I rented the game first, really enjoyed it and then bought my own copy since i didn't make any progress during the 7 days i had the rental. I wish i had read the online guide to this game before i invested so much time only to find out i should have been preforming certain crucial game tasks. I would recommend at least taking a look at some of the walkthroughts before wasting too much time fiddling around. (i would be so lost with out the online forums and guides!!!)
It takes a lot of time during the first stages of the game to get anywhere-walking around, making money, making friends, getting bachelors/bacheloretts to like you and invite you places.... but i dont mind games that take a little time.. i prefer them over games that you can finish in a few days. I like games like this and find it highly addictive!