Jacob Carlyle has been living his best life as a successful political pundit. His comfortable existence goes into meltdown, however, when right-wing activists go public with a hidden-camera video of Jacob in a hotel room with the married son of an ultra-conservative politician.

Suddenly Jacob is the target of attacks from both ends of the political spectrum, and he retreats to his late grandfather's remote farmhouse to try to sort out the mess he has made of his life.

He finds an ally in childhood friend Benny Stokes, and with Benny's quiet encouragement Jacob finally begins work on his long-delayed novel, although not without distractions from invading wildlife, a hostile barn cat, eccentric contractors, and his evolving feelings for Benny.

Jacob soon discovers that he can't build a future without first coming to grips with the past.