The novel begins with Holden narrating from a mental institution in California, reflecting on the events that led him there. At Pencey Prep, he has failed most of his classes and feels disconnected from his peers. After a physical altercation with his roommate, Stradlater, over a date with Jane Gallagher, a girl Holden cares about, he decides to leave Pencey early and go to New York City.

In New York, Holden checks into the Edmont Hotel and begins a series of adventures. He spends his time trying to find companionship and meaning, but his interactions mostly leave him feeling more isolated. He meets various people, including three women in a nightclub, an old classmate named Carl Luce, and a prostitute named Sunny, whom he ultimately just talks to out of loneliness.

Holden sneaks into his family's apartment to visit his younger sister, Phoebe, whom he loves dearly. Phoebe is one of the few people Holden feels he can truly connect with. He reveals to her his fantasy of being "the catcher in the rye," a protector of children who prevents them from falling into the corruption of adulthood. This dream symbolizes Holden's desire to preserve innocence.

Throughout the novel, Holden exhibits signs of deep depression and struggles with the death of his younger brother, Allie, which profoundly affects him. He frequently thinks about death and even contemplates suicide. His mental health deteriorates as he feels increasingly disconnected and misunderstood.

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