By way of adding structure to the storyline, the author frames the book’s sections as seasons in a year. Each section in the story contains events that symbolize the chronological season of a year in Maine. Fall, the first season Holmes mentions, is a season of harvest, where growth culminates and things of value are introduced. In the narrative, fall is the section in which Dean first visits Calcasset, Monica comes into Andy’s life, and all the significant characters are introduced one-by-one. Holmes portrays the cessation of various types of life in the fall section: Evvie is introduced as someone who is emotionally hibernating; Dean’s career has died, and he simply wants to rest.

Winter in Maine is the harshest, most difficult season to endure. Accordingly, the section chronicling this season contains the most brutal criticisms of Dean and Evvie. They huddle together, as if taking shelter from the hostile, frozen world. Spring implies new life. In the narrative, this is the season when the romance between Evvie and Dean is born. Andy and Monica also become romantically involved. After Dean pitches one inning for the Calcasset Claws, it seems his baseball career may take root again.