The novel focuses on Molly Bolt, the adopted daughter of a poor family, who possesses remarkable beauty and who is aware of her lesbianism from early childhood.

Molly has her first same-sex sexual relationship in the sixth grade with her girlfriend Leota B. Bisland, and then again in a Florida high school, where she has another sexual relationship with another friend, the school's head cheerleader Carolyn Simpson, who willingly has sex with Molly but rejects the "lesbian" label.

Molly takes a trip home to have her mother Carrie star in her short documentary that will be her final project for her film degree.

However, the book was criticized by psychological theorist David Halperin, who considered its savage ridiculing of butch culture to be heteronormative.

[5] A copy of the novel can be seen on Trish's nightstand in The Slumber Party Massacre, for which author Rita Mae Brown wrote the screenplay.

One of the titular characters of Billie & Emma owns a copy of the book and is seen reading it throughout the film, to the discomfort of her aunt with whom she lives, and discusses with her love interest how it makes her feel less alone.