The novel is narrated in first person by Logn, a trans woman living alone in modern Reykjavík. She’s been searching the city’s beaches for a suitable place to end her life due to the despair of waiting six years for bottom surgery. She leaves a letter to her twin brother Trausti, who’s been visiting her around lunchtime, suspecting her intentions. However, an unexpected encounter with a seagull changes her mind.
The story delves into Logn’s life, from her birth, four hours after Trausti, to her childhood, where she felt comfortable in girl’s clothing but tried to live as a boy and later a man, including marriage and having a son. She delayed accepting her true self to fit in and protect her family but eventually embraced her identity as a woman.
Many in Logn’s family have distanced themselves from her, and her former wife feels betrayed. Her relationship with her son is strained, and she longs to be asked to babysit her grandchild, but that opportunity has yet to come.
Logn reconnects with an old classmate, Auður, who initially wants to interview her as the oldest trans woman waiting for surgery in Iceland. Their meetings lead to Auður proposing a book about Logn’s life, which doesn’t sit well with Logn’s ex-wife and some family members. However, the writing stalls, with Auður calling Logn “one of the most ordinary people” she’s met.
Throughout the book, Logn’s loneliness and sadness are palpable. She remembers her sisters turning against her and interfering with her relationship with her mother. She interacts with neighbors, including the housing association chairman obsessed with seagull problems and a friendly neighbor from Thailand named Amara.
Logn receives a box of old photos from her ex-wife, triggering memories of her struggle with her identity, including a trip to England before transitioning. Most of her life was spent in hiding and shame, leading to regret.
Logn also reflects on her mother leaving her alcoholic father and recalls her father’s funeral. A housing association meeting revolves around seagull issues. Trausti’s visits demonstrate his concern for Logn, who continues her search for a suitable place to end her life, but encounters middle-aged women involved in sea-swimming, complicating her plans.
Logn remembers her close friend Hafalda, another trans woman who faced more hostility and ultimately took her own life. Logn’s routine includes buying sunglasses, recalling a failed experience with a dating site for trans people, going for drives with Auður, visiting her grandparents’ graves, and trying to remember her dreams.
A glimmer of hope appears when Logn receives a call from the hospital, scheduling her for bottom surgery. She’s elated but then devastated when the surgery is indefinitely postponed. Trausti provides support, and Logn shares a lunar eclipse viewing with Auður. Her son visits on her birthday, leading to a brief conversation.
Logn learns a surprising truth from her mother about her birth, discovering she was actually a triplet, with the third sister stillborn. Her mother’s revelation sheds new light on Logn’s struggles and identity.
At the end, Trausti offers to fund Logn’s trip to Thailand for her long-awaited surgery, affirming his commitment to her. Logn prepares to embark on this life-changing journey, eagerly anticipating her surgery, recovery, and a new life as the woman she was always meant to be.