Bliss Cavendar, a misfit teenager from a small town in Texas, is constantly pressured by her mother to participate in beauty pageants. Feeling out of place and longing for something more exciting, Bliss discovers the world of roller derby. Struck by its intensity and empowerment, she secretly joins a roller derby team called the Hurl Scouts, adopting the derby name "Babe Ruthless." As she practices and competes, she starts building meaningful relationships with her new teammates while gradually coming into her own.

Bliss must balance her newfound passion with the expectations of her family and the social pressures of her small-town life. She faces challenges both on and off the derby track, forcing her to decide what truly matters to her. The story explores themes of self-discovery, empowerment, and the importance of following one's own path, setting up a journey where Bliss navigates personal dilemmas and external conflicts, ultimately seeking to find her own identity in an unconventional way.