The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Kitamura, Katie. Intimacies. New York: Riverhead Books, 2021.

The novel takes place in The Hague, Netherlands in the year 2016. The unnamed narrator is a woman who is about 30 years old. She is of Singaporean descent, but she has lived most of her adult life in New York City. Her father recently died of a terminal illness. On an impulse, she applied to be a translator at the International Court of Justice. She was hired on a short-term basis, with the possibility of being hired to a permanent position later. The narrator lives alone in The Hague and knows very few people there. Her one friend, Jana, works as a curator at an art museum in the city.

The narrator eventually forms a romantic relationship with Adriaan, a local man who is recently separated from his wife. Adriaan’s wife, Gaby, has gone with their children to Portugal, to live with Gaby’s new significant other. One of the main reasons that the narrator wants to remain in The Hague long-term is to be with Adriaan. One day, Adriaan says that he needs to go to Portugal in order to see his children and discuss divorce arrangements with Gaby. The narrator accepts this. However, after Adriaan leaves, the narrator begins to worry that he might ultimately choose his wife over her. When the narrator sends en e-mail to check in with Adriaan and receives no response, the narrator’s worries grow deeper.

Meanwhile, the narrator continues her work at the Court. She is assigned to a trial in which the defendant is the deposed president of an unnamed country. The defendant stands accused of attempting to undertake a genocide. The narrator realizes that she feels unnerved by her work, as she feels an involuntary sense of connection to the people for whom she translates, even if that person is somewhat who has likely committed horrific atrocities. The lead defense lawyer in the trial is a man named Kees. Coincidentally, Kees is a friend of Adriaan’s. The narrator dislikes Kees, as he has an unnerving, sexually aggressive personality. However, she observes that he is a very competent lawyer.

While not at work, the narrator attempts to undertake whatever rare social connections she can find. She spends time with her friend Jana, who lives in a neighborhood known for having a relatively high crime rate. Recently, a man was robbed and beaten in the neighborhood. Coincidentally, the man—named Anton—is the brother of Eline, a friend of Jana’s. Jana introduces the narrator to Eline, who introduces the narrator to Anton. Anton claims to have no memory of the attack, or even of why he was in that neighborhood in the first place. Later, the narrator sees Anton in a restaurant with a woman who is not Anton’s wife. The narrator reflects on the idea of marriage, and she becomes convinced that Adriaan and his wife will probably resume their marital relationship.

The narrator is offered a permanent position at the Court, but she declines, not only because she finds the work emotionally straining, but also because she does not want to live in The Hague without Adriaan. Thus, she resigns from her job. However, Adriaan then returns to The Hague and reaffirms his love for the narrator. The narrator is still unsure whether she will remain in The Hague.