Adele has finally come to claim the house her mother left her in a small, rural Pennsylvania town. Her mom, Marge, named the cottage Grumble Knot and it's sort-of how Adele feels about her ignominious retreat from New York City to what she's thinking feels like the middle of nowhere. Little does she know this return "home" is going to be the first step into a the next chapter of her life. Her neighbors, Beatrice and Al, lend unexpected support and encouragement as Adele attempts to settle back in, but even better is the assistance they provide by asking handyman Jay to swing by Grumble Knot and offer his help. He does help with the cottage, with Adele's sense of self, and with creating a different future for them both. But Adele has to believe and she has to agree. Will she?

It's easy to care for these characters and to hope they each find what they need from their tight-knit community. Adele's long-term anger at her mother and Jay's uncertain childhood are believable stumbling blocks and the ending is just dramatic enough to satisfy.