In these inter-linked stories, Elizabeth Strout once again takes her readers to Amgash, Illinois. There are many characters that were introduced in My Name Is Lucy Barton during Lucy's conversations with her mother. Lucy and her family are viewed from the perspectives of these characters, and the inner lives and pasts of the townspeople take on an added dimension. These are ordinary people living under difficult circumstances that include loneliness, infidelity, abandonment, and unrelenting poverty with its ensuing class prejudice and shame. Amid the sadness and despair in their lives, there are moments of kindness, understanding and connections with other people that give them moments of hope and grace. "The child is father of the man" is never more true than in Strout's insightful writing in all her books, and this book is no exception.

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