The series follows Tally Youngblood and the futuristic society she lives in.

In Tally’s world, when a person turns 16, they undergo surgery to turn them into a “Pretty”. Those who are too young for the surgery live in Uglyville and cannot wait to get the surgery and move to New Pretty Town.

Tally can’t wait to turn 16 and get the surgery, until she meets Shay, who has other ideas. Shay tells Tally all about David and The Smoke.

Later, Shay leaves for The Smoke, and tries to get Tally to go with her, but she refuses. On her 16th birthday, Tally is taken to Dr. Cable and told she cannot turn Pretty until she goes to The Smoke and finds out what and where it is. She is given a locket to track her location, and begins her mission.

It’s a long adventure, but Tally finally arrives at The Smoke, and finds Shay and David. Tally learns that the people of The Smoke are against the surgery. Later, much to Shay’s dismay, Tally and David find that they have feelings for one another.

Tally learns from David’s parents that the surgery that people undergo causes lesions in the brain that makes them not question authority, and be happy and peaceful. Tally realizes that her world was a cruel place, and her heart now belongs to David and The Smoke. She throws her locket in the fire, which unknowingly gives off a signal and let’s Dr. Cable know where Tally is. The next morning, The Smoke is invaded. Everyone is captured aside from Tally and David.

Tally and David go on a mission to rescue everyone that had been captured. However, Shay had been turned into a Pretty, and David’s father died. David’s mother created a possible cure for the lesions, but doesn’t want to kidnap a random pretty and experiment on them. Shay also refuses and says she likes being a Pretty. Later, Shay leaves for The Smoke, and tries to get Tally to go with her, but she refuses. On her 16th birthday, Tally is taken to Dr. Cable and told she cannot turn Pretty until she goes to The Smoke and finds out what and where it is. She is given a locket to track her location, and begins her mission.

Tally volunteers to go back to New Pretty Town and turn herself in to get the surgery. She plans to escape the town again and take David’s mother’s cure.