In 1942 San Francisco, war has touched every part of the Mulligans' lives. With their brother killed at Pearl Harbor, their father recovering from tuberculosis, and their eldest sister a nurse in the Army, those at home are left to keep on, wondering if it's possible to thrive...or only to survive.

Pragmatic Margaret struggles with the gap between the dreams she'd always fostered of married life and the reality of having a husband an ocean away--combined with the concerns for the family store in uncertain times. Colleen has always been considered the superficial sister, but when a chance at her dream of Hollywood makes her second-guess her hopes and tragedy shakes her to her core, her family sees a side of her they never expected. Molly, always the hopeful one, dedicates herself fully to the war effort at home--but can all the optimism in the world guard her against harsh reality? Who can she talk to when troubles come?

Each of the Mulligan sisters must do her part to keep the family going--and each must find her own new place as the world shifts under their feet and time goes by.