Nellie Andersen drives to the local swimming hole, where a crowd of teenagers has gathered to party. She is irritated to see that Jane Swift, another teenage girl, is there and dancing in the crowd. Jane has recently moved to town with her family even though the school year is about to end. Nellie resents Jane for being pretty and charismatic.

Nellie is aware that no one genuinely likes her, but since her family is wealthy and influential, “people basically have to be friends with [her]” (5). Nellie is also perplexed that Jane is rapidly making friends and becoming popular, since her family is not wealthy. They live on an isolated farm, and her father works as a furniture maker.

Nellie notices that her boyfriend, Dustin, seems intrigued by Jane. Nellie doesn’t like Dustin very much, but the two of them maintain the relationship because it benefits both of their social statuses.

In her beautiful and expensive home, Nellie’s mother Charleigh waits for her friend Jackson to arrive. Jackson is an interior decorator and is going to help Charleigh set up for a party she is throwing later that day. Charleigh is anxious and irritated about the party because she doesn’t like most of the guests who will be attending, but knows that her reputation and social status rest on maintaining friendships with the other wealthy women in town.

Charleigh grew up poor but married Nellie’s father, Alexander Andersen, who is handsome and rich. She and Alexander remain deeply attracted to one another, but Charleigh is sometimes frustrated that her husband doesn’t appreciate how hard she works to maintain social appearances.

Jane reflects on how being pleasant and good-natured allows her to easily win people over. Before moving to Longview—the small Texas town where Jane and Nellie both live—Jane’s family lived in Dallas. Jane was happy to leave the crowded city behind, although she thinks longingly about someone named Luke, whom she left behind there.

Jane contemplates her family dynamics: She lives with her parents and her two sisters, Julia and Molly. Jane adores her father but is resentful of her mother. Jane is irritated with her mother’s traditional values and reflects, “I don’t want to be anything like her when I’m older” (16).

As Charleigh continues to wait for Jackson, she thinks back to a recent conversation with Nellie. Nellie came home in tears and complained about Jane. Charleigh reassured her daughter, “whoever this little Jane bitch is, I’ll take care of her” (19).

When Jackson arrives at the house, Nellie watches disdainfully as he interacts with her mother. Nellie judges Charleigh for flirting shamelessly with him.

Nellie thinks unhappily about the social dynamics amongst the teens in the town. Blair Chambers is the most popular girl in the town. Nellie and Blair were good friends when they were very young, but Blair ended the friendship. A few months later, at a birthday party, Nellie pushed Blair down some steps; the latter broke her leg. Charleigh defended Nellie against accusations from Blair’s mothers, which taught Nellie that Charleigh will always side with her. Nellie relies on her mother’s meddling to ensure she isn’t excluded, although she also knows that none of the other teens like her. Nellie feels disdain and disgust towards her mother, even as she relies on Charleigh to ensure her popularity.

Jackson drives away from the Andersen house, feeling mixed emotions. He likes and trusts Charleigh, as she is the only person who knows that he is gay. However, he is sometimes frustrated by how possessive and demanding she can be. He finds it irritating when Charleigh complains despite her many privileges. Jackson also thinks that Charleigh spoils Nellie and is raising her to be entitled and arrogant.

Jackson thinks about the trust and vulnerability that he and Charleigh share: She has shown him the impoverished neighborhood where she grew up, and he muses that they share a close bond because they both fear rejection.

The unnamed narrator watches the body in the lake, which has still not sunk out of view. The narrator feels increasingly alarmed, since “it’s not like I thought any of this through beforehand […] I just snapped” (31).

The gathering at Charleigh’s home has concluded; it is now late at night, and the guests have left. As she waits for her husband to come home, she thinks about their relationship with satisfaction. She and Alexander have had strong chemistry since they met as college students and continue to have an active sex life.

Her thoughts drift to the party earlier that evening. Charleigh took advantage of having a group of women gathered in her home to ask them about the Swift family (Jane’s family). Some of the women commented on Jane’s father being extremely attractive, while others talked about Jane’s mother, Abigail Swift, making “love potions” and homemade concoctions for weight loss.

Blair’s mother, Monica Chambers, commented with satisfaction on Blair befriending Jane. The relationship between Monica and Charleigh is tense, just as it is between their daughters. Decades earlier, Monica bullied Charleigh during middle school and high school. Charleigh learned that the Swifts live on an isolated farm on Seven Pines Road.

As Jane completes chores on her family’s homestead, she thinks back to an argument with her sister Julia the previous night. Jane was in a good mood after enjoying her time at the swimming hole, and mentioned that Julia should come with her sometime. Julia responded with cruelty, telling her sister, “[Y]ou just look slutty. And desperate” (40).

