Agathe is a French bookseller who works at Shakespeare and Company in Paris. Living with her sister and her sister’s young son, Agathe prefers cycling everywhere due to her long-standing anxiety concerning cars. This fear stems from a tragic accident that claimed her parents' lives while leaving her injured. Among her closest companions is her co-worker and best friend, Félix.
One fateful evening, Agathe finds inspiration to write the opening of a romance novel in English after glimpsing a man's face reflected at the bottom of her sake cup at a Chinese restaurant. Encouraged by Félix, who admires her budding talent, he takes it upon himself to secretly submit her work to the Jane Austen Residency, a prestigious two-week writing retreat in England. Much to Agathe's surprise, she is accepted, prompting a reluctant road trip with Félix to the Channel ferry. As they prepare to part, they share a kiss, marking a significant moment for Agathe.
Upon arriving in England, she is greeted by Oliver, a distant descendant of Jane Austen. The journey to the Residency takes an unexpected turn when his car breaks down, forcing them to spend the night in the vehicle. Tensions arise when Agathe, thinking he doesn't understand French, insults him, only to discover he is fluent. Their adventure continues as they are eventually rescued by an apple-cart the following morning. Although Agathe initially finds Oliver arrogant and haughty, their time together at the retreat begins to nurture an unexpected connection.
Communicating her excitement about the kiss through messages to Félix, she is left disappointed by his lack of response. As she struggles with writer's block, Agathe fails to develop her novel during her stay at the Residency. A night out at a local pub leads to flirtation and an intimate moment between her and Oliver, culminating in a tender gesture where he tucks her into bed.
However, the next day brings complications when Félix arrives to escort Agathe to the Residency's annual ball, where she finds herself torn between the two. At the ball, she dances with both men - first with Félix, then with Oliver, before Félix interrupts once more. After a night spent together with Félix, Agathe realizes they cannot pursue a relationship out of loneliness and sends him back to France, still burdened by her inability to write.
In a poignant farewell with Oliver, she admits her writer's block, drawing an insightful metaphor from him regarding ivy needing ruins to blossom beautifully. Returning to France, Agathe decides to confront her grief by visiting her parents' vacation home, something she had long avoided. The experience invigorates her creativity, allowing her to complete her novel, which is ultimately accepted for publication by an English publisher. She shares this milestone with Oliver by sending him a copy of her work, stating that she has indeed found her ruins.
As a beautiful culmination of her journey, during a poetry reading she hosts one evening, Agathe catches sight of Oliver at the back of the crowd. After the reading concludes, the two step outside together and share a heartfelt kiss, finally reconnecting in a deeply meaningful way.
