Ruth is a single mom to 10-year-old DJ who, as they become homeless and move into temporary housing in a hotel, begins to act out against his mother in a desperate angry move because he doesn't know the identity of his father. Ruth is doing the best to work and mother and not let her anxiety or autism hurt her son or their life but those her compulsions to crack her knuckles, read Dean Koontz over and over, and only consume food that is white is what makes Ruth Ruth and despite how her unique behaviors make her stand out, they are part of who she is and it makes it easy to winnow down her true friends.

Tom is a homeless man who has lived on the street for 10 years. He befriends DJ by accident after he tries to keep the boy out of trouble and along with his dog, Bette Davis, the trio become close and are soon surprised when Ruth comes upon a meeting of the group and she and Tom realize that he was the doctor that saw Ruth through her pregnancy. In the present she pushes Tom to be more of the Dr. O'Grady he once was and less of the rough sleeper he is assumed to be based on his appearance. They each grow as a result of their rekindled connection. The second half of the book will likely tug your heart strings.

Not sure what is was exactly but reading this was a slog for me and I never really connected. It is a rather hefty book so I'm going to say that it was probably a combination of the light/easy writing style and the meandering story. Though I can see how many readers looking for a little heartbreak in a feel-good package would gravitate toward to it.