In the mid 1950s in the small town of Rathmoye, Ellie Dillihan is a shy orphan girl from the hill country, married to a man whose life has been blighted by unspeakable tragedy. Ellie lives a quiet existence until she meets Florian Kilderry, a young photographer preparing to leave Ireland and his past forever. In his signature spare and exquisite prose, William Trevor delves into the lives of the people of Rathmoye, exploring their passions and frustrations during one hot summer. The chance encounter of these two lost souls sets in motion a poignant love affair that requires Ellie to make an impossible choice -- whether to leave her husband for an uncertain future with the man she loves or remain in the home she has made for herself.