I want to give this new author 5-stars for the quality of her writing, but I don't like the "I love it" descriptor that goes with giving 5 stars. It would be like reading a well written human interest story about tragedy someone has endured and coming away with an insensitive big smile and an "I love it!" It would be like that ambiguous feeling I used to get, before the expanded emoticon reactions, reading a very sad FB post with an "I'll get through it somehow" at the end, back when my only choice was to give a thumbs-up to someone's suffering. Parting Gifts IS a story of human suffering, suffering ranging from dysfunctional families, infidelity, illness, intolerance, isolation, financial ruin, and unthinkable tragedy. So I never thought, "Wow, I'm so enjoying this" as I read it. But I recognized in it, despite the tragic themes, the underlying human struggle not just to survive but to learn from the past instead of letting it destroy you. Ms. Willis' characters are clearly and honestly drawn, and there will be at least one with whom you can identify and learn. This is an amazing first novel that takes you deep into the human experience. Well done, Katrina Anne Willis.