In 1991, four childhood friends reunite in their hometown of Shelby, Indiana. Samantha Albertson, a science-fiction writer, narrates the story. As an adolescent, Samantha was considered the "weird" girl who liked performing seances and was interested in science fiction and the supernatural. Roberta Martin, a doctor, was a tough tomboy whose mother died when she was four years old. Chrissy DeWitt, who lives in her childhood home, is married and about to give birth to her first child. As a naïve youngster, she was overly sheltered by her mother. Tina "Teeny" Tercell is a successful Hollywood actress; as a child, she had always dreamed of fame. Teeny and Samantha have not visited their hometown in ten years.