Grace Winter, a young woman on trial for murder, recounts the tale of how she survived a shipwreck at sea in a lifeboat that initially carried too many people.

Estranged from her family, Franny returns home when an accident leaves her brother comatose. Retracing his life as an aspiring musician, she tracks down his favorite musician, James Forester. Against the backdrop of Brooklyn’s music scene, Franny and James develop an unexpected relationship and face the realities of their lives.