Alexia Colin is a teenager whose mother struggles with mental problems. Alexia's father left when she was five years old. Alexia strives to support and care for her mother and attend college.
Jessica Colin is a nurse who was attacked at work, resulting in her clinical depression. Alexia's mother continues to experience hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. Jessica believes that she has seen dinosaurs and a dead aunt in her room; she won't open the curtains and refuses to eat.
Jessica makes an effort to dress and leave her bedroom on a Sunday when Samantha, a family friend visits. Samantha notices that her friend has basically turned into a skeleton, sinking deep into depression. She suggests that Jessica make an appointment with her doctor and offers to go with her, which Jessica agrees to.
On seeing the doctor, she is prescribed medication and encouraged to attend Group Therapy. Alexia is concerned that her mother won't attend the Group Therapy. To make that sure she does, Alexia strikes a deal with her mother that she will go with her. Her mother isn't happy about this, but aware that Alexia wants her to get well she agrees.
The Group Therapy takes place in the back room of a hospital building in the North East. The therapist, Christine, manages her bipolar disorder with medication, is addicted to baking cupcakes and loves cats.
While attending Group Therapy, Jessica meets Sophia, a woman whose granddaughter has been murdered, but her killer hasn't been found. Sophia and Jessica become friends, motivating and supporting each other. Five weeks later, on a Friday, Jessica makes the acquaintance of a new member called Todd Walker, who takes an interest in Jessica, constantly looking at her.
Alexia isn't pleased that Todd keeps looking at her mother, but then she notices that her mother is also fascinated with Todd, staring at him. However, before Alexia has a chance to warn him off, the Group is distracted by a ghost at the back of the room, whom Sophia believes is the vision of her granddaughter.
On the day of seeing the ghost, Alexia mentions to the Group that she has never tasted olives on pizza. Sophia invites Jessica and Alexia to a pizza restaurant, where Alexia meets and falls for Sophia's handsome grandson Justin, who is highly talented at designing computer games.
Since her mother's depression, Alexia has found comfort in a book she discovered on a website, Seeking Angels. Alexia has never had time for nights out with friends or had a boyfriend; her time has been divided between college and ensuring her mother takes her medication to prevent relapses. However, just when Jessica is getting back on her feet, and Alexia planning her own future, her dad returns, wounded and vulnerable, two weeks before Alexia's eighteenth birthday. Her mother finds it difficult to turf him out and Alexia is left with unanswered questions.
Justin, who is now romantically involved with Alexia, offers to take her to the Lake District in search of the elusive author of Seeking Angels, Helena Vanessa Amadeo.
