The protagonist, Lolita Cassard, lacks confidence because she doesn't look like the women that fill the pages of fashion magazines. Her father, tienne Cassard, is a respected novelist, but rarely considers the feelings of others, only thinking of himself and worrying about aging. Pierre Millet, a younger writer, doubts he will ever be successful. Meanwhile, Sylvia Millet, a singing teacher, believes in her husband's talent, but doubts her own and that of her student, Lolita. However, when Sylvia discovers that Lolita is the daughter of tienne, an author that she admires, this raises the possibility of introducing her husband to tienne.
