Marcello is a Calabrian boy who dreams of becoming a footballer and lives with his mother, Tereza, of Arbëreshë origin, in the popular neighborhood called "Aranceto". During the imminent period of the 1990s World Cup, he meets Andrea Viscomi, a late career footballer, captain of the local football team, U.S.Collidoro. Their lives are intertwined. The friendship with the footballer rekindles in the boy the desire for a father figure that he has never had and in the footballer a forgotten carefree time, which has been lost above all due to his involvement in match-fixing. The coming-of-age novel of Marcello crosses the descending parable of Andrea's career, in the sign of a friendship necessary for both.
Four best friends take their book club to Italy for the fun girls' trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.