The novel begins with the main character in the book, a man named Conrad Jarrett. Conrad spent eight months in a mental hospital but the time spent there did not help him resolve his problems. Conrad thinks about the techniques he was taught in the hospital. When his father calls him, he gets up and gets ready in a hurry, noticing that he has a rash on his face. Conrad beats his anxiety by maintaining a daily routine and even though it is a struggle, he manages to prepare for the new day that lies ahead of him.
In another room, Conrad’s parents, Calvin and Beth get ready to start their day as well. Calvin had a rough childhood, growing up in a home for orphans but through his hard work he managed to build for himself a better future. Because he did not had a father figure in his live, Calvin is sometimes afraid that he is not a good father for his son and that he doesn’t know how to react in certain situations. Because of this, he believes that the best way he can help his family is by being a provider and by making sure that they have everything they need to live a comfortable life. Calvin wants to help his son recover but he is unsure how to do it and he doesn’t understand why his son is sometimes sarcastic when talking to him. What Cal does instead is urge his son to keep in touch with the man who treated him in the hospital, hoping that he can better help Conrad.
One of Conrad’s friends came to take him to school and during the ride he notices the car of a new student who just moved into the town. The day drags on and by the time Conrad has swimming practice he is tired and unfocused. His coach tries to help him but he only makes Conrad feel even more awkward and weird. When he goes home, he has a brief conversation with Beth before going into his room.
Beth plans a family trip but Cal is not so excited, claiming that it will not be beneficial for their son. Beth however insists, convincing him that they need to get away from the stress in their lives. Cal returns to his office but he continues to think about Conrad and about his attempted suicide. Even though Beth tries to convince him that it was not their fault, Cal still feels responsible. In his office, Cal thinks about the argument he had with his wife and how distant she seemed. He then thinks about his mentor, a lawyer named Bacon who saw his potential and who agreed to pay for his college education. Everything changed when Cal got married and Bacon no longer paid for his education because he did not considered the decision taken by Cal as being a wise one.
Conrad agrees to go to therapy and he meets with a doctor named Dr. Berger. The first session is awkward for Conrad who feels uncomfortable by the questions posed by the doctor. Conrad tells the doctor about his family and about his brother’s fatal sailing accident before agreeing to meet with him twice a week. At the end of the session, Conrad feels comfortable and safe but then these feelings disappear as soon as he exists the doctor’s office and starts the journey back home.
Conrad meets with a girl he met in the psychiatric hospital, a girl named Karen. They talks about their therapists but they avoid praising them or speaking of them in positive terms. The two talk briefly before leaving the small shop where they meet.
Conrad returns home where he talks briefly with his father. Cal and Beth then go to a dinner hosted by one of their neighbors but they avoid talking about Conrad and change the subject every time his illness and absence is mentioned. When Cal does however begin talking about Conrad, he is quickly heard by Beth who then insists that they leave the party and go home. On the way home, Beth criticizes Cal for mentioning their problems and for letting the others know about Conrad. Cal listens to her but remains silent, choosing to check on Conrad as soon as he gets home.
At school, Conrad has troubles with his tests and exams and he is also teased by his friends when he wants to help one if his classmates with her schoolwork. At home, Conrad analyzes what happened to him during the day and thinks about the events that preceded his suicide attempt a year earlier. He also stopped enjoying swimming and his doctor urged him to try and resolve the problem in a way that will benefit him.
Conrad decides to quit the swimming team but before doing that he overhears his teammates talking about him and how they see him as a burden. One of his team mates and friend, Lazenby, drives Conrad home but Conrad decides to keep quiet about his decision to leave the team. He also keeps his decision a secret from his family, feeling like it is no one’s business what he does with his life.
The team finds that Conrad quit the swimming team from their coach and the one who was the most upset was Lazenby who felt betrayed by Conrad. He still refuses to tell his parents however and his doctor urges him to just get over with it and not think too much about what they will say. Conrad goes on a date with a girl named Jeannine and the date leaves him feeling happy and relaxed.
During Christmas, Conrad is in good spirits and his father is happy to see his son happy and energetic. Cal’s happiness is short lived however because as soon as he gets home, Beth told him that she found that Conrad quit the swimming team.
When Conrad arrives home, he is questioned by his mother and a fight ensures between the two. Cal tries to make the two forgive one another but is unsuccessful.
When Conrad tells his doctor about the argument he had with his mother, he is urged to try and resolve the problem as fast as possible. Conrad however feels that it is impossible for him to ever be close to his mother and he doesn’t believe that he is capable of forgiving her. Conrad also tells his doctor that he doesn’t know why he tried to kill himself and why acts sometimes in an erratic way.
