It starred: Lucy Appleton as Rosalba; Josephine Feit as Lulu/Elsa/Ligeia; Alice Gold as Olimpia/Janet/Sappho; Tizane McEvoy as Cleo/Miss Chimbley/Leucosia; Kaela O’Connor as Zoë/Olga/Partenope; Emily Peace as Rory, and Theodore Yannopoulos as Daffodil/Attikos/Captain Wheeler/Carmine/the Marshall.

After a brief romance with Lulu de Randan, the daughter of a Countess, Rosalba returns to Sirene for the season with her English lover, Aurora "Rory" Freemantle.

Rosalba is not inclined to be faithful to Rory, and sets into motion a series of emotional and romantic affairs with other visitors to the island, including Cleo Gazay, a pianist; Janet Royale, an American heiress; and finally Olimpia Leigh, an opera singer.

In a planned romantic gesture, Rory throws a party for the entire island once the villa is properly renovated and ready for occupation.

After the disastrous party, Rory is unable to forgive Rosalba and refuses to travel with her back to Europe, instead staying at the villa on Sirene alone.

Rory remains solidly English throughout the novel, often acting out various stereotypes, while addressing questions about the inherent quality of belonging to a country of origin.