A childhood pact of shared secrets and ambition unravels when one friend's death reveals the true cost of their intertwined lives. Fabienne is dead, and her former best friend, Agnès, living in America, is finally free to tell their story. Raised together in a small French town, their bond was forged in a private world until Fabienne devised a plan that propelled Agnès toward fame, fortune, and profound loss. The narrative framework appears to be Agnès recounting their past, grappling with the consequences of Fabienne's machinations and her own complicity.

The novel has been lauded by critics for its propulsive and entertaining narrative, with the New York Times calling Yiyun Li 'one of our finest living authors.' The Observer describes it as 'sly, profound… electrifying,' and Jon McGregor finds it 'wonderfully strange and alive.' The Daily Mail highlights its 'beguiling' nature, calling it a 'shimmering, unsettling tale of exploitation and manipulation.' Overall, the reception points to a skillfully crafted and thought-provoking exploration of complex relationships and ambition.