Either/Or follows a young woman named Selin, who lives and works in the United States. Selin, in fact, is the only person in her family who was born—and thus allowed to live and work—in the United States. But with that privilege comes tremendous responsibility for Selin. She has her dreams and the dreams of her family hanging on her shoulders; she also must balance the world of the United States and her university and the world and culture of her family.
Either/Or is set in 1996 during Selin's sophomore year at the prestigious Harvard University. Selin is under tremendous pressure to succeed; Selin also knows that she has to make her year at Harvard count. But before she can make the most out of her upcoming year at Harvard, Selin must evaluate what has happened to her over her past summer.
She also evaluates the people who live in the countryside—who they are, why they act the way they do, and what they do for a living. Additionally, Selin questions why Ivan's old girlfriend is trying to get in touch with her and what her relation is to Ivan, Hungary, and to Selin herself. Selin asks herself these questions but does so in a way that makes her question her own sanity.
In time, Selin creates answers to those questions for herself. With the help of her friends, classmates, and her literature syllabus, Selin answers those questions and additional questions about parties, alcohol, sex, and international travel. She realizes that some of the aforementioned things are important and other things are not. And ultimately, Selin discovers more about herself, about what she truly believes, her family, and her experience in America.
