A young Yale dropout and a French girl engage in a transient, intense love affair set against the backdrop of provincial France. The protagonist, Dean, pursues a physical and emotional connection with Anne-Marie, a shop girl, while the narrator observes their intimacy from a distance. The narrative framework is complex, blending the narrator's voyeuristic perspective with imagined details of the couple's encounters. The story operates within the constraints of a fleeting summer, emphasizing the inevitable decay of their passion as the season concludes.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the precision of the prose, noting how the author captures the ephemeral nature of desire. Discussion often centers on the narrator's role as an unreliable or detached observer, which adds a layer of psychological complexity to the central romance. Many appreciate the atmospheric world-building that renders the French setting with sharp, evocative detail. While some find the pacing deliberate and meditative, others praise the stylistic economy that avoids unnecessary sentimentality. The work is widely regarded for its technical mastery in balancing character interiority with the external reality of the affair.