The following version of this book was used to create this guide: Derrick, Alyson and Lippincott, Rachel. She Gets the Girl. Simon and Schuster, 2022.

The novel is divided into 37 chapters, alternating between Alex and Molly’s perspectives. The novel follows the first month of college for Alex and Molly as they settle into college life and struggle to find new identities for themselves in their new setting.

The novel begins with Alex leaving behind her alcoholic mother and angry girlfriend to go to Pittsburgh for college. Molly goes to Pittsburgh because she does not want to go far from home, and is deeply anxious but also starving for interaction. In particular, Molly hopes to finally grab the attention of her crush, Cora, who is going to the same school. Their paths cross when, at a house party, Molly sees Cora and Alex flirting. Alex, however, is not interested in Cora. In a bid to prove herself a good person, Alex offers to help Molly get together with Cora, an offer that Molly eventually accepts.

While juggling classes, parents, new friends, and (in Alex’s case) work, Alex slowly works with Molly to build up her confidence. Despite some intense awkwardness on Molly’s part, Molly works up the nerve to get together with Cora, and also become more herself. Although Alex approaches Molly as a project, a friendship forms between them. The two come to realize that they are the best friend each other has ever had.

In order to prepare Molly for a date with Cora, Alex has Molly take her out on a practice date to the roller rink. Molly loves roller skating and is confident as she helps Alex navigate roller skating. They share some laughs and injuries. Later, when the two go back to campus, they hide out at the library together, and have a moment where they almost kiss. Alex is overwhelmed by these feelings, and feels she has betrayed her girlfriend, Natalie. Molly feels strange as well.

For their first date, Molly brings Cora to Natalie’s concert. Molly feels she owes it to Alex, to show Natalie that Alex has changed. However, Natalie dismisses Molly and makes it clear how little she cares for Alex. Alex and Molly argue, and Cora and Molly leave and, later that evening, Alex leaves Natalie for good. During Molly’s silent treatment towards Alex, Alex gets a call from Philadelphia that her mother drove into a pole while drunk. Alex’s boss, Jim, drives her to Philadelphia, then drives the two of them to Erie, where Alex’s mother checks into rehab.

Molly introduces Cora to her mother, Beth. Beth does not like Cora nearly as much as she liked Alex, leading to a confrontation and then a heart-to-heart between mother and daughter. Molly and Cora go to a student art gala. During the night, Molly realizes that the real Cora is not the same Cora she has fantasized about for years. She also realizes that she is in love with Alex, not Cora. Molly leaves the gala to go to Alex, only to find her in the library. Alex is hiding in the library after trying to find Molly to confess her true feelings, now that she is no longer burdened by her mother. The two embrace and kiss among the stacks, where they almost kissed before.