Dolly Alderton's memoir, Everything I Know About Love, is a candid and touching exploration of her experiences from adolescence into her thirties. The book starts with Alderton's teenage years in a London suburb, where she navigates the complexities of growing up, exploring themes of friendship, romantic love, and self-discovery.
In her early years, Alderton's perception of romantic love is central to her identity. She experiences a series of first dates, disappointments, and the challenges of blending into new environments, such as a co-ed boarding school and later university.
Her university years are marked by partying and a series of relationships, including her first serious boyfriend, Harry. The end of this relationship triggers a period of personal crisis for Alderton, leading to issues with disordered eating and a fixation on exercise.