Trías paints a stark picture of a world ravaged by environmental disaster. The toxic air, caused by an algae bloom, forces people indoors, while a corporation profits from the crisis by peddling 'Pink Slime,' a cheap, artificial sustenance. This theme highlights the potential consequences of unchecked industrialization and the commodification of essential resources.

Despite the bleak backdrop, the novel explores the enduring power of human connection. The narrator's relationships with her mother, ex-husband, and the young boy she cares for provide glimmers of warmth and hope in an otherwise desolate landscape. Even in the face of catastrophe, the need for connection and love persists.

As the narrator witnesses the city's decline, she grapples with the decision to stay or escape the decaying environment. This internal struggle forces her to confront her own complicity in the system that perpetuates this dystopian reality. Is it braver to stay and fight for a semblance of normalcy or to seek a potentially better future elsewhere?