I found Vickers' style really smooth and easy to read here, even though she meditated on some tough themes, such as abortion, abusive relationships, love, etc. After reading 'Dancing Backwards', I was also inspired to read a little poetry again... Though not confined to a mental institute as was the lead character in 'The Other Side of You', Vi was confined to a cruise liner, and was forced to explore relationships with a range of different people, most of whom I found three-dimensional and believable: helpful Renato, dodgy Dino, Colin the theatre critic to name a few. I found Vi's past equally compelling- I wanted to find out what happened to her old acquaintances Edwin and Bruno, and see how Annie's bohemian lifestyle turned out. The flitting between past and present, combined with the style of writing, reminded me a little of Anita Brookner and Sebastian Faulks- high praise indeed. I have also read and enjoyed two of Vickers' other novels- 'Where Three Roads Meet' and 'The Other Side of You', which I would also recommend.