In the series premiere of this drama about an ambitious reporter who won't give up on her dreams, April gets a chance to impress her boss and her office romance begins to prosper, and then she receives unexpected news: She's been diagnosed with cancer.
April hides her diagnosis and focuses on work, which includes profiling a gubernatorial candidate. Meanwhile, Sara finds success with online dating, but she faces a tough parenting situation; and April uncovers something shocking about her own family.
Dominic's playboy reputation is revealed to April, causing her to have doubts about their romance. Meanwhile, Ben meets Sara's family during an uncomfortable dinner; and April finds an unexpected confidant in a guy who makes so-called miracle juice.
April finds it harder to juggle the increasing severity of her symptoms with her obligations at work and her attempts to be a supportive daughter and sister. After missing an important appointment, George urges April to get her priorities straight. April also learns more about Leo Hendrie, but Leo jumps to conclusions about April's motives. Meanwhile, much to her own surprise, Brenna bonds with Greer, a popular girl at school.
April and Dominic share family secrets with one another when they visit a psychic. George has a official diagnosis for April, whilst Sara feels she is been ignored.
April goes on a joyride with Leo before starting her treatment, and manages to gain insight into his recklessness and the severity of his illness.
April sees a fertility doctor to learn about her options prior to starting chemotherapy and looks to her cancer support group for advice on how to tell Dominic about her leukemia. She gets Leo's blessing to write a piece that paints Bruce Hendrie in an unflattering light and wins some hard-earned recognition at work. Meanwhile, George makes an effort to help Sara cope with her emotions and the pressure of caring for April, and Dominic gets a surprising offer which could change everything.
When a friend and fellow member of her support group faces a worsening prognosis, April begins to think more about passing and her own mortality. She blows off a nightmare assignment to play hooky from work with Beth and other members of the support group and learns something surprisingly endearing about Leo. Meanwhile, Brenna travels to Miami on a school trip and uses the opportunity to meet Natalie with Greer's help.
With only a few days left before April has to check herself into the hospital for aggressive chemotherapy, April is determined to live as normal a life as ever. But as she has to deal with Leo drama, Beth falling apart, and trying to live under the hovering eye of Sarah, April quickly learns that nothing will ever be "normal" for her. Meanwhile, Brenna tries to juggle time with Kieran and Greer.
April begins her battle and month-long hospital stay with mixed emotions. Her resolve to fight starts to wane as her treatments take a toll. Not sure she can be cooped up in the hospital for much longer, April begins to panic. With her family by her side, April makes a surprising outreach to someone who may be the only person who can help her. Meanwhile, Dominic returns to a much different April than when he left.
April's grandparents stir up trouble when they pay a visit, and the Carvers celebrate an early family Christmas. The full contents of Leo's cryptic voicemail are revealed, leading April and Leo to rethink their last goodbye. In an attempt to help her friend cope with the effects of chemo, Beth helps April with a makeover, or two.
After leaving Leo flat-lining at the end of the Christmas episode, April must deal with the outcome of the surgery. Facing her new reality, she must also face her first day back at work after being gone for four months. In remission and determined to move on with her life, her return reveals a new, young and ambitious boss at the paper who is ready to shake things up. But April's attempt to make a good impression may fall short when she botches her first assignment.
Meanwhile with an ideal marrow donor still to be found, Sara realizes it's time to reach out to the "other woman", Natalie's mother. Brenna eagerly anticipates Greer's return to school, but will she get the happy reunion she's been waiting for?
Natalie finds out she is a half-match for April; but upon learning what the donation entails, she reconsiders going through with the procedure. Sara's attempts to change her mind only to bring up bitterness over the past. April has to re-earn her boss's trust after screwing up her last interview and reluctantly accepts a soft news assignment to help regain the paper's female readership.
Meanwhile, Brenna spends a surprising night out with Natalie, and Beth's relationship with Graham puts her in an awkward position with Dominic.
While April and Leo try chart new relationship waters, April and Dominic spend an incredibly awkward night together covering the same event for the newspaper, and it's clear that the pain of their breakup is still very fresh. With Dominic's heart on his sleeve and not knowing where she stands with Leo, will April be more confused than ever on what to do about either guy? Meanwhile, Natalie and George have some unexpected news for the Carvers.
April starts to regret becoming such a homebody, especially when she learns Beth has been partying without her. When Beth hosts a house party, April lets loose - a little too loose - which leads to a major blowout with her friend. The new school year finds Brenna feeling alone and bullied, but an old friend proposes a truce to take down a common enemy. Meanwhile, Leo gets some valuable advice from Sara and ends up getting a job, but he finds the new experience more challenging than he expected. Dominic has an awkward encounter with Natalie.
April gets some welcome news from Dr. Hamburg that bodes well for both her and Leo. At work, she gets wind of a possible story opportunity with baseball player Richie Miranda, but when she gets a bigger scoop than she bargained for, she is faced with a tough moral choice. Meanwhile, Leo grows increasingly uncomfortable living in the shadow of his family and their wealth and looks to Sara for guidance. Sara feels a need to make more of a positive impact with her therapy work after a clash with her office neighbor, an immigration lawyer. And Greer makes a bold change in her behavior at school that intrigues Brenna.
April feels the backlash from a recent, controversial article, especially when it becomes national news and it turns into a case of he said, she said and her job is on the line. Beth has an opportunity to impress her new boss by booking "real teen" models for an upcoming fashion show, and she recruits Brenna and Greer for the job. Brenna's concern for Greer grows after Greer has an uncharacteristic outburst at the show. Meanwhile, Sara becomes suspicious when Emma deflects questions about her recent high school reunion, clearly hiding something. Sara is asked out on a date by an unexpected suitor.
April panics about a recent recurrence of her cancer symptoms and her worries increase about the stability of her remission. A desperate search for ways to alleviate her anxiety leads her down unexpected paths. The tension between April and Leo is still palpable, but a twist of fate may encourage them to reconnect.
Meanwhile, Sara hosts a college prep meeting for other parents and students from Brenna's school, and Brenna becomes increasingly annoyed by the pressure of Sara's expectations and worries for her academic future. Beth's job is taking up all of her time, which has repercussions in her personal life.
April and Beth confide their doubts about each other's boyfriends and decide to arrange a double date to get to know the guys better. April tries to hide her disappointment when Leo pulls away from the cancer support group while Beth and Graham find themselves at odds over a recent big decision. Dominic gets closer to Natalie after learning they share a sentimental connection, but Natalie worries about what April might think. Meanwhile, Sara wants to keep her latest fling easy and uncomplicated but then learns something shocking about her lover. And, after a fight with her mother, Greer turns to Brenna for support.
The new pick for Editor In Chief at The Post comes as a surprise to everyone, and the pressure is on for April not to let her new boss down. As the competition heats up at work, pitting April and Danny against each other for the next big scoop, April starts to wonder if she is willing to sacrifice everything for success in her career. Meanwhile, Sara is faced with having to sort through Thomas' belongings from his house in Florida, but she uses it as an opportunity to reach out to Natalie, and to George. Natalie and Dominic feel guilty about their secretive relationship, and they resolve to come clean to April.
April is blindsided by bad news but fights to maintain control over her destiny and to stay strong for her family. She also learns that The Post is cleaning house, but despite her determination to keep her job, extenuating circumstances keep her head on the chopping block. Meanwhile, Brenna learns she is a bone marrow match for an anonymous patient.