Unlike McMillan's previous novels, A Day Late and a Dollar Short emphasizes the love and bonds of adult family members instead of friends.

They deal with contemporary concepts like prescription drug addiction, alcoholism, incest, homosexuality, molestation, single parenthood, and divorce.

She is considered to be the most successful of her siblings though she battles a prescription drug addiction behind closed doors.

Lewis is also dealing with the repercussions of being sexually abused as a child and early onset arthritis.

Janelle is also in denial and must face the realization that she has failed to protect her daughter within the confines of their own home.

In the beginning of the story she describes her family, "I don't even want to think about Cecil right now, because it might just bring on another attack.

Charlotte is definitely a bull, and Janelle would have to be a sheep – a lamb is closer to it – 'cause she always being led out to some pasture and don't know how she got there."

Cecil, Viola's hardworking husband, has shut the door behind him for the last time and has taken his life in a new direction, regardless of what his wife and kids think about it.

The novel was adapted into a 2014 television movie on Lifetime, produced by Whoopi Goldberg and starring Whoopi Goldberg, Ving Rhames, Tichina Arnold, Kimberly Elise, Anika Noni Rose and Mekhi Phifer.