Summary

Louise is a young woman living in New York City, making her living through several part time jobs: a barista, a writer, and an SAT tutor. Her parents urge her to move back to New Hampshire frequently, but she ignores them. Louise, ten days prior to the novel’s opening, has befriended the glamorous and adventurous Lavinia, who takes Louise to parties and supplies her with fancy clothes and makeup. Lavinia dresses up Louise in a vintage gown in anticipation of heading to a New Year’s Eve party.

In an ordinary day, Louise deals with money woes brought on by her unsustainable work life, a catcaller on her route outside, and crippling self-doubt. She drinks heavily at night to forget her sorrows, and is implied to be formerly or currently suffering from bulimia. She had once dreamed of being a writer, but now...