After New Year passes, Conrad decides he must find a job so he goes to the local library, wanting to see if they have any positions available for him. While there, Conrad meets a beautiful woman who flirts with him but instead of feeling flattered by the attention, he is anxious to remain alone. Despite this, when he meets with the doctor, he agrees that he likes looking at women and that he masturbates often thinking about them. The doctor then advices Conrad to think about dating a girl he knows and think about how it will be beneficial for him.
During a pleasant evening spent together, Cal tell Conrad that he thinks about going to the same doctor Conrad was seeing even though Conrad doesn’t consider that there is anything wrong with him. Cal goes to talk with Berger and at first he reacts just like Conrad did in the beginning, not trusting the doctor. After a while however, Cal opens up to Berger and reveals his insecurities and his fears regarding his family and son.
After the winter holiday, Conrad returns to school where he meets with Jeannine. The two ride back home together and Conrad figures out from the conversation he has with her that she knows about his attempted suicide and his past problems. After Conrad drops her off, he returns home where he discovers that his mother has her friends over. After talking briefly with them, he returns to his room where he thinks about Lazenby and Jeannine. He decides to go visit Lazenby but not before calling Jeannine and asking her for a date, an offer which she accepts.
The first date goes well and before Conrad drops Jeannine home she tells him that her mother divorced her father and that they relocated because her uncle found her mother a new job. Conrad also finds from Jeannine’s younger brother that many men visit their mother and that someone resembling him visited their house not too long ago.
Cal has troubles of his own, trying to deal with his personal problems and with his work. His colleague, Ray, tells him that Beth told his wife that she thinks Cal worries too much about Conrad. Cal does not think the same way however but realizes that his life is not how he wanted it to be.
To make up from the arguments they had in the last months, Cal proposes to Beth that they go to Dallas for a golf tournament and Beth is thrilled by the idea especially since her brother also lived in Dallas. He also meditates about his relationship he has with his wife and he concludes that what would drive her away from good would be public humiliation.
Conrad gets into a fight with one of his previous friends when he hears them talking about his dead brother and during the fight Conrad loses his keys. Lazenby comes to Conrad with them and the two begin talking about Conrad’s brother and how they both miss him. Conrad returns home and cleans his clothes from blood before his parents arrive home. Conrad falls asleep in the living room while waiting for his father and when Cal arrives he tells his father everything that happened at school that day and the fight he had with his former friend. Cal listens to him patiently, happy to see his son open about the things that bothered him. When Cal goes to bed, he sees Beth already sleeping, not caring that her son fell asleep on the sofa in the living room.
Conrad remains at home with his grandparents during the weekend his parents go to Dallas. Conrad plans to go on a date with Jeannine that weekend but they have to cancel when one of Jeannine’s mother’s former boyfriends come to her house to take her to a date. Jeanine and Conrad thus remain home with Jeannine’s brother, Mike. Conrad entertains Mike while Jeannine cooks in the kitchen and when Conrad goes to check on her she finds her crying and thus he comforts her.
The next day, Conrad is feeling extremely well even though he is scolded by his grandparents for coming home late the previous night. His good mood is however ruined when he reads about the suicide of a person he knew, Karen. Conrad then remembered the newspaper article written after he tried to kill himself and how he found about it only when he was admitted into the hospital. That night, he dreams about the accident in which his brother died and the next day he decides to call his doctor and ask him to meet. At his office, Conrad opens about his feelings and begins to cry freely while the doctor watches. Conrad then returns home, takes a shower and falls asleep, exhausted after a few days of intense emotional distress.
In Dallas, Cal talks with Beth’s brother about their children and about Beth’s tendency to avoid talking about Conrad. Thus, Cal decides to answer every time someone asks about Conrad, saving Beth from having to answer those questions herself.
Cal and Beth have a good time in Dallas and before leaving Cal suggests that maybe next time they can bring Conrad with them. Beth gets upset, claiming that Cal always feels the need to mention Conrad. During the argument, Beth reveals that she feels like Cal blames her for Conrad’s suicide attempt and that Conrad tried to kill himself only to manipulate her. Cal tries to comfort her but is unsuccessful.
After they return home, they are shocked to see Conrad in a good mood. He even hugs both his parents before going to bed one night, an action which shocks both Cal and Beth. Conrad also gets closer to Jeannine and the two open up about their past and how none of them are proud of it.
Beth decides to leave the family and when Cal tries to explain the situation to Conrad, things escalate and the two get into an argument. They make up however and Conrad tells his father how much he loves him and that he appreciates what he has done for him in the previous months.
In the last chapter, Conrad sais goodbye to his friends. He visits the doctor’s house and Lazenby’s house and the two forgive one another. Conrad also decides to not give up on his mother and to continue and try to get close to her and understand her.
