Alice Harvey, a 28-year-old assistant book editor and aspiring writer, finds herself embroiled in the complexities of her past as she handles the re-release of Milan Daneker's Waking Eyes. Having grown up under the shadow of her ambitious father, a successful literary agent who often overpowers her mother, Alice's journey begins at the age of 13 when she first met Milan at her parent's party. In a moment of desperation during her teenage years, she reached out to Milan for assistance with a writing project. This seemingly innocent connection escalates when Milan begins to visit her at home, leading to an unexpected and troubling romantic entanglement that leaves a lasting impact on Alice.
As the story unfolds, Alice is pushed by her boss, Jack, to reconnect with Milan, which triggers a cascade of painful memories. During her 29th birthday surprise party thrown by her best friend, Sadie, she encounters Emmett Grant, a passionate political activist, and they begin a relationship. However, the pressure of promoting Milan's book takes a toll on Alice. She becomes increasingly distracted from her writing pursuits and ultimately drops out of her class after being told to consider stepping back. In her quest to get Jack's attention for a manuscript by author Karen Malone, her father, despite her pleas, intervenes, unknowingly causing further turmoil in Alice's life. When Alice witnesses a closed-door meeting between her father, Jack, and Karen, she feels betrayed and enraged, leading her to an important decision as she walks out.
Struggling with her emotions, Alice seeks refuge at Sadie's place, only to find herself caught in an unexpected encounter with her babysitter, Keith, resulting in a brief and regretful fling. Heartbroken and feeling guilty, Alice neglects Emmett's calls and grapples with her choices as she watches an interview with Milan where his controversial past is highlighted. During their interactions, it becomes alarmingly clear that Milan has not only exploited her but has also appropriated her writing. Heartache deepens as she confesses her indiscretion to Emmett, resulting in heartache as he decides to walk away from their relationship.
Amidst the turmoil, an inadvertent encounter with a stranger leads Alice to ponder her self-worth and the need for validation. As she struggles to make sense of her feelings, Alice reaches out to Emmett, expressing her insecurities and the intensity of wanting to be desired. Despite the difficulties in their relationship, they share a moment of connection which becomes a pivotal point for Alice. Meanwhile, Alice takes steps to address her personal issues, aiming to rebuild her friendship with Sadie and win Emmett back, leading her to pen a heartfelt blog post detailing 100 reasons for him to reconsider their relationship.
The re-release of Waking Eyes looms, and as it hits the shelves, Alice discovers a new dedication that openly addresses her struggles and experiences. Reflecting on a past book signing event where Milan had read sections appropriated from her own life, Alice gathers her courage to confront her mother about her painful history. In a car ride filled with tension, Alice faces the reality of her childhood experience and the denial from her parents that trivializes her trauma.
In the climactic confrontation with Milan, Alice demands accountability for his actions, yet he continues to deny his exploitation. Meanwhile, Emmett stumbles upon Alice's blog post, leading to a softening of his heart toward her. They reunite, not in a crowded re-release party but in quiet intimacy, where Emmett asks if she is the girl in the book, to which she defiantly responds, “not anymore.” Alice's journey illuminates the path of reclaiming her narrative and confronting the ghosts of her past.
