A philandering art dealer tries to give up casual love affairs, seeking only passionate kisses as a substitute. A man recounts his personal history through the things he has stolen from others throughout his life. A couple charts the journey of their five-year relationship backwards, from awkward reunion to lovelorn first encounter. At the heart of the book is a 24-year-old young woman, Bethany Mellmoth, who embarks on a year-long journey of wishful and tentative self-discovery. The dreams of Bethany Mellmoth depicts the random encounters that bring the past bubbling to the surface; the impulsive decisions that irrevocably shape a life; and the endless hesitations and loss of nerve that wickedly complicate it. These funny, surprising, and moving stories are a resounding confirmation of Boyd's powers as one of our most original and compelling storytellers.