Again as in previous Anne Tyler books, there is the theme of the mother distancing herself from her family. In this case, it is after all of the kids have left the nest. The mother doesn't leave her husband, but she strategically spends more time in her studio (which is a walk away from their home), gradually spending more and more nights there.
This one doesn't stand out in my mind as much as her previous books, but I enjoyed how she explored this particular family.