There’s a famous painting of a beautiful sea that no one can truly appreciate. After all, few notice the three tiny figures sitting together at the end of the pier. But aspiring artist Louisa is transfixed by them—and she’s determined to find out their story.

25 years earlier in a far-off seaside town, a group of teenage friends find solace from their tumultuous home lives on the abandoned pier. On these long summer days, they exchange jokes, secrets, and small acts of rebellion. This bond between them is the reason they wake up in the morning, the reason they allow themselves to look toward the future with hope. The reason they love.

That summer creates an enchanting piece of art. And when it lands in 18-year-old Louisa’s hands, she sets out on a journey across the country to learn of its history. But the closer she gets to answers, the more nervous she is about what lies behind it.