The novel opens with the primary narrator, Florence, prone on the floor after a fall. She is in her apartment at Cherry Tree Retirement Community waiting to be discovered and rescued. She is not panicked, or even seriously concerned. Instead, she becomes reflective, narrating how she came to be in this predicament. Her patient wait for assistance is woven through the story with periodic updates on her physical and emotional status as she shares her life story, working backwards. Although the set-up is potentially dire, Florence's acerbic wit and charm keep the narrative from becoming maudlin.

The novel's main strength lies in its character development. Florence is a compelling and intriguing woman who has lived a fascinating life. Front and center with Florence is her life-long best friend Elsie, whose opinions and interpretations of events provide a counterbalance to the protagonist'...