Right from the start I have loved this series and this one more than builds on that. I know when I start that I'm going to get an interesting story with believable individuals in (almost) real life situation in a well written story. This was no exception. What I love is that it doesn't matter how many of these books you've already read, each character is unique while still maintaining contact with familiar characters & that helps to build the Middlemarch community. Loved the touch of sadness in this story to make the happiness more precious.