This book sells itself as a novel, but it really a series of short stories in which several characters appear and reappear. Love is at the center of each, whether it be love of a dying friend, love discovered, love lost, love found, love as an idea. Each is cleverly told and with more than a little whimsy and satire on the perils of life, most of it set in San Francisco. Even though each chapter is a story unto itself, you'll want to read them all because this author is spinner of such amazing tales.
The author, using his pseudonym Lemony Snicket, wrote "A Series of Unfortunate Events", kind of children's books. This is definitely adult, and his sense of word play is still evident.
