Summary

In the present day, Clare lives in Milwaukee and looks for a boyfriend. She primarily dates Jewish men, but she cannot find anybody to settle down with despite her parents’ urgings. Her parents are proud of her despite still being single, but Clare is not confident that she deserves it. She eventually meets a slightly older man named Matthew and falls in love. He is British and has a young son in England with his ex. When Clare invites Matthew over for dinner, her mother disapproves of him initially.

The novel flashes back to the past and finds Walter and Annelise growing more isolated as their friends flee the city. Oskar speaks only of leaving and Annelise wishes she could leave with him. Annelise has grown closer to Oskar and believes that he is sometimes flirting subtly with her. When they are alone in...