It is a long novel with a romantic character. The story unfolds in two time periods: one around World War II and the other in the present day, with Liverpool as the setting in both cases.

After the death of her aunt Flo, whom she barely knew, Millie is tasked by her mother, Katie, with clearing out her aunt's house before the apartment is rented out again. While organizing Flo’s photos and letters, Millie uncovers unknown aspects of her life that, surprisingly, will influence her own.

This is how the book begins, later focusing on Flo’s life and surroundings, although it also alternates between depicting Millie’s work and romantic relationships. As the author develops the family environment of Katie, Flo, and Millie, various themes are touched upon, such as family abuse, homosexuality, autism, illegitimate children, complicated parent-child relationships, women's independence, social differences, and multiculturalism. However, these topics are presented without much depth.

Since Millie is the one narrating her own story, it is striking that, despite her professional success, she does not seem to have overcome her unhappy childhood and continues to see herself as a victim.

There are numerous passages that describe intimate encounters between various men and women in detail. The novel also places some emphasis on Flo’s family’s Catholicism, though this aspect feels somewhat unnecessary, as it does not add much to the story. The fact that one of the women has a child with a married man would have been frowned upon regardless of whether she was Catholic or Anglican, as it did not conform to the social standards of the time. Moreover, the novel does not display a clear consistency regarding religious beliefs.

The story includes many twists and numerous conflicts, which can sometimes make it feel dense. It is narrated in the first person, but the perspective shifts between the protagonists: sometimes Flo tells the story, and other times it is Millie.

Maureen Lee (1932–2020) was an English writer who lived near Liverpool during World War II. She wrote numerous short stories and novels.