Early 1960s: Barbara declines the opportunity to compete for "Miss Blackpool" when she realizes that it would mean spending another year in this sleepy provincial town. Instead, she moves to London, the heart of the emerging pop culture, to become famous. What initially seems hopeless becomes a reality, and she becomes the star of a television series. But what happens when beauty and fame fade over time? Nick Hornby takes the reader into the bustling London of the 1960s, right into the world of struggling gag writers, overworked directors, self-centered actors, and girls dreaming of their big break. A book about grand performances, lifelong friendship, and true love.