Cate Newhouse is a broke, 22-year-old aspiring writer dealing with a recent breakup, a grueling café job, and a miserable living situation in a rundown shared flat. To escape, she reads articles about her literary idol—the wildly successful and reclusive author Arthur Fletch. Fletch, who lives on a private Scottish island called Skelbrae, is preparing to release his highly anticipated final novel. He’s legendary for his massive fandom and for rumors that he spent half his fortune on a book made of solid gold.

Cate’s luck takes a dramatic turn when her formidable literary agent, Eleanor Vandenberg, who also represents Fletch, forwards her a life-altering email. It’s a personal invitation from Fletch himself, summoning Cate to attend one of his exclusive and legendary literary salons on Skelbrae in just three weeks. Desperate for a career breakthrough, Cate accepts the invitation, taking a leap of faith out of her chaotic daily life and into the world of the literary elite.

Sienna Wood and Malcolm Buchanan, a married writing duo who publish thrillers under the pseudonym Penn Stonely, travel by boat to Skelbrae. Malcolm is seasick but thrilled to be back in his native Scotland, while Sienna contemplates their failing marriage and her private plan to divorce Malcolm, personally and professionally, after the weekend.