In this novel, A Water Lily Blooms, Andie enters college with high hopes, but once there she begins to suffer the anxieties of homesickness, a blistering schedule, constant disagreements with her mother, and the uncertainty of a possible stage career. Meanwhile, several romances awaken her pent-up sexuality and even the lure of becoming a member of New York High Society. Elation and tragedy both shape Andie as she becomes an adult with a singular purpose by the end of the novel.