The Tender Bar is a memoir about J.R., a prize-winning journalist. The son of an Irish mother and Italian father., JR's father abandoned him physically, emotionally, and financially. The only connection that he has with his father is hearing his voice on the radio. JR's mother works long hours determined to make ends meet, in hopes of moving out of their grandparents' home. Every now and then the mother does succeed in becoming financially stable enough to move them out of the family home. However, financial crisies always send them back to the dysfunctional family home. After the mother moved to Arizona, and JR move back to Massachusetts for the sSummer, JR develops an even stronger relationship with his uncle Charlie and his friends. They mainly hang out at the bar named "Dickens". Now coming of age, JR is exposed to many different experiences, and he's also taught many lessons accompanying his friends. He soon develops a relationship with a bar. JR is also constantly in a battle with his self. He's mainly just trying to establish an identity, who he wants to be, and also the person that he's becoming.