The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Angel-Ajani, Asale. A Country You Can Leave. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023.

Asale Angel-Ajani's novel A Country You Can Leave is written from the 16-year-old main character Lara's first person point of view. The novel follows a primarily linear narrative plot line, beginning with Lara and her mother Yevgenia's arrival at a trailer park in Southern California. The following summary abides by a similar temporal structure and uses the present tense.

Sixteen-year-old Lara has grown accustomed to moving from town to town and state to state. Her mother Yevgenia is notoriously restless. Ever since Yevgenia reclaimed her young daughter from the gracious acquaintances with which she left her, Yevgenia has felt constricted by motherhood.

The mother and daughter arrive at a trailer park called Oasis Mobile Estates in an unnamed California town. When Lara realizes Yevgenia intends upon staying at Oasis, she feels weighed by a sense of dread. The place is squalid and fills her with despair.

When Lara starts at Canyon Lake High, she does not expect to be there long. Indeed, the only sure thing about her life is that she and Yevgenia will soon leave where they are. However, as the weeks pass, Yevgenia makes no moves to relocate. She gets a job at Rusty's, with which she appears nominally satisfied. Meanwhile, Lara starts to make friends. She begins spending the majority of her time with Charles, a boy from her neighborhood, and Julie, a rich white girl.

When Lara meets her neighbor Brody's dad Steve for the first time, she is immediately infatuated. Because her mother's sexual exploits and prowess are no secret, Lara becomes determined to seduce Steve before Yevgenia. One night, after Lara finishes babysitting Brody, she initiates an encounter with Steve. She stops their intimacy before they have penetrative sex. Steve is furious, and accuses her of being just like her mother.

The longer Lara is at Oasis, the more she hates the place. She no longer interacts with Steve, but continues to spend time with Brody. Because his parents Steve and Terri's relationship is fraying, Brody begins sleeping on Lara's couch. She feels protective of him, and notices similarities in their parental situations.

Lara goes to the clinic behind her mother's back for vaccinations. She encounters her neighbor Crystal in the waiting room. Although she accompanies Crystal to her ultrasound appointment, Lara feels upset. She does not understand how someone like Crystal could experience intimacy with someone, no matter how fleeting, and she cannot.

In January, Yevgenia hosts her annual Christmas and New Year's party. Everyone in the neighborhood attends. After Yevgenia disappears with the Oasis manager Papa Bear, Lara helps Brody home. While tucking him in, Terri's new boyfriend Big Mike emerges. He attacks and rapes Lara.

Lara spends several days in the hospital. Yevgenia visits only once. On the day of Lara's release, Yevgenia fails to appear. Lara calls Julie.

Lara spends the next month at Julie's house. Although her home is beautiful and affords Lara lavish comforts, Lara feels out of place and confused by her mother's absence. Once Yevgenia finally collects her, Lara learns that Julie's mother repeatedly told Yevgenia Lara did not want to leave.

Lara and Yevgenia get into a fight. Yevgenia is furious with Lara's passivity over the Big Mike situation. During their tussle, Lara accidentally breaks Yevgenia's special lamp.

When Lara returns home from school, Yevgenia is gone. She leaves a letter for Lara, trying to convey her love.

Lara learns to live on her own and support herself. Then one day, Papa Bear gives Lara a message from Yevgenia. Yevgenia is at their beach and wants Lara to join her. Although Papa Bear offers to drive her, Lara lies and says she does not know where her mother is.