Purple Violets is a romantic comedy about four friends from college ready for change. Patti Peterson (Selma Blair) is a promising writer, but her marriage and conventional job keep her from her dream. She longs to return to her writing, especially after running into her first love Brian Cahill (Patrick Wilson), a successful crime novelist. Despite Brian's gorgeous Tribeca loft and perfect house in the Hamptons, he longs to write works of greater literary value. Murphy (Ed Burns), his lawyer and best friend from college still carries a flame for his former girlfriend Kate, even though their relationship ended badly years ago, and she still holds a major grudge. Kate (Debra Messing) has been Patti's best friend since college. She's a tough-talking school teacher who plays therapist to all Patti's problems. When Patti sells Murphy a new apartment, and Brian publishes his personal novel, these old friends reconnect in unexpected ways with surprising results.