The Graceful Shepherd Hospice

The Graceful Shepherd Hospice is one of the novel's primary settings. Shortly after Edi is admitted to the hospice, she, Ash, and their friends and family begin referring to the establishment as Shapely due to a mondegreen. The setting is therefore primarily referred to as Shapely throughout the novel.

Shapely is located in Western Massachusetts, not far from where Ash lives with her family. The hospice is in a house, and therefore has a cozy and comforting atmosphere. Jude and Edi decide to have Edi go to Shapely, because they do not want Dash to have to watch his mother die. Therefore, Ash voluntarily assumes Edi's primary care throughout the novel. She spends every day leading up to Edi's death by Edi's bedside at the hospice.

Although Shapely initially guesses that Edi will only be in their care for one to two weeks, Edi survives...