They include science-fiction author Samantha Albertson, Hollywood actress Tina "Teeny" Tercell, gynecologist Dr. Roberta Martin, and homemaker Chrissy DeWitt, who is pregnant with her first child.

In a flashback to a memorable summer they shared in 1970, twelve-year-old Samantha seeks to raise money to purchase a tree house to place in Chrissy's backyard in their affluent suburban neighborhood, the Gaslight Addition.

Each of the four girls is experiencing her own individual struggles: Samantha's parents are in the midst of a divorce, Teeny is in pursuit of stardom and is boy-crazy, tomboy Roberta is embarrassed by her developing breasts, and Chrissy is naive about sex and life in general due to her mother's overprotectiveness.

During one, a cracked tombstone convinces them they have resurrected the spirit of a young boy identified only as Dear Johnny, who died in 1945.

Samantha finds an obituary that briefly mentions Johnny and his mother tragically dying, but many of the pages are missing, leaving the cause of their deaths a mystery.

They discover old newspapers that reveal Jonathan Sims and his mother, Beverly Anne, were shot and killed when they interrupted a burglary; father and husband, Peter, came home to find their bodies.

However, a groundskeeper emerges from behind, chastising the girls for "playing" in the cemetery and explaining the damaged tombstone is being replaced because he was the one who cracked it.

[11] Alison Macor of The Austin Chronicle wrote the film is "sweet and it's often funny, but ultimately its slice-of-life approach tries too hard to incorporate current events like the Vietnam War.

[12] In a positive review, Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote Now and Then "nicely captures the giddiness, excitement and resistance to adult responsibility that are specific to 12-year-old girls.

"[15] In the years since Now and Then's release, the film has gained a large cult following through home video, repeat airings on cable TV, and as a staple at girls' sleepovers.

Tackling death and grief, along with budding sexuality gave their stories weight when narratives about female adolescence were often surface-level.

[17][7] King would reunite with director Lesli Linka Glatter for Liars, with the latter directing the pilot episode and two season finales.

The novel offers a deeper exploration of the characters' lives, their emotional complexities, and adds scenes not included in the film[20].