The novel follows a young man living in Manhattan as he tries to navigate his way through the fast-paced and drug-fueled world of the New York City nightlife during the 1980s. He is struggling with his job at a prestigious magazine, his estranged wife who has left him for another man, and his growing addiction to cocaine. As he spirals further into self-destruction, he must confront his problems and make choices about the person he wants to be.

The novel follows Billy Lynn, a 19-year-old soldier, who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. During the tour, they're honored at a Dallas Cowboys game, which exposes the commercialization and shallow appreciation of their sacrifices. Amidst the celebration, Billy grapples with his understanding of heroism, patriotism, family, and the stark contrast between the realities of war and America's perceptions.

In the darkly comic and unsettling novel, a teenage girl recounts her harrowing journey through a dysfunctional childhood marked by neglect, abuse, and a road trip with her dangerously unhinged father. As she navigates the grim realities of her life, her story oscillates between the grimy, violent past and her struggle to survive in the present. The narrative, rich with vivid and disturbing imagery, explores themes of memory, trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. The protagonist's voice, both raw and poignant, offers a stark and unflinching look at the complexities of family and the scars that our early experiences can leave on us.