The dysfunctional family elements of this story are at the beginning and end when we meet Holly's mum and then her dad, and it becomes clear what sort of life Holly has led. In between, Holly is foisted off on a stranger for the train journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh as her mumn claims she must go to her work in a club. The stranger turns out to be a children's author (Nina) whom Holly has just met when she gave a talk to her school class, an author Holly admires tremendously. In fact, she has made Nina's main character, Sylvie, into an imaginary friend and holds conversations with her constantly in her head. When Holly's dad doesn't turn up to collect her in Edinburgh, Nina and her doctor husband take Holly in and are very kind. Son Johnny is not so pleased, and he provides much of the tension in the novel. However, this long middle section when Holly is staying with Nina and her family, tells us much about the relations between Holly and her mum, whom she loves, and Lenny the Louse, mum's partner whom Holly loves not at all. She and Sylvie discuss Lenny at length, and it is clear there is great distinction in Holly's mind between Lenny and her real father, who is very good to her. When the mystery is cleared up over why dad didn't meet her (he's away on an oil rig and feckless mum hadn't checked her emails) we know he loves Holly and all will be well. When he comes to collect her, he is very angry at his ex-wife's neglect of Holly, leaving her alone at night while she works in the club and exposing her to Lenny, an ex-con. Furthermore, it turns out she has gone off on holiday with Lenny. Holly will live with her dad from now on and see her mum only under supervision. The feelings are handled well, and while Holly loves her mum, she understands she will be better off with dad, even though this means a move to Edinburgh. A real page-turner this, with a likeable heroine who is capable of accepting life's ups and downs and who falls in with caring people who are truly interested in her and her dilemma.