A Tale of Beauty is the story of the relationships between five young women, united in their disappointment with (and, in some cases, hatred of) men as the Ugly Sisterhood: Denise, an aspiring writer whose pragmatism has led her to the relative security of the office cubicle; Chastity, a devout Catholic who has made it her mission to save her brother from what she sees as a dissolute lifestyle; Sue, avenging an ancient heartbreak by returning the favour to as many men as she can; Diana, with unreasonably high standards making it impossible for her to relate to the important people in her life; and Belle, who has brought these women together as Sisters under the pretence that they might help each other to work through their pain.