Content Warning: This guide contains discussion of drug abuse, sex, violence, and mental-health stigmatizations.

Tess is the central character and narrator of Sweetbitter. The story follows her coming-of-age story, recounting her first year in New York City. At age 22, Tess leaves behind the boredom of her hometown in search of adventure. She moves to New York City, where she doesn’t know anybody. Tess appreciates the radical anonymity of living in the city. She doesn’t know what she wants from her life; she doesn’t have goals or ambitions, but she does dream of having significant life experiences. Tess takes a step toward discovering a sense of self when she gets a job as a backwaiter at an exclusive restaurant. Tess is at first exhausted and frustrated by the work but learns how to do her job well. She ends up falling in love with her job because it makes her feel like she’s part of a community, something larger than herself. Tess acutely observes the other employees at the restaurant, looking for signs of who she might aspire to be like. Tess makes friends with people who work at the restaurant but soon loses control of the nights as they bleed into one another.