Words come easily to Jersey City girl Elsie Farrell: she won a scholarship to study English at Britain's Manchester University. But she isn't sure she can read men although it's 1973 and she wants to be a liberated woman. So when Alec Wilder, a charming rock guitarist, chats her up at the pub, Elsie assumes his intentions are dishonorable.

Still, Elsie can't ignore Alec's crooked smile or the way he makes her feel. Despite her misgivings, Elsie dodges her puritanical landlady to go out with Alec. In a journey that takes them from academic symposia to lavish parties, from swanky hotels to humble cottages, Elsie gets to know the man behind the riffs.

But when Alec's band goes on tour, Elsie wonders if his womanizing past is really behind him. Elsie's always been better at research than confrontation, but she must decide whether she can confront Alec about the rumors she's heard. Then she must ask herself if loving a rock star is worth the heartbreak.