They were raised by their father Michael (perpetually in mourning for Caroline) and stepmother Sydelle (who resents them both and often makes Rose feel bad about her weight).

Rose is a thirty-year-old single, successful lawyer who struggles with her weight and who resents her younger sister's beauty and sexual attractiveness and lack of stability.

Maggie, a twenty-eight-year-old who uses her beauty and charming nature to hide the obstacles she faces due to dyslexia and related learning difficulties, resents Rose's academic success and consequent wealth.

Maggie is resentful of only ever holding a series of minimum wage jobs that leave her dependent on the charity of others especially her father and Rose.

Finding shelter in a lower level of the library (with a fully equipped bathroom/shower), Maggie fills her free time doing something that she had avoided her entire life: reading.

Maggie is surprised to find that when reading in her own way at her own pace, she enjoys the activity and even begins to attend a poetry class.

Grandma Ella had previously tried to track the girls via the Internet (only finding information on Rose) is delighted to see Maggie and invites her to stay in her home.