The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Thomas, Trisha R. Nappily Ever After. Penguin Random House, 2000. 1.

Venus sits in a salon, waiting to cut her hair off, a drastic change from her typical style. When she leaves the salon and returns to the apartment she shares with boyfriend Clint, he is surprised by her new look. Venus and Clint argue and she kicks him out of the apartment. Clint goes out with his friends and wakes up alongside a new woman, Kandi. Kandi is excited at the prospect of finding a new relationship with a successful man and leaving behind her affair with Tyson, a married man.

When Venus goes into work the next morning, all of her coworkers are surprised by her shaved head. Venus notices a handsome man around the office, Tyson Edwards, and asks around about him. Venus is attempting to win a promotion at work and asks one of her superiors, Ray, to discuss the promotion over lunch. He drives her to lunch but kisses her in the parking garage against her will. When Venus gets home, she feels sad that Clint seems to have given up on her, so she drives to his apartment and apologizes. They have sex together. In the following days, Venus thinks nearly constantly about what Clint's new girlfriend might look like after she discovers her makeup in his bathroom.

Ray apologizes to Venus. Clint visits his brother Cedric and his wife to get advice about Venus. They tell him that he must decide whether he wants to take her back even if their differences about marriage and children are incompatible. Venus tries to reach Tyson and he calls her back, and they schedule a lunch date for later in the day.

Kandi prepares herself for a date with Tyson, but the night sours for her when she realizes that she will never be the only woman in his life. Clint and Kandi reconcile and Clint proposes while they lay in bed talking.

It is Christmas time, and Venus reconnects with her family and they discuss family gossip and news. After Christmas, Venus calls Clint to try and patch up their relationship and tell him she chooses to be with him again. Clint and Venus talk, but he tells her that he is committed to another woman, Kandi. Venus feels overwhelmed, but she calls a man she has been seeing recently, Airic, and plans a date with him.

Clint and Kandi get married, and Venus wishes them all the best in their future life.