A Cup of Tea: A Novel of 1917, written by Amy Ephron in 1997, is based on a short story of the same name written by Katherine Mansfield. Unlike the short story, the novel is set in the spring of 1917 in New York, set against the backdrop of World War I.

Socialite Rosemary Fell invites a homeless woman, Eleanor, to her home for a cup of tea, as it is pouring rain and the woman is clearly getting drenched with just a thin sweater. Rosemary is generous and offers Eleanor clothes and food. When Rosemary's fiancé Philip walks in, he is clearly struck by Eleanor's beauty - a beauty that was masked before she had a chance to clean herself up. When Rosemary clues in to this, she gives Eleanor money and an overcoat and sends her on her way.

Rosemary's friend Jane runs after Eleanor and urges her to go see Dora, a woman who runs a hat shop for a job. Eleanor gets the job and finds a place to stay. Soon Philip is in the shop to pick up some hats for his upcoming wedding to Rosemary. When he sees Eleanor, he starts a pursuit that develops into an affair of deep love between him and Eleanor. Despite his feelings, Philip follows duty and marries Rosemary. He ships out to war soon after.

Rosemary refuses to believe the news of Philip's death. When Eleanor learns the news, now with a daughter by Philip, she goes into mourning.

To everybody's surprise but Rosemary, Philip returns from the war physically intact, though psychological damage continues to eat at him. After acclimatizing to regular life again, Philip decides he wants to be with Eleanor. He breaks this news to his wife and this ignites devastating tragedy.