The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Moore, Lorrie. I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home. Penguin Random House LLC., 2023.

Lorrie Moore's novel I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home follows the lives of two main characters living in two distinct temporal eras. Eliza lives in the Reconstruction Era and Finn lives in the contemporary American era. Moore formally parallels their storylines throughout the novel. Although Moore employs both the past and present tenses and toys with conventional notions of the linear novelistic plot line, for the sake of clarity, this guide uses the present tense throughout and adheres to a streamlined mode of explanation.

Eliza runs a boardinghouse in Turkeytail, Tennessee during the post Civil War era. Although she can appreciate life's blessings, she often struggles to feel happy. She tends towards bitterness and despair. The political era further complicates her state of mind.

Although Eliza's sister died some years prior to the narrative present, she continues to write to her in her journal. She not only asks her sister questions, but relays her daily experiences at the boardinghouse. She particularly describes a new boarder named Jack's arrival. Although Jack insists that he is a gentleman and that he has everything a woman wants, Eliza is skeptical of him.

Over time, Eliza begins to trust Jack. As soon as she starts to confide in him, however, she starts to regret her decision. Jack not only begins to take advantage, but treats Eliza's friend and housekeeper Ofelia poorly. Jack does not like Ofelia because she is Black and holds dangerous beliefs about Black Americans. Once Eliza becomes entirely disgusted with and disturbed by Jack's behaviors, Eliza murders him while he is in the tub one night. She ultimately gets away with the crime. After the body is removed, she begins to make peace not only with what she has done, but with how her life looks.

Finn is living in 2016 Tennessee. At the start of his portion of the narrative, he drives to New York to see his dying brother Max. Max has lived with cancer for many years. Ever since his body stopped responding to his chemotherapy treatments, Finn and Max's wife have been anticipating his death.

Finn visits Max at the hospice. Throughout his visit, he tries to distract his brother. However, Max quickly realizes that his brother is afraid and comforts him.

When Finn gets a message about returning home because of an emergency, Finn leaves the hospice to check in on his ex Lily. Lily has struggled with depression for years, and Finn fears she is not okay. He begs Max not to die while he is gone, and promises to return to his bedside soon.

Back in his hometown of Navy Lake, Finn learns that Lily has committed suicide. Although she has had suicidal ideations for years, Finn struggles to believe the truth. He drives to the green cemetery where she has been buried and encounters her ghost there. Together, he and Lily go for a drive. Throughout the drive, Finn feels desperate to keep Lily with him and to bring her back to life.

The two spend the night at an inn in Tyler, Tennessee. They stay in a room filled with historical artifacts which move Finn. He finds Eliza's letters to her sister and takes them with him when they leave. The inn and the letters make him realize life and death's interconnection.

Finn drops Lily off at a body farm. After saying goodbye and watching her give herself back to the earth, Finn drives back to New York for Max's funeral. He died while Finn was away.

In the wake of Max's funeral, Finn's perspective on life begins to change. He not only learns how to accept death and to process his grief, but how to embrace life anew.