Summary

Luster is narrated in the present tense by Edie, the 23-year-old protagonist of the novel. The story begins with Edie recounting the first time she has virtual sex with Eric, a man with a recently opened marriage of 13 years, who she meets online. They message sexually explicit things to one another while they are at work on separate sides of New York City. There is a 20-year age gap between the two, but Edie enjoys talking with him. They speak for a month without meeting in person because his schedule is busy. He invites her to Six Flags. After spending so long talking, they have nothing to say to one another and the car ride to the amusement park is awkward.

Edie finds it difficult to ignore their age difference when in such a childish environment. She wonders if he has taken her...