Summary

The novel opens in present-day New York City. Toby Fleishman is a 41-year-old doctor. He and his wife Rachel are in the process of divorcing. They are Jewish and have two children: an 11-year-old daughter named Hannah and a 9-year-old son named Solly (which is short for Solomon.) Fleishman has recently signed up for an online dating application, and he is surprised how many women on the app fervently express their desire for sex. One day, Fleishman wakes up in his new apartment and finds his kids there. He is angry at Rachel for not telling him ahead of time that she was going to drop them off. In the morning, Toby brings his children to a local recreation center. There, a divorced mother asks Toby about his divorce, and she also subtly expresses sexual attraction towards him. Toby then thinks about his work...