Rob is the owner of a semi-failing record store where he sells his favorite obcession: pop music. Did he listen to pop music because he was sad, or was he sad because he listened to pop music? This is a question he tries to answer throughout the entire novel. His girlfriend Laura has just left him and moved out of their flat in Harroway, a suburb of London. He seeks the comfort of his employees, Barry and Dick. He also meets a new love interest in his life, Marie de Salle, an American who moves from Texas to London. He finds out from Laura's friend Liz that she is living with his former next door neighbor Ian/Ray. Rob also goes through his top five list of all time worst breakups and seeks the women who rejected him for their words of wisdom. In reality, it was not he who had the problem, but the women.

In the end, he and Laura get back together after Laura's father dies. He, after the prodding of Laura, also begins to DJ again, which is when he has been the happiest in his life. He also asks Laura to marry him.

Interesting sub plots: Barry becomes the lead singer of a a garage band, who has been named "Barrytown" (no connection to Barry whatsoever), "Sonic Death Monkey" and "Backbeat". They are on the verge of being "The Futurists". Dick also finds love, with Anna.