Shy is the story of Harry Van. It's 1974, summertime, Long island. Three demanding people are about enter Harry's life and change it for good. "Gunther Fielder" is not his name; he's on the run, from his wealthy Manhattan society life, from a misguided engagement, from a terrible crime. Paula Theale is the best friend Harry Van has ever made, and they've known each other three weeks. Together they're ready to follow their favorite rock star's command. Kevin Killian is writing his first novel. Kevin can't forget the life or death of his great love Mark McAndrew, but when Harry Van comes into his life he gets shyer and shyer by the minute. These hungry people converge from difference corners of sexuality during one explosive summer. Dickensian in scope, Shy take Harry Van from a series of squalid foster homes to the strangest summer of his life. He doesn't know much, but he wants to know love's total expression.