The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Nguyen, Eric. Things We Lost to the Water. Alfred A. Knopf, 2021.

Eric Nguyen's novel Things We Lost to the Water is written from the third person point of view, and combines both the past and present tenses. The chapters labeled solely with the month and year are written in the first person. Those chapters labeled with a character's name and a year, are written in the past tense. The novel follows a largely linear structure, tracing Hương, Tuấn, and Ben's trip from Vietnam to the States, and their life in America over the subsequent years. The following summary employs the past tense and an entirely linear form.

After meeting and falling in love with Công, Hương got married and began a family. For a time, she felt that her life was the definition of happiness. However, when Tuấn was still a little boy, the Vietnam War broke out, and Hương's familial structure and stability faltered. On the night she, Công, and Tuấn were meant to leave for America, Công failed to get on the boat. Hương departed to an unknown place on her own, still pregnant with her second son.

With her newborn infant, Bình, and her young son, Tuấn, Hương attempted to orient to life in New Orleans. The city was strange and unfamiliar, and amplified Hương's sense of loss and longing. She still could not understand why her husband had not come with her, and became desperate to contact him. She started sending letters and cassette recordings of her voice back to him in Vietnam. Công only contacted her once. In the letter, he told Hương not to write to him anymore.

Meanwhile, Hương, Tuấn, and Bình were living in the Versailles Arms apartments. Hương tried forgetting Công, and concealing the truth of his abandonment from her young boys. Tuấn struggled to make friends. Bình grew to hate how others treated him, and refused to be called by any name besides Ben.

When Tuấn turned 11, Hương told him his father was dead. She was afraid that telling him the truth would be too painful. However, when Tuấn heard the news he was hurt and angry. Ben did not understand, as he had never met his father, and had no connection to their former life in Vietnam.

Over the years, Tuấn distanced himself from his family. His mother's relationship with Vinh worsened his upset with Hương. Vinh's constant presence at their family's apartment irritated Tuấn. He soon began dating a rebellious girl, and became involved with a local gang called the Southern Boyz.

Meanwhile, Ben made friends with a girl named Addy. She was the only person that seemed to understand Ben.

One summer, Ben and Addy spent every day at the pool. While there, Ben met a boy named Howie. The more time they spent together, the more complicated Ben's feelings for him became. He soon realized that he was gay. Despite his openness with others, and his eagerness to be true to himself, Ben's revelation was not met with approval or understanding.

In the midst of his high school career, Ben discovered his mother's secret box of letters and photographs. While exploring the box's contents, Ben realized his mother had lied, and that his father was still alive. Feeling furious and betrayed, Ben fled home, and showed up at Tuấn's house. The brothers talked about their family, their hurts and longings.

Not long later, Ben dropped out of school, and began cleaning a professor's house for work. When the professor discovered how smart and clever Ben was, he helped him get into university. Once he finished his degree, Ben moved to Paris to write.

Then, in the summer of 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. Hương and Tuấn struggled to survive, desperate to take care of one another. When Ben heard about the storm, he immediately contacted his family.