The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Rooney, Sally. Beautiful World, Where Are You. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021.

Sally Rooney's novel Beautiful World, Where Are You is written from both the third and first person points of view, and employs an unconventional narrative structure. The chapters shift back and forth between third person narrative renderings of best friends Alice's and Eileen's lives, and first person excerpts from their email exchanges. The following summary employs a linear form, and the present tense.

Eileen grows up in County Galway, Ireland, with her parents, Pat and Mary, and her older sister, Lola. Throughout her childhood, Eileen often feels alone, despairing, and rejected. Therefore, when her neighbor, Simon, shows an interest in being her friend, Eileen grows attached to him, and reliant upon their friendship.

Eventually, Eileen leaves home for college in Dublin. Simon is also living in the city, and pursuing a career in politics. Through college, Eileen meets Alice, and they become fast friends. Simon, too, grows close to both women. Over the years, they all maintain their connection, despite the different turns their lives take.

Eileen completes several degrees in literature and writing, and starts working as an editor for a small literary magazine. Simon's political career advances. Alice finishes her degree, and starts writing novels. Though her novels do well, Alice has difficulty balancing her life and identity in the publishing world with her true self. She eventually suffers a psychiatric breakdown, and is hospitalized. After her release, she decides to move out of Dublin for a while, and to take a break from work. She moves to a small seaside village in the County Galway region, where she resides in a large house for free. She soon meets Felix, and they start a relationship.

Meanwhile, Eileen continues her job at the magazine, feeling increasingly defeated about her life and career. The end of her longterm relationship with Aidan, continued familial tensions, her increasingly complicated dynamic with Simon, and Alice's absence, all contribute to her depression and anxiety. She and Alice email one another frequently, contemplating the state of the world, and their constant feelings of sadness and despair.

Then, Eileen and Simon start having sex again, and Eileen begins to feel more hopeful. Not long later, however, she discovers that Simon is still seeing someone else. She feels hurt and angry. Meanwhile, Alice tries to navigate her dynamic with Felix, unsure what she wants in and from the relationship.

Eventually, Eileen and Simon visit Alice and Felix. Over the course of their trip, new tensions arise between the friends. Felix interrogates Eileen and Simon about why they have not visited Alice sooner. Eileen and Simon have sex, but Eileen insists they should remain friends. Eileen feels hurt that Alice did not tell her she is considering buying the country house. Alice feels as if Eileen and Simon do not really see or understand her. After a dynamic argument between the friends, their relationships appear irreparable. However, Simon's conversation with Eileen, and Felix's conversation with Alice, ultimately inspire them all to make amends.

Eighteen months later, Eileen and Alice continue emailing during lockdown. Alice and Felix are creating a life together. Eileen and Simon are pregnant. They both realize that though times are uncertain, these are the only lives they have, and that they are determined to be happy.