Alice Buckle finds her mundane existence upended when she begins an anonymous, soul-baring correspondence with a researcher known only as Researcher 101. Alice, a woman navigating the quiet desperation of a stagnant marriage and a lackluster career, uses the marital happiness survey as a conduit for her deepest frustrations and secret desires. As the digital intimacy between her and the researcher intensifies, she is forced to confront the widening chasm between her curated public persona and her internal reality. The narrative employs a blend of traditional prose and epistolary elements, utilizing the survey responses to track Alice's psychological unraveling and eventual awakening.

This novel is often characterized as a witty and poignant examination of the modern domestic experience. Readers frequently note the effectiveness of the epistolary format in capturing the protagonist's growing sense of isolation and longing. The narrative is observed to balance humor with a serious inquiry into the compromises inherent in long-term relationships. It is widely regarded as a relatable look at the mid-life crisis, focusing on the tension between the life one has and the life one imagines.