Adam and Erin Jenkins' marriage is less than four years old, but they treat each other like books they've already read. Adam teaches English at the local community college, and his students' papers have overtaken the apartment, choking out everything else-like kudzu, Erin says. Her job at a magazine has her seeing everything that's new in Western North Carolina, then coming home to tell Adam every tiny detail-like a whirling, ranting dervish, Adam says. Kelsey Dean wasn't prepared for the attention of fans and paparazzi that came with her transition from child actress to proper movie star....

Cal Taylor returns to Asheville, North Carolina, after failing to make it as a Hollywood actor. While house-sitting for the wealthy uncle he idolizes, he begins dating both Jordan Cross-an abuse survivor looking to make a new start-and Rachel Marquez-a fiery Brazilian attorney who works for his uncle. Cal's friends Adam and Paul try to steer him through the messes he creates, but only tragedy will force him to finally grow up.

In an utterly unconventional love story, twenty-three narrators chronicle the relationship of Jeff Long and Dana Tate via 30 anecdotes. Virtually all of these characters are out of place, too traditional for the mid-nineties Asheville setting. Jeff's friends Jacob and Derek could easily be neighborhood pals of Beaver Cleaver, and Dana's boss, Sheryl, is running a barbershop you'd expect to find in Mayberry. Their tales reveal an on-going struggle with progress while forming the puzzle pieces Jeff and Dana will need to finally get together.