When I read a blurb I expect it to give me a glimpse of what the book is about. Unfortunately for this book the whole story is there in the blurb. I would have still said this is a good read if it had made me feel outrage, fear, "something" at some point along the way. But I didn't go through anything like that. Its a really huge book to read especially without anything to keep you hooked. 
 It was especially disappointing considering I love a good dystopian novel, 1984 being one of my favorites. 
 This book is set in the "present", not in the future or in an alternate reality. Considering this, there is very little backstory on how the world reached this particular point and I think this took away from the story. There is no focus on the turmoil of the time, or the fear that women would have gone through during this time of transition. Because of this it was hard to connect or feel anything. I felt like the author spent very little time on the past or on the future (view spoiler)[ There is no elaboration on her escape or her life after her escape (hide spoiler)]. Maybe this was done in an attempt to focus on the dreary lives of the handmaidens. 
 Now this book was written at a time when women in the U.S. were fighting for reproductive rights and I think that this was meant to be a warning, a cautionary tale. There has been an increase in popularity in this book with the release of the televised content produced by Hulu. In fact many articles have stressed that this book is now more relevant than ever after Trump has become President. 
 So this is a 3 star not for the story but because it got me to read up on some really amazing articles on a very important issue.