When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for his crush.
A shy, introverted, Chinese-American, straight-A student finds herself helping the school jock woo the girl they both secretly love. In the process, each teaches the other about the nature of love as they find connection in the most unlikely of places.—Netflix
Friendless student Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) lives in the remote town of Squahamish, where she makes extra money writing homework papers for her fellow students. She gets paid only when the students get an A (An A-, A or an A+). She charges $10 for 3 pages and $20 for 3-10 pages.She lives with her widowed father Edwin (Collin Chou) and performs most of his duties as station master and signalman. Ellie writes about the topic of love and is really sensitive and thoughtful. She writes about how people know instantly when they are with someone that they are meant to be with.
At her high school, it is mandatory for Ellie to perform at the senior talent show.
She is approached by Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer), an inarticulate football player, to write a love letter to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), a girl at their school. Ellie is secretly in love with Aster and initially refuses. Paul offers to pay more. Ellie accepts the work after learning that her home's electricity will be shut off if they fail to make a minimum payment of $50 in one day's time.Aster is dating Trig (Wolfgang Novogratz), a boy from a wealthy family, and Ellie (posing as Paul) begins a heartfelt correspondence with Aster in letters (through Paul) and text messages (Paul and Ellie meet in a church where Ellie texts Aster as Paul from his phone).The two begin to connect over their shared interests in literature and art, though Aster believes she is communicating with Paul. Through their letters, they paint a joint mural, painting in turns at designated times when the other is not around.
Meanwhile, Ellie's English teacher Mrs. Geselschap (Becky Ann Baker) encourages her to apply to Grinnell College, but Ellie plans to stay in Squahamish, despite being unhappy there, because she doesn't want to leave her father. Mrs. Geselschap knows that Ellie writes the homework for her fellow students and can have multiple takes on the same topics, which indicates how immensely talented she is.
Ellie sets up Paul on a date with Aster, but it goes badly because Paul is unable to converse with her like Ellie can. Paul is awkward and not at all expressive as Ellie can be.Ellie regards this as the end of their attempts, but after Paul defends her from bullies, she agrees to teach him about art and literature in preparation for his next date with Aster in 3 week's time. Ellie teaches Paul about topics such as abstract art, Audrey Hepburn, conversation lessons, learning about Aster's likes and dislikes, good cop/bad cop, and existentialism.Ellie and Paul begin to bond as they open up about their familial struggles. Paul figures that Ellie is in love with Aster (Paul was talking about what he likes about Aster, and Ellie's description is a lot more poetic and romantic as compared to Paul's) and is shocked initially, but later makes peace with it. Paul also talks to Ellie about his passion for sausages and sausage based culinary creations.
Paul's second date with Aster goes as badly as the first, but Ellie saves the evening by texting Aster, pretending to be Paul (who is sitting right in front of Aster), who abruptly professes his romantic interest in Aster, and later tells Ellie that he kissed her.Paul brings Ellie to a party and takes her to his home after she becomes intoxicated, where he sees letters in her bag addressed to food critics, presumably about his sausage creations. Paul can see that Ellie really cares about him.
Aster invites Ellie to spend the day together (she was impressed with Ellie's solo performance at the high school senior's talent show). She takes her to a hidden hot spring where they swim and share an intimate conversation.Aster reveals that Trig intends to marry her, while Ellie reveals that she does not believe in God and talks about her deceased mother.
Meanwhile, at Ellie's house, Paul and her father bond as they make sausages. Later, Ellie watches from her window as Paul and Aster kiss, and she decides to apply to Grinnell.
After a game, mistakenly believing that she loves him, and having developed feelings for her, Paul attempts to kiss Ellie, but she rejects him. Aster sees them and walks away angrily. Paul realizes that Ellie loves Aster and, due to his religious upbringing, tells Ellie that it is a sin.
While cooking together again, Ellie's father and Paul have a conversation about love. Trig proposes to Aster at a church service, but Ellie and Paul publicly interrupt the moment. Aster realizes that Ellie wrote the letters and texts to her, slaps Paul, and storms out.
Before leaving for Grinnell, Ellie apologizes to Aster for deceiving her. Aster admits she may have had feelings for Ellie and that she is applying to art school. Ellie kisses Aster and tells her that she'll see her in a couple of years.Paul sees Ellie off at the train platform and tells her that his sausages have received good reviews, and that he'll keep visiting her father. As in Ek Villain, the movie they watched together, Paul runs besides the train as it leaves. Ellie laughs at his silliness, then observes the passengers around her.
