When Tobey Heydon wears Brose's class ring, her family insists that it be understood they are not "going steady." This inevitably leads straight into difficulties and misunderstandings. But what Brose likes best about Tobey, better even than her nearly-red hair and her smile, is that she is so honest. A boy appreciates that quality in a girl. So when she tells him she is going to a college dance with another man, he is secretly reassured even while he growls. However, things become more and more complicated until the class ring changes hands...for a while.

Tobey Heydon and Brose Gilman put their special friendship to the test when they chose colleges a thousand miles apart. To make it worse for Tobey, it seems that Brose can't write more than a ten-line letter! Tobey's plans for a happy summer reunion with Brose are dashed when a Texas heiress gets him a summer job on her father's ranch. Will Brose succumb to Jan Shelby, or is his love for Tobey "the real thing?"

When Tobey Heydon got married, her fifteen-year-old sister Midge felt both joyful and sad. She was delighted that her sister was so happy and thrilled with the wedding festivities, but sad that Tobey would be leaving home. The best man, Johnny Randall, a smooth talking older man, catches Midge's eye. Later at Green Lake, Midge finds herself attracted to a good-looking, popular young man. Will she fall for this one or will her friend Tom Brooks help her to see the light?

Midge Heydon's sophomore year in high school does not get off to a good start. Her best friend, Judy, is leaving town and Tom Brooks is two hundred miles away. It isn't until smooth and glamorous Sandra becomes her friend that Midge feels that the winter is going to be anything but dreary. Midge is flattered when Sandra's clique shows an interest in her. Midge wonders if she should abandon her childhood friends to become "one of the crowd."

In her senior year in high school, Marcy's steady date, Steve, departs for his freshman year at college. Marcy and some friends in a similar plight form the "Widow's Club." Many of the girls drop out, but Marcy is determined to stay true to Steve...until jealousy threatens to destroy their relationship. Some sound advice from Marcy's brother, Ken, and some straightforward thinking by Marcy herself help her find a fresh new approach to the year of "widowhood."

Marcy Rhodes thought when she turned seventeen "things would be different." She is suddenly whirled into a delightful summer in which things really do change. A visit to a ranch in Colorado, the thrill of meeting new and interesting boys, and a serious romantic involvement give Marcy a truly different outlook and the ability to make a very important decision...

Sally Burnaby's senior year in high school starts badly, but ends up as exciting as any girl could wish! After arriving home from a wonderful summer vacation, Sally is upset to learn that her best friend, Kate, is going away to boarding school. Then Scotty starts dating a new girl, leaving Sally without a steady date for dances, parties, and football games. Much is happening in the Burnaby family home on Juniper Lane as well - with Mother and Dad, sophomore Jean, grade school Ricky, pigtailed Betsy, and little Jimmy. Among many choices and decision, Sally has to choose new friends, decide ...

It is a big moment in Jean Burrnaby's life when she is asked to join her high school sorority, the Nightingales. For a while sorority life is a dream come true, but Jean discovers joining a sorority isn't quite what she thought it would be. Jean sees both sides of sororities: the heartbreak of being left out and the disillusionment of being "in." She, ultimately, makes a decision that astonishes Sherwood High.

Jean Burnaby's senior year at high school is complicated by a new girl in class named Kim Ballard. Her romantic interest, Jeff, is also getting too serious. The strain of her relationships conflicts with Jean's plans to study the piano. Another great Anne Emery title!

Sally Burnaby looks forward to a carefree, happy summer with nothing to do but be with Scotty. But she soon discovers that the world does not stop for a couple in love. In fact, she finds that sometimes there are disadvantages to going steady.

Pam and Penny's grandmother is marrying Lucius and now they must agree on which college to attend. Pam must also decide what to do about Randy's growing feelings for her. The twins choose Harwood, where Mike is also going and Pam decides to break things off with Randy who is heading east to go to school. At Harwood, Pam meets Cade, who plays the same game of hard-to-get that Pam is used to playing herself. But she also meets Jeff, who doesn't really belong to her crowd, but attracts her nonetheless. At the end, she must decide who is more important to her and also changes her ways as she ...

A summer vacation aboard the Harwood College Showboat was an exciting prospect for Pam and Penny, the twins of Double Feature. To Penny, it meant being with Mike who had a job on the tugboat that pushed the old Regina from town to town along the Ohio River. To Pam it meant a chance to act, and perhaps a leading role in one of the gala showboat performances.

The climax of Marcy's last year in high school was destined to be the Senior Prom. From Christmas vacation on it was a busy and happy time for Marcy. There was her appointment as feature editor of the school paper, her regular chess games with sweet old Mr. Tuttle, and an exciting trip to Washington and New York. Perhaps most notably was the problem of Bruce and Rick. Bruce, with his yellow convertible and his charm, his humor and good looks....Rick, reliable, unselfish, and attractive, but shy and unable to dance...and Senior Prom a few weeks off!

When Pat signs up for summer theater at Northwestern University, Tim is not supportive of her interest in dramatic arts. When Tim disapproves of her plans in theater for fall semester, Pat starts to question their compatibility. Is it necessary to share all the same interests in a relationship? Pat is further confused when her sorority sisters take an interest in Tim. As her year progresses, Pat begins to understand that true love should add something to her rather than take part of her personality away.

Dinny Gordon is a freshman at Rosemont High School. Dinny is hard at work earning money toward a trip to Rome. Although boys are not at the top of her list of interests, Dinny's friendship with a senior boy looks as though it might turn serious. Does a case of measles interfere with romance?