This is a novel about a woman, Delia Grinstead, who finds her own self-identity and battles with familial relationships.

As a spontaneous act of deep sadness and anger, she walks out on her family during a beach vacation.

[She] strips herself bare and exiles herself in the scrappy little town of Bay Borough, and it is she who tests the love of her family, she who waits for a declaration.

The novel examines marriage—there are all sorts of marriages Delia comes across in her adventures, good and bad—as well as aging and independence, but finally it is a book about choice.

"[1] Nat Moffat, Noah's grandfather, describes his retirement home, Senior City, to Delia: "We're organized on the vertical.