Joshua Gladstin wanted nothing more than to be single, all while keeping Beehives Bookstore running in the background. Having promised himself to never fall into darkness over a woman again, he would be satisfied keeping the books while his sage friend, Ms. Debbie, ran the sales desk. But no matter how hard he tries, Joshua finds keeping promises more difficult than they appear.
When Ms. Debbie becomes ill, Joshua is left to man the store alone and face the basic bookworm he has been avoiding. With each encounter, he begins to question not only this mysterious Four-Thirty Girl but also the peculiar life of Ms. Debbie. However, when one mystery turns into two, Joshua discovers that he is not the only one with an unresolved past.