After Joe Goffman's Bush Falls becomes a runaway bestseller, he never expects to go back to his small Connecticut hometown and face the outrage generated by the dark secrets his autobiographical novel reveals. But when his father suffers a life-threatening stroke, return the unhappy and unfulfilled Joe does, to meet head-on the antipathy waiting for him.

Most residents shun him or worse, but he uneasily renews his friendships with his high school girlfriend, Carly, and best friend, Wayne, who now has AIDS.