Sara Oliver finds herself in many situations she is not prepared for as a sheltered, naïve twenty-something from South Carolina in the 1990s. She was brought up to be perfect under her mother's watchful and cruel eye. Unfortunately, growing up that way has consequences. When the one person who loved her dies, she is left to figure out how to manage life without them. The men in her life teach her how exciting and painful life can be for a woman who is inexperienced in both love and relationships. Even 'the one' exposes that she has a lot to learn. Mistakes are made, lines are crossed, and decisions come at a cost. While dealing with an abusive mother, divorce, death, dating, relationships, and sexual desire, Sara becomes more aware of what she doesn't know and what she needs to learn. As she enters her 30s, she realizes she needs to stop trying to live up to everyone else's expectations. To do this, she has to first learn to love herself.