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For Lucy Pilgrim, who craves adventure, modeling is the far-off dream and ticket to freedom out of rural Iowa. From New York and Chicago to Japan and Barcelona, Lucy finds herself navigating the industry and her power as a woman simultaneously, coming into her own and relying on her looks to carve out a place for herself.
The author manages to convey the allure, the glamour, and the loneliness of the modeling industry, showcasing how a career based on looks can be both inviting and alienating. There's the appeal of traveling around the world and looking beautiful. However, there's also the dehumanizing aspect of the model's value being determined by looks, as well as the tenuous relationships. Throughout her career, Lucy struggles with her viability as a model, as well as a partner with the many people she comes to love.
With a last name like Pilgrim, Lucy is bound to set out on a journey, one that happens to be both physical and existential. While much of Lucy's travels are due to work, some of them are tied up in her running away from problems or issues she's unsure of how to face. It starts when Lucy is younger, when she is both praised and derided for her looks and her intelligence, as well as with an uncomfortable encounter with her grandfather. These moments shape Lucy's psyche early on, and she constantly questions where she stands in the world in terms of her relationships to men, in terms of desire, and in terms of self-governance—questions that many women ask themselves as they grow up. This insightful, relatable novel examines a young woman's journey of self-discovery, sexuality, and womanhood.