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Helms has created a cozy tale that will make readers look at aging in a new light. Getting older is a privilege, but it can be a curse because of aches and pains, grief, fear, and loneliness, and Helms touches on all of these in her novel. The main character, Sen Smith, comes to a village in the Blue Ridge Mountains inhabited by people between the ages of sixty and eighty. He is met with curiosity and then fear. When things get worse in the neighborhood, Sen is blamed for the deaths and illnesses. Several village members, including the realtor who sold a home to Smith, soon learn the truth about him and how not everything is black and white. However, getting rid of him because of their problems isn't exactly the key.
Helms crafts her characters so that they literally leap off the page. It's like the reader is there, sitting in the aging neighborhood listening to the town's gossip. The narrative is highly descriptive, though some might find the pacing a little slow due to the extensive details on the smallest things. However, foodies will undoubtedly relish some of those scenes. The first few chapters are probably the slowest, but honestly, that's not exactly a bad thing either. Lingering in the village is just as interesting as learning about why Sen is even there in the first place. Overall, readers will find a new appreciation for their own neighbors and newcomers, especially the elders in the community. Helms has written an emotional rollercoaster that feels like a Hallmark movie, so keeping a box of tissues handy while reading the novel is advisable.