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When Jessie Conrad's husband unexpectedly dies in an accident, she returns with her two young children to her hometown, which in 1960 is booming with new construction. She moves onto the newly built Meadow Drive, settles into the community, and begins to build a life with old friends and new friends. Jessie's father is a steady, guiding hand and pillar of the town who serves as a link to the past and West Emmette's history even as it changes year to year with a steady stream of new builds and planned neighborhoods.
Scott lovingly captures the life of a small town through the day-to-day interactions of Jessie and her family and through the routines and rituals that fill their days. From Sunday church to September fairs, holiday festivities, and seasonal delights, West Emmette nurtures all those who reside on its beloved, tree-filled streets. The town is also peopled with a wide range of kindhearted, friendly neighbors whose stories are mixed in with Jessie's to create a robust community.
Tension builds in the background over a gun gifted to Jessie's father by his longtime friend upon his death. When the son comes looking for it, believing it rightfully belongs to him, tragedy strikes. But even this conflict does not detract from the wholesome goodness and steadfast hopefulness of the town. It only adds to the authentic rendering of an imperfect world. Immersive and lyrical, the author's story is brimming with details of a time and place that still resonate today. Scott brings to life a whole community of people and celebrates their lives and the ordinary pleasures that come with family, friends, and neighbors.