Ayesha Shamsi's dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, has rejected many marriage proposals. Then Ayesha meets Khalid, who is smart and handsome but also conservative and judgmental. When a surprise engagement is announced between Khalid and Hafsa, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about Khalid and the unsettling gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumors, she finds she has to deal with not only what she discovers about Khalid, but also the truth she realizes about herself.