The narrative follows a young woman who travels to Florence, takes up residence in a villa, and becomes part of a modern trio with two friends. Their days are filled with social engagements, picnics, music, and local acquaintances, including a cultivated visitor and a charismatic newcomer, while shifting attachments and a disclosed secret test friendships. Episodes of humor, romance, and tension culminate in a country wedding and an eventual return home. The book emphasizes atmosphere, personal growth, and the pleasures and complications of expatriate social life.