Amidst the social confines of the 1980s, a naïve Jewish teen's perfect world unravels when he falls for a complicated Black girl, sending them both on a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and profound change.

SYNOPSIS:

Philly suburbs, 1988, and high school senior Jack Heitner has no room to rebel. Accepted to Penn State, obeying his traditional Jewish family, dating the rabbi’s daughter Hannah – Jack’s got to be perfect for his struggling parents after his brother Max died in a drug-fueled car wreck five years ago. His one escape? His job at Record Revolution, where Max once worked, music the one thing Max had passed on to him. Overall, Jack has life just where it’s supposed to be.

Until Traci Reed -- brilliant, brash, and Black – blows in, a hurricane from Camden now living with relatives after her home life violently imploded. Hesitant to trust again, she’s still drawn to Jack’s innocent sincerity, and he to her frankness. She demands friendship. He refuses. Intolerant family, suspicious Hannah, the racial climate of the times -- it was too risky, too complicated, everything he’s not. But then his world flies off the rails. His dad’s cheating! The store’s closing! His best friend Micah is gay and never told him! So he seeks solace not from sheltered Hannah, but from worldly Traci, who knows a thing or two about change and strife.

They begin meeting at night, far from prying eyes. They share laughs, music, and secrets. She urges him to loosen, he urges her to believe in herself. And despite Hannah, of whom Traci knows full well, they cross into even murkier waters…when they kiss. He continues with Hannah, convincing himself he still cares about her, but in every spare second he seeks out Traci. His guilt compounds with his passion but he can’t stop. Hannah complains she hardly sees him, but he can’t stop. His mother Lana suffers a health scare but he can’t…shit. He stops.

See, Jewish mothers feel in their bones when their children stray. This was all his fault! No choice but to clean house and end both relationships before his life spins right off its axis. First Hannah…except prom, the night of her dreams, is just days away. He’ll have to wait until after. Then Traci. He stuns her, breaks a promise he’d never screw her over like everyone else in her life. Furious, she shows up at prom with an ex just to torment him. Enraged, he confronts her at an afterparty to give her a piece of his mind…and they end up having sex, Jack’s first time. Hannah shows up, though, catches them, and both girls rage at his trail of lies.

Jack spends weeks hurt and alone until Traci calls -- she’s pregnant! Panicked, Jack dares ask if it’s even his. She explodes, disgusted, wants him out of her life forever no matter the situation. Distraught, every bridge burned, he visits the cemetery for advice from Max, walking and talking again in Jack’s head. After airing old grievances, Max convinces Jack to stand up, take responsibility and help Traci. So Jack joins her for two horribly awkward encounters – first with her aunt and uncle, and then with Lana, who sends Jack to live with his dad. The crisis ends, though, when Traci miscarries. Having been to hell and back, they decide to come out as a real couple. Jack “introduces” her to Max, who’s now underground, but would’ve loved this girl who pushed his little brother to accept who he really is, not who everyone insisted he should be.

WHEN I FELL FOR TRACI REED