Following a devastating romantic betrayal, Rebecca seeks solace on a Caribbean island, only to find her emotional recovery complicated by an intense affair with a damaged recluse. Seeking to escape the wreckage of her life in 1933, Rebecca navigates the insular and often stifling social dynamics of a British expatriate colony. Her path crosses with Johnny, a former pilot whose physical disability and deep-seated misanthropy mirror her own internal turmoil. The narrative explores the collision of two fractured individuals attempting to find connection within a landscape that is both physically vibrant and psychologically isolating.

This work is often analyzed for its continuation of the themes established in its predecessor, specifically the focus on the complexities of female identity and romantic disillusionment. Readers and critics frequently note the author's precise, evocative prose style which captures the humid, claustrophobic atmosphere of the island setting. The relationship between Rebecca and Johnny is typically viewed as a study in mutual vulnerability rather than a traditional romance. The novel is regarded as a significant contribution to the author's body of work, highlighting her ability to render the internal lives of her characters with profound clarity.