The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Spiotta, Dana. Wayward. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2021.

Wayward takes place in Syracuse, New York in the year 2017. Samantha “Sam” Raymond is a 53-year-old woman. Her husband is Matthew “Matt” Raymond, and their 16-year-old daughter is named Ally. In the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Sam feels like she needs to be more politically aware and engaged. She also realizes that she is unhappy in her marriage. She tells Matt that she wants a divorce, and she moves to a house in a more impoverished area of town. Ally resents Sam, perceiving this move as a type of abandonment. Also, Sam and Ally’s relationship has been strained for the past few years, as Sam has become overprotective of Ally following Ally’s entry into puberty.

Sam works as a docent at a local historical house. The house was one the residence of Clara Loomis, a pioneer for women’s reproductive rights in the 1800s. Sam struggles with the fact that Clara Loomis was also a proponent of problematic ideas that were precursors to eugenics. Sam’s job at the historical house does not pay very well, and so she is dependent on payouts from Matt from their joint bank account. Sam dislikes this dependence. Ally continues to ignore Sam. Ally has recently begun dating a 29-year-old man named Joe, who works as an architectural renovator and preservationist. Ally has not told Sam about this relationship.

Sam struggles to adapt to her new life of solitude, in part because her house is missing many amenities to which she has become accustomed. Sam and Matt eventually resume the sexual aspect of their relationship. Sam is disappointed in herself for being dependent on Matt in that way as well. She refuses all monetary offers from him beyond money for basic expenses. One day, a friend of Sam’s becomes the target of accusations of some type of abuse. However, no one is willing to elaborate on exactly what the accusations are, so Sam is unsure if she should condemn or condone those accusations. Sam is also frazzled by the news that her mother, Lily, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. However, Lily—who is in her seventies—does not seem very perturbed by the diagnosis.

One night, while walking around her new neighborhood, Sam witnesses a police officer fatally shoot an unarmed Black child. Sam files an official report of what she witnessed, and she also speaks at a protest against police violence. However, the police officer in question faces no consequences. A few days later, Sam goes to a local state fair and witnesses Ally with Joe. Sam sees Ally and Joe kiss. Sam’s initial impulse is to intervene, but she decides to curb that impulse. Sam decides that Ally can handle the situation for herself. Sam walks away, and Ally notices Sam’s lack of intervention. Ally takes this event as a sign that Sam is prepared to be less overprotective. Ally soon breaks up with Joe.

Later in the work, Sam suffers a minor stroke. She is briefly hospitalized, after which she returns to her house. She still has no plans to move back in with Matt and Ally. Ally, now ready to reestablish contact with her mother, goes to visit Sam at Sam’s house.