Gilbert organizes her memoir Eat Pray Love on the pattern of 108 beads in the japa malas used by Hindus and Buddhists during meditation: one bead for each repetition of a mantra. The book has 108 chapters, divided into three groups of 36, one group for each country she visits: Italy, India, and Indonesia. She chooses three because she believes it represents supreme balance, and the book is about her efforts to find balance. The 109th bead, which dangles outside the circle, reminds the devotee to thank her teachers. Gilbert especially thanks the guru whose ashram she visited in India. The names of those who joined her in India have been changed for sake of anonymity, except for Richard.

Giovanni lives in Italy with his mother. He posts fliers in an Internet café seeking a native speaker of English for language practice. Liz, mid-30s, with a failed marriage, a difficult divorce, and an unhealthy post-marriage affair, responds to the flier. She has taken a vow of celibacy for the year. So, no matter how much she wants Giovanni to kiss her, they only eat and talk. After a few weeks of conversation, he walks her home and gives her a hug instead of just shaking her hand.