Toby Fleishman

Toby Fleishman is the novel’s protagonist and is one of the novel’s three point-of-view characters. He is a 41-year-old Jewish man who has recently separated from his wife Rachel, as they are in the process of divorce. He is a doctor and works as an attending physician in a hospital. He makes over $250,000 per year and is somewhat insecure that his wife makes far more money than him. Moreover, he dislikes when she urges him to find a higher-paying medical job. Toby once declined an offer for a high-paying medical research job because he found the research to be unethical.

After separating from Rachel, he begins to casually date many other women, but he feels lonely. After Rachel suddenly cuts off contact with him and the children, Toby must take on all of the parental responsibilities himself. Toby feels furious at Rachel, as he believes...