Kaliyah is trapped in a life she never wanted, bound by the routines dictated by a husband who clings on to a lifestyle in which she has no place. She finds herself overwhelmed by her family's problems: her sister, who had an abortion at 18 and lost the ability to conceive; her aunt, a victim of domestic violence; and her cousin and best friend, Sammy, who struggles to hide his true sexual identity. Kaliyah's life takes a dramatic turn when she enters a passionate and socially forbidden love affair with pianist Ryan.

Kaliyah's story challenges the status quo by exploring the dilemmas of a woman who discovers the meaning of life and love outside the framework of "legitimate" relationships in a conservative society. The novel also uses the character Sammy, Kaliyah's cousin and friend, to address the inner conflict that members of the LGBTQAI+ experience in a society that rejects their sexual identity.