Jane thinks with sadness about how her relationship with her sister has become strained for unexplained reasons; she also thinks longingly about Luke. Jane has never minded that her family moves frequently, but she is sad that she has been parted from Luke. Jane thinks about Luke’s promise to take her to New York someday, and plans to call him from a payphone at the local gas station.

Nellie reflects on how she has always felt different from her peers. She has a history of displaying cruelty to other children, but her mother has always protected her from any consequences. Nellie feels much closer to her father but wonders resentfully if she has inherited her dark and manipulative tendencies from her mother.

Jane continues to daydream about Luke. Her 18th birthday is a few weeks away, and she hopes Luke will take the opportunity to visit her. Jane admires Luke’s interest in poetry and literature; despite being homeschooled, Jane’s father has always encouraged her to read widely.

Jane has dreams of seeing the world and potentially being a songwriter or musician. She knows that Julia also has ambitions and would like to attend college and become a teacher. Jane thinks regretfully about the loss of closeness between herself and her sister. She keeps her romantic relationship with Luke a secret from her family.

Charleigh drives towards the Swift homestead. Driving through the impoverished and rural area where she grew up brings back unwelcome memories. Charleigh grew up with emotionally abusive parents who drank heavily and neglected her. Once Charleigh married Alexander and began a new, privileged life, she lost touch with her family. They also did not bond with their granddaughter when Nellie was born.

When Charleigh arrives at the farm, there is no one around. She notes that, while simple, the property is well-maintained and inviting. Charleigh wanders into one of the outbuildings, which Abigail uses to sell her tonics and potions. Charleigh is surprised to find Abigail warm and cheerful; Charleigh doesn’t understand how the latter can be seemingly satisfied with such a modest and rustic life.

Abigail gives Charleigh a tour of the farm and talks about how much she enjoys being a wife and mother, which irritates Charleigh. Abigail is 36, and Julia, her eldest daughter, is 18. The youngest Swift daughter, Molly, is only a toddler. When Charleigh brings up having a daughter who is the same age as Jane, Abigail doesn’t recall Jane ever having mentioned Nellie.

Eventually, Abigail’s husband Ethan Swift comes home. Charleigh notices that he is very handsome and becomes even more irritated with Abigail. Abigail hints that it is time for Charleigh to leave, and she departs the farm in confusion, after having mentioned to Ethan that Jackson works as her decorator.

Jane rides her horse to the nearest gas station and convenience store. The teenage boy who works there, Denny, is interested in Julia and frequently asks about her. Jane is happy that there is a boy who is interested in her sister because she is prettier and more popular than Julia, and she knows this exacerbates the tension between them.

Jane phones Luke and mentions the idea of him visiting to celebrate her upcoming birthday. She is particularly excited about this plan because Jane and Luke have never had sex, but she is considering doing so once she turns 18.

As Jane rides home, a car pulls up beside her and then accelerates abruptly, causing her horse to spook. Jane falls.

The narrative from Nellie’s point of view reveals that Nellie was driving on the highway when she caught sight of Jane on her horse. She drove close by to scare her, and then lost interest and accelerated away.

Jackson waits for Charleigh at a local bar; she phoned him eager to gossip about her visit to the Swift farm, and he reluctantly agreed to meet. Jackson sometimes feels frustrated by Charleigh’s demanding and entitled nature.

Jackson reflects on his ambivalence about living in a small town. He grew up in cities and dreamed of starting his own design business. However, despite being from a wealthy family, his mother refused to give him access to any money unless he married. As a small town, Longview allows him to own an affordable home and have access to wealthy clients for his design work. Nonetheless, Jackson dreams of moving to San Francisco, especially since he would like to live somewhere with a gay community and where he would be more likely to meet a partner.

Charleigh arrives and begins avidly gossiping about Abigail Swift. She concludes that she can tell why Nellie hates Jane. Charleigh also mentions that Ethan Swift is extremely handsome, and that he makes custom furniture.

After falling from her horse, Jane’s leg is injured. Since her horse has run off, she begins limping towards home and eventually sees Ethan driving towards her. When he picks her up, Ethan explains that he became alarmed when the horse returned home without Jane.

When Jane arrives home, her mother and sister treat her injuries. Jane complains about not having access to a doctor or being able to drive a car, which leads to an argument between her and Abigail.

Despite her injury, Jane gets ready to attend a party taking place that night. Blair is coming to pick her up. Abigail disapproves of Jane’s outfit and makeup. Blair briefly comes inside to meet Jane’s family, but Jane hurries her out.