The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Evison, Jonathan. Lawn Boy: A Novel. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2019.

Mike Muñoz is a young Mexican-American man living in southern California and working as a landscaper. His father showed very little interest in him when he was young and eventually left the family shortly after he was born. Mike has since had a slew of stepfathers, but has always missed a steady paternal presence in his life.

Mike babysits his special needs brother, Nate, while their mother works at a local hotel. He spends his spare time off of work reading books and dreaming about being a writer or otherwise knowing what he wants to do with his life. Mike blows up at work when he is tasked with cleaning up after the homeowner’s dogs in addition to his typical lawn work. He is tired of being at the beck and call of others and longs to feel respected and valued. He quits the job and immediately regrets it when he realizes he has no money saved and needs to help his mother with their bills. She decides to rent out their shed to a man named Freddy to try and make ends meet.

Mike is also developing a crush on a local waitress, Remy. Even though she is kind to him, he struggles to believe he is good enough to be with her or that she would ever be interested in him. All the while, Mike is struggling with money and trying to find a way to earn more and make life a bit easier for his family. Mike eventually finds the courage to ask Remy on a date, and they meet for drinks several times. Although they do kiss, Mike never wants to take Remy home with him or progress their relationship sexually.

Mike spends a lot of time with his best friend, Nick. He struggles to connect with Nick as he has grown and matured because Nick’s humor often pokes fun at women and homosexuals. Mike cannot articulate clearly why he has grown to dislike Nick so much, but he finds it hard to maintain the friendship.

As Mike reconnects with a childhood acquaintance, Doug Goble, he tries to become more self-sufficient and business savvy so that he will not need to work for annoying bosses any longer. When Mike gets to know Doug better, he realizes he never wants to be as greedy or self-centered as he finds Doug to be.

Mike meets another young man named Andrew who works as a local librarian. Mike attends several protests with Andrew before the pair begin dating. Mike comes out to his friends and family as gay, and they accept him wholeheartedly.

As the novel comes to a close, Mike finally achieves his childhood dream of going to Disneyland with his family. In this experience, he finds closure, not perfection, and demonstrates a genuine appreciation for his family despite their shortcomings and difficulties.