YMMV / Freedom

• Base-Breaking Character: Is Lalitha a Satellite Love Interest-cum-Ethnic Scrappy? Or a refreshingly non-neurotic badass?
• Broken Base: This is after all the work that led Jennifer Weiner to coin the phrase "Franzenfreude." There are those who think it is deservedly called a masterpiece and a Great American Novel, and then there are those who think that's a just a kneejerk reaction to an otherwise plodding, cantankerous book full of unlikeable characters.
• Squick: Joey, having accidentally swallowed his wedding ring, has to dig through his own feces to find it.
• Why Would Anyone Take Her Back?: Patty and Walter's reunion at the end could be viewed as an Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other moment, or an Esoteric Happy Ending. Patty's autobiography leads the reader to believe she always loved Richard more than Walter, as demonstrated by her affair with him. Walter for his part seemed much happier with Lalitha than he ever was with Patty. Neither is a Complete Monster, but the conclusion that she and Walter are ultimately soulmates is questionable.
  • Ditto with their son Joey, who went out of his way to cheat on Connie, but they're Happily Married in the end.