casual Vacancy. It's very different than Harry Potter, but I still really enjoyed it. 
 At first, it was a little hard to get into because of the many characters and storylines, but once I got to know them, it was easier to follow. And once I got into it, it was hard to put down. 
 I really liked the characters, and they really felt like people I know or could know someday. I think Krystal is my favorite, and I really felt bad for her. Well, most of the time. There's definitely an assortment of characters, though, and JKR did a great job with bringing them to life. Honestly, writing very real, interesting characters that you love or love to hate is a strength of hers. Did I like all of the characters? No. In fact, a lot of them are very easy to dislike. Some characters have a moment or two where you like them or feel sympathetic, and they all have their own flaws. 
 I can get why people would be bored reading it- because not a lot happens. But I like that it's just about life, where things don't always have a happy ending and people sometimes live boring lives. It's what I picture a small town to be like, and I really felt like Pagford is a real place. She did a great job with describing the town, the local politics and the people who live there. Pagford and its residents are very distinct, and I love that we see what the characters are thinking and why they act the way they do. 
 There is a lot going on- kids fighting with their parents, adults fighting with each other, people gossiping. You see poverty, sex, drug addiction, and unhappy marriages. You see people go through horrible things, and it wasn't until I read The Casual Vacancy that I realized how good J.K. Rowling is at writing real life. I thought she handled all of the issues very well, and you have to wonder how much of her own experiences wound up in The Casual Vacancy. Perhaps none did, but either way, The Casual Vacancy shows an interesting look at life. 
 Did I love The Casual Vacancy? No, but I really liked it. It's well-written, with very flawed characters. It gets a 4 out of 5.