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After 46 years of marriage, the author finds himself facing life without his wife. After a short battle with ovarian cancer, Dee dies peacefully, being carried to their bed by Appleman after a small fall in their bathroom. They did discuss her wishes before she died, but after carrying them out, Appleman can’t seem to find a way to fall asleep at night. Then, he decides to talk to his wife like Tom Hanks' character does in Sleepless in Seattle. He sleeps wonderfully after talking to her and makes it a nightly habit. The author learns how to mourn by carrying out his wife's wishes, giving her clothes and jewelry to friends, using her art for thank you cards, and placing memorials to her in appropriate places. After a year, he even considers whether or not to date.
This book is a combination of a love story told by the author’s nightly conversations with his deceased wife and a candid narrative of a man surviving his first year as a widower. Throughout the book, Appleman tells highlights of their love story that readers can tell are truly heartfelt. By the conversations, the reader can see how much Dee loved her husband in return. With some words emphasized without reference, the book’s main audience may have originally been the couple's family and friends. However, a love story is universal and timeless, and anyone who loves romance will enjoy learning about the Applemans. Recent widows and widowers will also find hope in this book and see how going through the process of grief can actually move a person forward to living a full life, even while missing their other half. In short, it is a very memorable read.