Houston, Texas

Much of the novel takes place in Houston, Texas. Cam and TJ grew up together in Houston; after the death of Cam’s parents, he moved in with TJ, Mae, and Jin. Prior to the novel’s central events, Cam left Houston and moved to Los Angeles, California. At the start of Family Meal, Cam returns to Houston and begins working at a gay bar. Washington frequently describes the gentrification occurring in Houston; the characters watch as neighborhoods that were once bastions of racial and cultural diversity lose their individuality.

Los Angeles, California

Several sections of Family Meal take place in Los Angeles, California. Cam lives in Los Angeles with his boyfriend, Kai. In Los Angeles, Cam experiences a strong sense of love and belongingness. He feels as if he has decisively left behind his former life in Houston, where he had a complicated relationship with his...