Having just been dumped by her boyfriend after graduation, Aura (Lena Dunham) returns to her mother's loft in TriBeCa for the summer. Her intention is to save up money until her friend Frankie can finish her degree at Oberlin College and join her in the city as roommates. Aura's mother, Siri, is a successful photographer known for her unique style of capturing scenes with tiny furniture, assisted by her teenage daughter Nadine and her supportive assistant, Candice. While Siri initially welcomes Aura's return, Nadine's attitude towards her runs a bit condescending. As Aura settles back into her old room, she finds herself confronted with Nadine's demands, beginning with a request to replace a lightbulb. In the process of finding a bulb, Aura discovers her mother's journals from her youth and starts to read them in secret, piquing her curiosity.
After settling in, Aura attends a party where she runs into Jed, a filmmaker trying to make it big on YouTube, and reconnects with her childhood friend Charlotte (Jemima Kirke), who is on the path to recovery from substance abuse. That night, Aura and Charlotte smoke marijuana together at Charlotte's apartment, where Charlotte helps Aura find a job as a reservationist at a restaurant, earning $11 an hour but without tips. However, Aura's excitement about her new job soon diminishes when she learns that Nadine has received a prestigious poetry award, leading to feelings of anxiety and resentment towards her sister's close relationship with their mother.
As Aura navigates her feelings of inadequacy, she spends more time with Jed, who is currently couch surfing while seeking a TV development deal. Additionally, she flirts with Keith (David Call), a junior chef at the restaurant. With Siri and Nadine away for a week visiting colleges, Aura invites Jed to stay over. The two soon find out that Aura's pet hamster, Gilda, has passed away, and they temporarily store her in the freezer until Aura can say a proper goodbye. However, as they indulge in Siri's wine and convenience meals, their neglect about maintaining the apartment leads to a confrontation with Siri upon her return. Initially dishonest about the situation, Aura later unleashes her frustrations in a fit of anger in front of her family, but still asks her mother to let Jed stay a while longer, only to eventually kick him out due to his obnoxious behavior.
Meanwhile, Aura's attraction to Keith takes a downturn when she discovers he has a girlfriend and is only interested in her for her friend's prescription drugs. After being stood up by Keith for a planned get-together, Aura acts impulsively and quits her job. Later, Nadine throws a party in their loft while their mother is out, where Aura finds herself overwhelmed by the drunken high schoolers and calls Charlotte for help. To her dismay, Charlotte shows up and participates in the festivities instead of assisting her. Nadine confronts Aura about her immature behavior, admonishing her to grow up. The following morning, when Siri finds the frozen hamster, Aura hastily disposes of it and tells Frankie she can no longer move in with her, concocting a reason that her mother needs her too much.
As Aura grapples with her filmmaking degree and uncertain future, fortune smiles upon her when Charlotte helps her get a video displayed in a gallery. At the exhibit, Charlotte grows frustrated when Frankie interrupts to discuss living arrangements. She encourages Aura to leave Frankie behind to spend time with Keith, who is also present. Following Charlotte's advice, Aura abandons Frankie to hang out with Keith, where they smoke marijuana together on the street. Seizing the moment and driven by spontaneity, Aura makes a bold move on him, leading to a passionate encounter, despite Keith still being in a relationship. The two find themselves seeking privacy in a construction pipe, where they engage in unprotected sex.
Upon returning home, Aura and her mother's relationship grows tense, but she ultimately apologizes. Later, Aura cuddles up to Siri in bed and shares the details of her night with Keith. With surprising calmness, Siri learns that Aura has read her diaries, and instead of reacting negatively, she uses the opportunity to bond with her daughter, answering Aura's questions about her life and experiences at the same age.
