Life isn't an exact science. Things can be troublesome, like pregnant stepmothers, the ins and outs of French existentialism, or having an unexceptional name. In 1988, seventeen-year-old Sue Bowl has a diary, big dreams, and a weight of 4.73. What she wants most of all is to make it as a writer and stop her decadent aunt Coral from spending money she doesn't have. Living in their crumbling ancestral home should provide plenty of inspiration, but between falling in love, hunting for missing heirlooms, and internship applications, things keep getting in the way. So when a young literary professor moves in and catches Sue's eye, life begins to take an unexpected turn. From the author of Campari for Breakfast, a witty and enchanting novel about what happens after you think you've grown up and fallen in love, perfect for fans of I Capture the Castle, Love, Nina, and Where'd You Go, Bernadette.