Summary

The novel opens on the day that Eve Fletcher’s only child, 18-year-old Brendan Fletcher, moves away for college. Eve lives in Haddington, a fictional Massachusetts suburb, and Brendan is attending the fictional Berkshire State University. Brendan has been out drinking and partying with friends the night before, so he does not help Eve load his things into the car. Becca, Brendan’s ex-girlfriend from high school, arrives at the house. Eve overhears Becca fellating Brendan in Brendan’s room, and Eve is horrified to hear Brendan say “Suck it, bitch” (7). Eve plans to reprimand Brendan for this misogynistic language, but Brendan sleeps on the car ride to BSU. During the drive, Eve recalls a school administrator warning parents about the dangers of pornography. She also thinks about her ex-husband, Ted, who is now remarried and has another son. She considers how much...