The book opens with a “Preludial” wherein Martin is speaking in the second person to the reader who, Martin describes, is a houseguest in Martin’s home. Martin shows the guest around, gives some background on why he wrote the story that will follow, and provides a key and shows the houseguest to the apartment where he will be staying.

The novel portion of the book opens in 1983. Martin, a journalist who writes profiles of other writers, has published an interview with the Nobel prizewinning author, Saul Bellow, and brings Saul to dinner as an expression of gratitude. Martin brings with him his current, secret girlfriend, Julia, who is pregnant with his child. At this point the novel flashes back to 1967 to a scene wherein Martin is getting out of bed with his first lover, Rachel, who is on her way to donate blood for Israel, as Israel is about to enter into a war. At this point, Martin confesses to being a Zionist because he is in love with Rachel. The scene flashes forward to 1976, where Martin meets another lover of his, Phoebe, whom he first sees one day as she is exiting a phone booth that Martin is waiting to use. After their first date, Phoebe tells Martin that she only has sex with men once, as to ensure “quality control.” Phoebe’s stance makes Martin want to rise to the challenge of becoming her lover. The two become involved and engage in sexual behavior but not intercourse. During this time, Phoebe enforces “purdahs,” during which she will not allow Martin any sexual satisfaction. She claims she does so in order to prevent either of them getting bored with the relationship.

The story flashes forward to 1987, when Martin takes a trip to Israel with Julia, who is now his wife, Saul, and Saul’s lover Rosamund. During this trip, Martin reflects on the futility of the Jewish faith and Saul’s status as a “regional superpower.” After the trip Martin provides historical background on the settling of Israel, how the Zionists decided they wanted land that was already settled. After this, the narrative pauses and Martin reflects on the present of 2020, when he is writing the book, how current events are so chaotic with Brexit and Donald Trump running for president. When this moment ends, the narrative returns to the story of Martin’s late 1970’s relationship with Phoebe, during which, Martin confesses to his best friend, essayist Christopher Hitchens, he feels tortured because of Phoebe’s ambivalence toward sex. Soon after, Phoebe loses all her money gambling, so Martin invites her to move in with him. The two visit Phoebe’s parents to get their blessing, at which time Martin meets Father Gabriel, a priest who is a family friend. After the visit to Phoebe’s parents, Martin and Phoebe attend a party hosted by a magazine for which, Martin discovers, Phoebe posed nude. Martin also discovers at this time that Phoebe was once a call girl. At the party Phoebe flirts uncontrollably with multiple men, which incites Martin’s jealousy. Martin and Phoebe have a heated discussion following the party and later have intercourse because Martin offers to pay Phoebe for sex. During sex the two negotiate the price, and afterwards, Phoebe tells Martin that the scene reminded him of the way Father Gabriel used to treat her. Martin refers to this night as the “Night of Shame.”

The narrative moves to the northwest coast of France in 2003. The scene is a lavish hotel where Martin is staying with his second wife, Elena, who is scheduled to receive a writing award during a writer’s festival. On this trip, Martin is feeling depressed as he reads a book about the second world war. Elena asks Martin about his affair with Phoebe, and Martin tells Elena Phoebe was just a “dalliance.” At this point, Martin confesses to the reader that he is paranoid and has been that way since September 11th, 2001. The narrative shifts to September 12, 2001. On this day, Martin receives a visit from Phoebe’s niece Maude, who gives Martin a letter telling him that his true father is not Kingsley Amis but rather the poet, Philip Larkin. Martin shows the letter to Elena, who asks what Phoebe’s motive could be and suggests Martin ask his mother, Hilly, to reveal the truth. Martin flatly rejects the suggestion. At this point, Martin brings the narrative back to September 11th, 2001 and narrates how he spends his day watching the event unfold on television, attending a pilates class, and going to a pub for trivia. Soon after, Hitch reveals he is Islamophobic and supportive of the United States invading countries to stop the terrorists. The story returns to the writer’s festival in France 2003, where Elena receives her award and charms the French audience, despite hating them. Afterwards, the couple takes the Eurostar to England, where Martin’s dark depression returns. At this point in the book, the author inserts, “Oktober,” a short story he published in the New Yorker in 2015. The story is set in Zurich during the refugee crisis and portrays the plight of the refugees among the Oktoberfest revelers of Zurich.

The rest of the book depicts the demise of Martin’s two closest friends, Saul and Hitch. Saul’s Alzheimer’s progresses until his death, and Hitch is diagnosed and treated for cancer of the esophagus. Martin remains a steadfast friend during both of their illnesses, though he has difficulty knowing how to react to the circumstances. While Saul’s death causes Martin to feel as if a certain magic has departed from his own reality, HItch’s death leaves Martin feeling filled with his friend’s spirit and able to be happy again. In 2017 Martin visits Phoebe, who has gained a tremendous amount of weight but has also become independently wealthy, having sold an escort business that she had owned. During the visit, Martin tells Phoebe he knows her life has been difficult, and Phoebe confesses that she lied about Philip Larkin being Martin’s father. Phoebe also informs Martin that her father forced her to have sex with Father Gabriel because Father Gabriel would pay her father. Phoebe tells Martin he may write about their love affair and, if he wants, he may use her real name.

The postludial of the book brings the reader to Martin’s twentieth floor penthouse, where he is speaking to his houseguest. Martin informs the houseguest about a supernatural experience he had following Hitch’s death. Following this, Martin looks out the window and views the Statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor and reflects on the dire current situation in the United States. Then he bids the houseguest farewell.