Chess is reeling after she breaks her engagement, Birdie, her mom has finally met someone that she cares about after her 30 year marriage has ended, Aunt India has experienced major problems with her most promising art student who has decided to withdraw and attend Parsons Art Institute instead, and Tate, is just Pollyanna but has never been in love and spends all her days fixing computer systems and her nights in a minimalist apartment, which is describing it nicely. With Chess hurting so much, Birdie has decided that they should return to their summer home together for a month of relaxation. Their home is on a small island off the coast of Nantucket and can be reached only by boat or plane. They have a small generator and no electricity other than that. They have running water but only cold and live a very simple life. The four woman go to heal and discover some things about themselves. The characters are well developed and the emotions are so real. At times, you want to shake Tate for the way that she acts even though she is an adult. Chess is deeply depressed and that depression is described so well. The book is well worth reading.