Fast-talking New Yorker Zoe Hart has her life all figured out until she is turned down for a prestigious fellowship she had been certain she would get. Desperate, she decides to finally accept the offer of a kindly stranger, Dr. Harley Wilkes, whom she met at her medical school graduation, and who had proposed she join his small medical practice in Bluebell, Alabama.

Zoe tries to win over residents of Bluebell by participating in the Founder's Day parade, but an unfortunate incident only makes matters worse.

When Nascar’s Brian Vickers has to drop out of hosting Bluebell Junior League’s annual turtle race, Lemon is reluctantly convinced that the mayor is the perfect replacement as her co-host. Zoe is asked out on a date by a handsome local veterinarian, Dr. Judson Lyons. Wade has an unexpected visitor who stirs up all kinds of trouble for him.

Zoe decides that it’s too soon in her relationship with Judson to go to the annual Sweetie Pie Dance so instead she makes plans to have a sleepover with Rose, whose parents are going out of town. George misplaces the save the dates for his upcoming wedding which causes major trouble in Lemon paradise. Lemon wants her father to finally move on from her mother leaving him, so she secretly gets him a date for the dance.

After a wild night of partying, Wade wakes up with a massive hangover, an uninvited houseguest and no memory of what happened the night before. Meanwhile, George takes an unplanned roadtrip to New Orleans, and Lemon finally confesses her troubles to her father, Brick.

With an impending storm about to hit Bluebell, George and Lemon prepare for their wedding day. Meanwhile, taking shelter from the storm, Zoe finds herself stranded in a barn with Wade.

After George confesses his feelings to Zoe, she finds herself having to make a tough decision between George and Wade, leaving the two guys at odds on how to handle the situation. In search of some much needed girl advice, Zoe makes a new fast friend in former BlueBell resident Ruby Jeffries, who no one is excited to see. Lemon decides it’s time to get her own apartment and a job, but it’s tougher than she thought. Continuing to forge ahead with her new life, Lemon proceeds to return the wedding presents, but a sudden detour to Zoe’s while holding a cake knife creates a stir with the townspeople.

When Zoe finds herself treating her uncle, she takes a chance and invites him to the Hanukkah celebration that she is hosting. However, this lands her in trouble once again with Vivian Wilkes. Lemon enlists George and Lynly to help uncover crucial information about one of Brick's exes before he does anything rash. Meanwhile, Wade has a horrible toothache but refuses to go to the dentist, until Tansy intervenes and helps him to open his eyes to his future.

Zoe and Joel are frustrated by all the snags they keep running into while trying to remodel their new home. Rose persuades Lavon to agree that BlueBell will be sister cities with a town in France. Lemon convinces George to help her out with a business venture, but in order for things to go smoothly, Wade has to play peacemaker. Meanwhile, Brick sees an opportunity to become BlueBell's Man of the Year, but he soon discovers he has some tough competition.

Zoe tries to be a supportive friend to Wade, but when she makes a grand gesture, Wade is forced to make a tough decision about his future with the Rammer Jammer and BlueBell. Lavon and George meet their hero Don Todd, who helps them see things in their life more clearly. Grandma Bettie tries to convince Lemon that she has to take her search for a suitable husband more seriously. Meanwhile, AnnaBeth is trying to picture her future with Davis.