The book follows Joe Gold, a 24-year-old medical student from NYU, whose life is turned upside down after his long-term girlfriend, Staci, abruptly ends their relationship after a vacation in Cancun. Despite his initial disbelief, Joe is forced to confront his heartbreak as Staci insists on the breakup, citing a desire for independence. Left reeling from the emotional devastation, Joe returns home to his parents, where he receives little sympathy from his father, who pushes him to focus on his medical studies. As Joe struggles to regain his footing, his father arranges for him to take an internship at a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, hoping the experience will help him move on.