Alice Macleod attempts to navigate the transition into normalcy while her personal life unravels through a series of sudden, chaotic setbacks. After being abandoned by her boyfriend and dealing with her mother's incarceration, Alice turns to her creative ambitions to cope with her shifting reality. She channels her experiences into a screenplay, hoping to secure a future defined by success and glamour. The narrative follows her through a first-person perspective as she balances the demands of three disparate part-time jobs against her desire for social and financial stability.

This work is characterized by its sharp, observational humor and the distinct, witty voice of its protagonist. The narrative structure effectively balances the protagonist's internal creative aspirations with the external pressures of her daily life. Readers often note the balance between the lighthearted tone and the underlying themes of family instability and economic hardship. The book serves as a grounded look at the awkward transition into adulthood, avoiding overly sentimental tropes in favor of a more pragmatic, cynical perspective on growing up.