Fairly early in the series, I noticed that the story follows the ususal pattern of a romantic drama: the meeting, the blossoming of a relationship, the competing love interests, the repeated misunderstandings and reconciliations. But the more I read, the more I found the plot wonderfully uncertain. The story uses the romance formula as a buildng block, rather than a crutch.
I enjoyed watching the main characters explore their hopes, goals, and values. Their evolution felt natural, true to the way real people grow and develop. The stories of how the main characters developed their beliefs about marriage drew me further into their thoughts and emotions.
If you're in the mood for a romance with personal growth, this is worth a read.