All families are secret societies. Realms of intrigue and internal warfare, governed by their own rules, regulations, boundaries, frontiers. Rules which often make no sense to those outside its borders. It's autumn in New York and Alice Burns, a young ambitious editor is reading a manuscript. The writer's words hit close to home to conjure ghosts from her past, memories of her childhood, and thoughts of her brother who is serving time in a prison cell.

It's 1961. The Burns family is celebrating yet another disastrous Thanksgiving and a 17 year-old Alice can't take it anymore. After years spent chasing the affections of the people who are supposed to love her unconditionally, Alice is beginning to realise that, though you can't choose your family, you can choose your future, and Alice sees her future far away from her dysfunctional family and the doldrums of small-town life. As she embarks on a journey that will take her through college, heartbreak, and self-discovery, Alice must learn to stand on her own two feet in the great wide open... But no matter how much distance she covers, the past is never far behind. And after years of running, Alice must stand and face the truth. Because sometimes, to move forward, we have to go back...