I got it out of the library, but gave up after two chapters because I was really not interested in the things the book thought I should be interested in. It seems like that was the right decision - for me, anyway! I admit that after seeing some reviews, I picked it up not hoping to enjoy it on its own merits, but to enjoy boggling over it. To its credit, GJRQ was not that kind of entertaining, either.

I had a bit of a problem with Ivan and the love interest in CVA, too - that is, similar to what you describe for Jole and Cordelia here, of low characterisation - one of a few reasons I didn't get very far into that either. Ah well.