The following version of this book was used to create this guide: Washington, Bryan. Family Meal. Riverhead Books, 2023.

Bryan Washington’s novel Family Meal is written from the first-person perspective. Washington alternates between the viewpoints of Cam, Kai, and TJ. Washington primarily utilizes the present tense, although he narrates some sequences in the past tense.

Cam, a young Black man, has recently returned to Houston from Los Angeles after the death of his boyfriend, Kai. His former best friend, TJ, visits the gay bar where Cam now works. TJ’s family owns a bakery and took in Cam after the death of Cam’s parents. Cam and TJ have not spoken in years. Upon Cam’s return to Houston, the owner of the gay bar, Fern, invited Cam to move in with him, his husband Jake, and his son, Diego. Cam has sex with numerous men he meets online and frequently abuses drugs. Sometimes, Kai’s ghost visits him.

TJ visits Cam at the bar again. They angrily discuss TJ’s mother, Mae, with whom Cam was once close. They also mention TJ’s father, Jin, who died after Cam left Houston. They argue about Cam’s refusal to contact TJ and his family.

As the neighborhood gentrifies, Fern struggles to stay in business. Cam visits TJ and Mae’s bakery. Cam apologizes for not calling her in the wake of Jin’s death.

Cam continues to ruminate on Kai’s death. His drug use worsens. One night, Cam returns home and has sex with Jake. Cam has dinner with Mae and TJ. During the meal, it becomes obvious that Cam struggles with disordered eating. Later, Cam and Mae discuss TJ’s HIV diagnosis.

Cam and Jake continue a casual sexual relationship. Fern soon tells Cam that the bar will close. TJ accosts Cam, angry that he revealed his HIV status to Mae.

One night, Fern and Jake confront Cam and ask about his plans, now that the bar is closing. Fern admits that he knows about Cam and Jake’s relationship. The three of them proceed to have sex. At the bar’s closing party, Cam grows increasingly drunk and high and eventually wanders through the city, near-unconscious. In a flashback, Washington reveals that a policeman pulled over Cam—who was driving—and Kai. The policeman then shot and killed Kai. In the present, TJ finds Cam and helps him to his car.

In the next section, Kai reflects on his family and his relationship with Cam. Kai grew up in a poor neighborhood of Baton Rouge. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue work as a translator. Kai discusses his time in Japan, where he worked with a writer to translate her book. As Kai’s relationship with Cam blossoms, Cam begins to cook for him.

The next section centers TJ’s perspective. After finding Cam, TJ brought him to a rehab clinic. In the wake of his time in rehab, Cam begins working at the bakery. TJ’s relationship with Cam remains tense, although they have some close, connective moments. TJ maintains a romantic relationship with Ian, who is engaged to a woman.

TJ reflects on Cam’s silence in the wake of Jin’s death. He remembers several happy moments that he shared with his father. In turn, he recalls his sexual encounters with Cam when they were living together after Cam’s parents’ deaths.

TJ and Ian take a trip to Austin, where they argue about Ian’s upcoming wedding. When he returns to Houston, he learns that Mae and Cam have hired a new employee, Noel. Noel is relatively quiet but demonstrates impressive baking skills. One afternoon, TJ drives Noel back to their home, which they share with their aunt. Noel’s aunt cooks for TJ. Mae reveals to her employees that realtors have expressed interest in the bakery.

TJ helps Noel cook for their family. Afterwards, they kiss. Noel expresses some hesitation about pursuing a sexual or romantic relationship. They don’t return to work for several days. Mae tells TJ that, if they were to sell the bakery, TJ could finally leave Houston. TJ and Cam go to a bathhouse together. Cam discusses his therapy and recovery process with TJ. Eventually, Mae tells TJ that she has decided to continue living above the bakery but that they will move the business to a new location. Noel and TJ sleep together.

Ian finds TJ at the bakery. He drives TJ to Galveston, where they have sex. Ian reveals that his engagement has fallen apart. The next morning, Cam and Kai’s sister, Bree, pick up TJ in Galveston. Bree tells Cam and TJ to take care of one another. Later, TJ and Noel make plans to leave Houston together. At home, Cam and TJ briefly kiss.

Kai, already dead, reflects on his love for Cam. He reveals that he visited TJ in Houston. They discussed Cam, and TJ promised to take care of Cam if anything ever happened to Kai. In a final interaction between Cam and Kai’s ghost, Cam asserts that Kai will always be a part of him.