A young aspiring jazz musician navigates the complexities of adulthood and romance while working a menial job at the Central Park Children's Zoo. Henry finds his self-conception as a talented musician challenged by the reality of his daily life, which involves cleaning animal enclosures and managing the eccentricities of his coworkers. As he attempts to win the affection of a girl living in his building, he relies on the silent companionship of a Nubian goat named Newman to process his experiences. The narrative tracks his development through a single summer in New York City, capturing the friction between his romanticized expectations and the mundane, often messy, reality of his situation.

This novel is characterized by its focus on the awkward, formative experiences of early adulthood in a metropolitan setting. The narrative structure suggests a lighthearted yet introspective tone that balances the protagonist's professional failures with his romantic pursuits. Readers likely find the inclusion of the zoo environment to be a distinct element that provides both humor and a grounding force for the protagonist's internal monologue. The work appears to lean into the conventions of the coming-of-age genre, emphasizing the small, significant moments that define a summer of transition.