Its been almost two years since Effies beloved parents got divorced, destroying the image of the happy, loving childhood she thought she had. Since then, shes become estranged from her father and embarked on a feud with his hot (and much younger) girlfriend, Krista. And now, more earth-shattering news: Theyve sold Greenoaks, the rambling Victorian country house Effie has always called home.
When Krista decides to throw a grand house-cooling party, Effie is originally left off the guest listand then receives a last-minute anti-invitation (maybe its because she called Krista a gold-digger, but Krista totally deserved it, and it was mostly a joke anyway). Effie declines, but then remembers a beloved childhood treasure is still hidden in the house. Her only chance to retrieve it is to break into Greenoaks while everyone is busy celebrating. As Effie sneaks around the house, hiding under tables and peeping through trapdoors, she realizes the secrets Greenoaks holds arent just in the dusty passageways and hidden attics she grew up exploring. Watching how her sister, brother, and dad behave when they think no one is looking, Effie overhears conversations, makes discoveries, and begins to see her family in a new light. Then she runs into Joethe love of her life, who long ago broke her heart, and whos still as handsome and funny as everand even more truths emerge.
But will Effie act on these revelations? Will she stay hidden or step out into the party and take her place with her family? And truthfully, what did she really come back to Greenoaks for? Over the course of one blowout party, Effie realizes that she must be honest with herself and confront her past before shell ever be able to face her future.
