Lorenzo, an introverted and somewhat neurotic fourteen-year-old, chooses to secretly spend his winter sports week in the basement. Shielded from conflict, annoying classmates, and theatrics, he nurtures his solipsistic dream of happiness. While the world, with its incomprehensible rules, remains outside, he lies stretched out on a couch, surrounded by Coca-Cola, cans of tuna, and horror novels. It is Olivia, who unexpectedly invades his refuge with her raw and vulnerable vibrancy, who helps Lorenzo cross the threshold. She allows him to shed his adolescent mask and embrace the chaotic game of life. With this coming-of-age story, Ammaniti adds a poignant perspective to adolescence, in which he excels as a painter of this multifaceted landscape. Olivia, with her fleeting and heartbreaking beauty, enriches the story as an unforgettable female character.