After a single sexual encounter leads to an unplanned pregnancy, Rosamund Stacey must navigate the rigid social expectations of 1960s London while asserting her autonomy as a single mother. Rosamund is a young, intellectually capable woman who masks her lack of worldly experience with a facade of self-sufficiency. When she discovers she is pregnant, she rejects the conventional pressures of her era, choosing to raise her child alone despite the prevailing stigma surrounding unwed motherhood. The narrative, presented through a reflective first-person perspective, examines the friction between her private resolve and the public scrutiny of a society undergoing rapid cultural shifts.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the novel's unsentimental approach to the complexities of single parenthood during a transformative decade. Discussion often centers on the protagonist's internal growth and her ability to reconcile personal ambition with the demands of raising a child in a judgmental environment. Many observers note the effectiveness of the author's restrained prose in capturing the specific atmosphere of London in the Swinging Sixties. The work is often cited for its honest portrayal of the isolation and resilience required to defy social norms, making it a significant study of female independence.