The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Straub, Emma. All Adults Here. Riverhead Books, 2020.

Straub’s novel is laid out in an episodic style and involves a wide cast of characters. It follows Astrid Stick, a widow living in the town of Clapham, and others connected to her.

Astrid witnesses a school bus hit Barbara Baker in downtown Clapham one morning. Astrid did not like Barbara, but this event has an immediate effect on her. She becomes more affectionate towards Birdie, her hairdresser, with whom she has been carrying on a secret romance.

On the day that Barbara is killed, Astrid’s granddaughter Cecelia comes to Clapham by train. Cecelia has been involved in an incident at her school that has resulted in her parents thinking it is best for her to spend some time away. In the meantime, Astrid’s daughter Porter, who runs a local cheesemaking business, is planning to tell her mother that she has become pregnant by a sperm donor. Astrid’s oldest son Elliot is contemplating what to do with an empty retail space he has purchased. Astrid fears this space will be taken over by a chain business, but she does not know it is Elliot who has purchased it. Later in the day, Astrid calls Barbara’s husband, Bob, and finds out that Barbara and Bob had been separated for months. She feels emotionally overwhelmed at this news.

Porter goes to Astrid’s house and tells her mother that she is pregnant. Astrid, who does not understand Porter wanting to have a child alone, reacts with a string of judgmental thoughts. At a hospital appointment, Porter reunites with an old friend from high school, Rachel, who is also pregnant and is considering raising her child alone, as she has recently separated from her husband.

At a weekend brunch, Astrid breaks the news that she is in a relationship with Birdie. Porter is happy and accepting, while Elliot becomes irritated and sulks. Astrid visits Bob and Barbara’s mother to offer her condolences. She feels guilty because she remembers an incident many years ago that she now regrets: Barbara called her to say that she had seen Elliot kissing a boy, and Astrid argued with Barbara about this and warned Elliot to be careful.

Cecelia starts school, where she is snubbed by some popular girls but starts becoming closer to August, a new friend she met at his parent’s thrift store. Cecelia struggles with trying to make new friends after the incident at her old school, when she told a secret to protect her friend Katherine and Katherine took this as a betrayal.

Astrid intends to apologize to Elliot for the incident involving the kiss, but she struggles with bringing it up. Porter begins having sex with Jeremy, her old boyfriend from high school, who is now married and has children.

A popular girl named Sidney takes a dislike to Cecelia. One of Sidney’s friends, Liesel, hands Cecelia a note that mocks her for having told Katherine’s secret, indicating that rumors of what happened at her old school have followed her to Clapham. In the meantime, August and Cecelia join Parade Crew, a club that will build a float for a parade at the upcoming Harvest Festival. After Parade Crew one day, Cecelia learns that “August” is a transgender girl named Robin.

Astrid attends Barbara’s funeral, where she kisses Birdie in public for the first time. She sees Elliot at the funeral, but he leaves before she can apologize to him. When Porter fears that she is having a miscarriage, she rushes to the hospital, texting Astrid and Rachel. She and Rachel have had a falling out over Porter’s sexual relationship with Jeremy, and Rachel does not come to see Porter. Porter’s doctor declares that the baby is fine, and the time at the hospital gives Porter and Astrid a chance to talk about the past and become closer.

Cecelia is sent home from school for having punched Sidney (who is Jeremy's daughter) to defend Robin, whose identity Sidney was threatening to reveal. Her English teacher, Ms. Skolnick, who offers to drive her home, is Porter’s friend Rachel, and this event gives the two of them the opportunity to reconcile. Porter is still seeing Jeremy but hiding this fact from Rachel. However, when Porter sees Jeremy later and he tells her that he loves her, she feels sad and breaks up with him shortly afterwards.

Nicky, Astrid’s son and Cecelia’s father, comes to Clapham with his wife Juliette following the incident with Sidney. Nicky now regrets having sent Cecelia away. In the meantime, Astrid apologizes to Elliot for the incident with the boy, but he claims to not remember it. Elliot has been talking to people other than Astrid about the retail space. She finds out about this and becomes upset.

At the Harvest Festival parade, Robin puts on a dress before riding the float. Porter, going to the bathroom during the parade, runs into Jeremy’s wife, who informs Porter that she knew about their affair and that Jeremy was never going to choose her. Elliot tries to punch Jeremy in an attempt to defend Porter, but ends up punching the window in the empty retail space. Elliot then tells Astrid that he remembers the kissing incident, but that it is not what she needs to apologize for. He explains that he once overheard her and his father laughing at his attempts to become a lawyer, and that this has affected his ability to make decisions. Astrid does not remember this but tells Elliot that she loves him and respects his choices. Soon after this, she asks Birdie to marry her.

The last chapter of the novel flashes back to Barbara’s life a few months before she died, detailing events leading up to her leaving her husband. Following this last chapter is an Epilogue that shows Astrid on a honeymoon cruise with Birdie.