The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Jonas, Julia May. Vladimir. Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2022.

Julia May Jonas's novel Vladimir is written from the first person point of view of a 58-year-old unnamed narrator. Set in an undisclosed town in upstate New York, the novel traces the narrator's attempts to fulfill her own desires. Although the novel employs both the past and present tenses and uses flashback to nuance its narrative structure, the following summary relies upon the present tense and a linear mode of explanation.

In her late fifties, the first person narrator constantly worries about her age, her appearance, and her relevance. She has taught at the same university in upstate New York for roughly 30 years. Although she has been well-liked and well-respected throughout her career, when seven former students sign a petition for her husband John's dismissal, the narrator's status at the school wavers. John's students have accused him of sexual indiscretion, as he has had countless relationships with students throughout his tenure at the university. Because the narrator and John have had an open relationship for many years, the narrator is not angry with John. Indeed, he had these relationships before the university forbid teacher/student entanglements. All of the young women were also of age. The narrator is therefore frustrated with the women for victimizing themselves rather than finding empowerment in their desire.

In an attempt to dismiss these affairs, the narrator turns her attention to the newly hired junior professor, Vladimir. One day, Vladimir stops by the narrator's house to bring her a bottle of wine and a copy of his book. The two end up spending the afternoon drinking and talking. They reveal intimate details from their personal lives.

The narrator is thrilled when John invites Vladimir and his family over for a barbecue. The narrator has heard rumors about his wife Cynthia, and is eager to meet her competition. Indeed, her infatuation with Vladimir has only grown since their first encounter. Cynthia does not end up attending the barbecue and the narrator feels that Vladimir is flirting with her and her husband throughout the visit.

The narrator drives to her lakeside cabin. While there, she has her first stroke of creative inspiration in some time. Although she has published two books before, neither was as successful as she hoped. She becomes consumed by this project, thrilled to have her artistic energy restored.

The narrator's and John's daughter, Sidney, shows up unannounced at the house one night. She tells the narrator that her girlfriend kicked her out after learning about her affair with an intern. Unable to return to her job or her home, she ends up staying with her parents throughout the following weeks. Her girlfriend does come for a visit, during which time the couple makes amends.

The narrator and Vladimir go out to lunch together. After reading Vladimir's book, the narrator wrote him pages of complimentary notes, which she presents to him at the restaurant. Afterwards, she drives him to her cabin. She makes him more drinks, drugging his cocktail with pills she took from Sidney's visiting girlfriend. Her plan to seduce Vladimir does not work, as he passes out and she has to tie him to a chair.

The next day, when Vladimir pursues intimacy with the narrator, the narrator draws away. She realizes that she has wanted something different. She thought it was Vladimir she wanted, but really it was to escape herself and to write something significant.

John shows up not long later. When Vladimir storms out after an argument with the couple, the narrator and John go to bed. Vladimir returns later to find the cabin engulfed in flames. He drags the narrator and John to safety.

The fire was started by the space heaters the narrator forgot to turn off. She and John suffered third-degree burns on large portions of their body. In spite of all that has happened between them, the narrator decides to stay with John. They use the settlement money from the fire in order to buy an apartment in New York City.