Five 18/19 year-old school leavers have finished their exams and are waiting for the results. Meanwhile they have the summer to fill. Four of them are in a band, which is asked by a wealthy entrepreneur to play at a celebrity wedding in Italy. It sounds too good to be true, and although they (and their parents) have misgivings, they're conceited enough to believe the invitation is genuine and hey, it's a free holiday in the sun, so the four plus a friend accept.
They arrive at the host's remote villa after a grueling journey to find that it's deserted. There's no wifi and no phone signal, and they have no transport, so they're cut off. However, there's a note from their host to say he'll join them shortly and so they begin to settle in.
For three days the only other person they see is a deaf cook, who comes each evening to prepare their dinner. While they wait they try to fill the time. They talk about their futures. They argue, fight, make up, and there are romantic realignments. They drink heavily, take drugs, and of course there's sex.
On successive nights three of them experience highly graphic and very disturbing nightmares, which we see are related to their backgrounds, anxieties and fears. By day four there is still no sign of their host or anyone else and they have become extremely restless. The two girls explore, and find that a sophisticated surveillance system is observing everything they do. They are horrified and they all decide to get out, but before they can the villa is raided by the police, who arrest them on drugs charges and swiftly deport them.
Back in England they learn the truth behind what has happened. The wedding they were expecting took place elsewhere, and the music was provided by big-name stars. While at the villa their food was drugged and events, including the police raid, were staged with the aim of provoking stress and encouraging the dreams. Their host claims this was because he's interested in the psychology of young people, but the reader must decide if this was his true motive. As the young people reflect on their experiences we discover more about them, and they learn about themselves and each other, forcing them to reassess who they are and what's important to them.
