Octogenarian Hubert Bird, a curmudgeonly Jamaican immigrant in South London, spends his days fussing over his cat, studiously avoiding human contact, and waiting for his weekly phone call from his daughter, Rose. But when Rose announces that she's coming home for a long-overdue visit, Hubert's elation is tempered with dread—because he's lied to her about having an active social life. This heartwarming, humorous, and poignant novel follows Hubert's attempts to reenter society, with the aid of a neighbor and her young daughter, who are determined to draw him out of his loneliness. It's a warm, uplifting testament to the power of human connection.