One Imperfect Christmas Book

This is a difficult book to review because, technically, I would say it was a well-written novel with realistic characters and an original storyline. However, did I enjoy reading it--no--and it took me forever to force my way through it. I am giving it a relatively high rating because I recognize that it was a well-written book that I just didn't enjoy, although you might love it and I might enjoy some other book written by this author. I found all the female characters, although well-drawn and realistic, so unlikable and unsympathetic that I just couldn't force myself to spend any length of time reading their story. I kept hoping against all hope for a tragic, karmic ending in which they reap their just deserts and stew in their own rancid juices--that for me would have made the rest of the story worthwhile and possibly could have made this a good book. I know hide-bound, self-preoccupied, manipulative control-freaks like Natalie, Lissa, and witchy, whiney martyr Belinda in real life and carefully avoid them, so I don't like spending any amount of time with them in a book. I really liked the brother, however, who was given such memorable lines as, "get over it," "can it," and "I'm not listening to this garbage." My sentiments exactly. Warning: This book contains martyrdom, self-pity, selfish manipulative behavior, and control issues.