At 2:37, someone commits suicide in the school lavatory. The day is told up to that point from the viewpoint of six different students.

When Tess Kelley realizes her daughter Jenny Kelley still isn't over her divorce from musician Rick Meadows, the irresponsible, ever-absent father of her little boy Jesse, and thus fails to make progress with friend and promising potential fiance Miles Healey, she places an ad on her daughter's behalf on a lonely hearts internet website. She then starts an anonymous relationship through the dating service with charming British-born literature professor Peter Campbell, who lives in America. Then Peter comes to meet Jenny in person, but who will end up with whom or stay alone?

With their father away as a chaplain in the Civil War, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy grow up with their mother in somewhat reduced circumstances. They are a close family who inevitably have their squabbles and tragedies. But the bond holds even when, later, male friends start to become a part of the household.