The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Luo, Susie. Paper Names. Hanover Square Press, 2023.

Susie Luo's novel Paper Names is written from the first and the third person points of view. The narrative also takes inventive liberties with structure and form. For the sake of clarity, the following summary employs a more streamlined and linear mode of explanation.

In 1991, Tony and Kim moved from Dalian, China to the United States. Having dreamed about living in New York City for many years, Tony was determined to give his wife and his young daughter Tammy a new and better future. However, shortly after arriving, Tony realized that life in the States was not aligning with Hollywood representations of the American dream. He and his family could not afford to live in Manhattan, and thus moved into a basement apartment in Flushing, Queens. In spite of the many degrees and awards he earned in China, Tony was compelled to take a doorman job at an elite housing co-op in Manhattan called The Rosewood. Meanwhile, Tony attended night classes, hoping to rebuild a career for himself and to give his family the life he had promised them.

Over the course of the years, Tony's frustrations and disappointments weighed on him emotionally. Feeling powerless over his life and circumstances, he became increasingly angry and volatile at home. He often directed his rage at his daughter. In spite of his outbursts, Tony was proud of Tammy and loved her more than anyone in the world.

Not long after Tony helped a Rosewood resident named Clara escape a mugger, he and his family attended an open house at her Rosewood apartment. During the event, Tammy started playing Clara's piano. Another Rosewood resident named Oliver noticed, and told Tony he would gladly give her lessons for free.

Although Tony believed Oliver's intentions were pure, Oliver was using Tammy to feel better about himself. Some years prior, Oliver's grandfather Matthew was incarcerated for embezzling money from a charity that he himself had founded. Feeling betrayed by Matthew, Oliver was trying to prove himself better than his relatives. Teaching Tammy gave him an ideal opportunity to do so.

Years later, after Tammy finished high school, she attended Harvard University. She had remained friends with Oliver and he met up with her there. Although he had feelings for Tammy, he feared his affections were inappropriate. To tamp down his attraction to Tammy, he introduced her to one of his client's son's Vince, another Harvard undergrad.

Tammy and Vince stayed together for nearly a decade. Meanwhile, Tammy completed law school. Oliver helped her get a job at his firm, Steinway & Appleton. While training for a company sponsored marathon, Tammy and Oliver grew even closer. Tammy was now engaged to Vince, but had doubts about her relationship.

Then one night, Tony called Tammy to say his father had died. Tammy rushed to Scarsdale where her parents now lived. Tony became angry with her for being distracted and disrespectful. Tammy left in the middle of the fight. After talking to Kim, Tony realized he needed to speak to Tammy in person. On his way out, he noticed that the garbage can had rolled into the street. When he went to fetch it, a sports car raced by and hit him.

Oliver and his boss Kip were the drivers of the car that hit Tony. Although Oliver wanted to help the person they had hit, Kip insisted they cover up the incident so as to preserve their reputations. Even after Oliver realized the victim was Tammy's father, he hesitated to reveal the truth. Once he did finally confess his involvement, Tammy turned him in to the police.

Realizing that she needed a break from her life, Tammy bought her first plane ticket to Dalian. On the flight, she had a series of revelations about who she had been and who she wanted to be in the future.