Cath struggles to survive on her own in her first year of college while avoiding a surly roommate, bonding with a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words, and worrying about her fragile father.

Being consummate fans of the Simon Snow series helped Cath and her twin sister Wren cope as little girls whose mother left them, but now, as they start college but not as roommates, Cath fears she's unready to live without Wren holding her hand--and without her passion for Snow.