Samantha's saga continues in the sequel to If Water Were Fire, as she enters her sophomore year at Balboa Bay High School. While she nominally retains her title as Ryan's girlfriend, Samantha challenges the boundaries of what a committed relationship looks like. How? With a pithy FaceTime conversation and an almost Duffy boat ride - neither of which involves Ryan.

It's this year that she turns sixteen, learns to drive, and takes her first AP class. Her father undergoes a quintuple by-pass surgery, an event which makes Sam reflect on their relationship. Her friendship with Alex and Charlie, her longtime girlfriends, remains in question.

Ultimately, Sammy needs to decide if her relationship with Ryan is the relationship she wants - and needs. What does the relationship she wants look like? What does the relationship she needs look like? What is the "right thing" - not only for her relationship, but more importantly, for her life?