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.
As April learns more about her cancer and prospective treatment, she is determined not to let it affect her progress at work. A new assignment to profile gubernatorial candidate Bruce Hendrie leads to an unexpected run-in with his son, Leo. April also makes a startling discovery about her family. Meanwhile, Sara makes progress with her online dating but struggles with solo parenting when she learns Brenna lied about her “extra-curricular” activities.
As things begin to heat up with Dominic, April second-guesses the status of their relationship when she learns he has a reputation as the office playboy. To help take her mind off of Dominic and to start facing the reality of her symptoms, she volunteers for an assignment at work about a supposed cancer-curing miracle juice and finds a confidant and support in the juice maker, Gerald. Meanwhile, Sara makes a surprise connection with one of her therapy patients and hosts an awkward dinner for her new boyfriend, Ben, to meet the family.
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.
Dominic takes April to see a psychic for fun, but the results disturb both of them, leading Dominic to come clean to April about a family secret. When her own family secrets become too much for her to bear alone, April enlists Dominic’s help in learning more about her "sister," Natalie. Meanwhile, April receives an official diagnosis from George and Sara’s mounting concern for April’s health leads to a confrontation.
April goes on a joyride with Leo prior to beginning her treatment, and she gains insight into Leo's recklessness and the severity of his illness. Elsewhere, Brenna has doubts about her romance with Kiernan, especially when it affects her friendship with Greer.
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 death 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.
Newly engaged and unemployed, April tries to come to terms with her new reality. Always one to think two steps ahead, she decides to no longer plan for her future but just enjoy the moment she is in with a little help from fellow cancer patient Vanessa. First up is to plan and enjoy her engagement party!
April is enjoying her new living life in the moment lifestyle but is forced to channel "old April" when she has to make an important decision about her healthcare. To take a break from the stressful decision, April and Beth finally go on their Bermuda weekend trip, but they end up not exactly living the relaxing island lifestyle. Meanwhile, Sara struggles over money issues, and Brenna finally finds a place she fits in at Charlton.
Being a teenager is never easy, but for Brenna it is even harder living in the shadows of perfect April. Brenna feels trapped, complaining about anything – especially having to leave her school in the face of all that April is dealing with. How can she complain about her life when her sister is fighting for her own? The only person she feels she can turn to is Natalie, which may push April and Brenna further apart. Meanwhile, Dominic tries to start over with his mother and April shops for the perfect wedding dress.
April and Leo are in the throes of wedding planning and coming at crossroads when Sara suggests they take a newlywed quiz to help them learn more about each other. But instead of bringing the two closer together, the quiz proves that the two aren't truly being honest. This is a hard blow for April as she is also dealing with the realization that her father might not have been the guy she thought he was. Meanwhile, Sara and Beth try to take a night off from dating drama as Brenna finds herself in a big mess with Margo's crazy ex (Leisha Hailey).
As the wedding date draws near, April is forced to face a list of "lasts," such as her last week of living at home and her last time being a single girl. While her natural instincts are to have a classy and low-key bachelorette party, Vanessa (Krysta Rodriguez) helps April realize that this might be her last time to live it up. Another possible "last" opportunity presents itself for April when Dominic sets up a meeting for April with his book agent. With her health still in question, this opportunity may be April’s first (and last) chance to get a book published. Meanwhile, Leo tries to play nice with Dominic and Brenna reaches out to Finn.
All the planning is done and the day is finally here - the day April Carver marries Leo Hendrie. What should be the most perfect day of April's life takes a bumpy detour as nerves and secrets threaten to ruin everything. Can Leo and April's love triumph or was this a "pity" wedding after all? Meanwhile, Dominic struggles with what to do as the deadline nears of losing the woman he loves forever.
The honeymoon may be over for April and Leo as they try to settle into a normal married life. April's "cleaning system" versus Leo's mess is not the only issues they have to work on. Leo is in full swing at his new job and is making lots of plans for the future - not just in his job but for his life with his new wife. April is trying to live life to the fullest in the moment, as Leo taught her, so Leo's "new" future planning is throwing her off. Meanwhile, Brenna doesn't feel as welcome or supported at her new school's LGBQT club.
April shuts out the world following an unexpected loss, prompting Leo to come up with an inventive way to help her overcome her grief; Finn gives Brenna good advice.
April uses her new financial security to do anything and everything she can do feel good again.
April ruffles family feathers when she investigates a secret George has been hiding; George and Mae try to work through their damaged relationship.
April is reluctant to accept a literary agent's advice about her book until a meeting with a friend changes her point of view; Brenna confronts her feelings about her father.
April’s old college pal visits her, and soon the rivalry that existed between then reignites. Elsewhere, Beth’s job and relationship are in jeopardy after she receives some disturbing news.
In the Season 2 finale, April and Beth prepare for their trip to Rome. Meanwhile, Greer returns with news that she's moving back to Boston; and Brenna feels both excited and conflicted about Finn.
