The novel’s protagonist, Patrick, is a 43-year-old former sitcom star who now lives in isolation in the Palm Springs desert. Unable to fully deal with the death of his partner, Joe, Patrick first avoided his grief with work; when his sitcom ended, however, he created an existence in which he doesn’t have to talk to or see anyone, including his family.

The death of his close friend and sister-in-law, Sara, upends Patrick’s quiet existence, as he takes in his niece and nephew for the summer. At first, Patrick’s idea of parenthood resembles something out of a sitcom: Patrick has become so used to trivializing serious situations with campy, Oscar Wilde humor, that it’s the only way he knows how to communicate. It soon becomes apparent that this approach is not working. Patrick realizes he cannot hide from his own grief—nor can he expect Maisie and Grant to hide from theirs—behind endless brunches and trips to tourist sites.

Patrick is hardly old, but in Hollywood years, he’s ancient: A younger generation of actors has become television royalty since he left the scene. When one of these up-and-comers, Emory, shows romantic interest in Patrick, he is both titillated and suspicious.