Author Xan Alexander likes stoking the mouthy, headstrong reputation of her pen name, XZA. Behind closed doors, her shallow affairs avoid recreating the family tragedy that crushed her as a child. Her chemistry with charming book reviewer Michael wins him a second chance, but rules are easier broken than bent. After ten years, Xan's hard-boiled independence could cost her the kind of love most people dream about, or she can face the pain that haunts her and draft the future she never thought she wanted. College student Jessie Taylor wanders through life with no job, no end to her English classes, and no direction. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend, Dick, just makes things worse. When Jessie welcomes an old friend back with open arms, Dick puts her down along with the XZA novels she encourages Jessie to read. As the two people she's closest to fight for her loyalty, Jessie has to decide if her only romantic prospect is worth her best friendship or if it's time to break free to forge her own path.