Nadine Franklin, portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld, is an awkward and troubled 17-year-old high school student. Right from the start, she rushes into her teacher Mr. Bruner's classroom, played by Woody Harrelson, where she confesses her darkest thoughts in a flustered manner, exclaiming she might take her own life and desperately needing someone to listen. Mr. Bruner responds with humor, saying he was drafting his own suicide note just to seek some peace during lunch, setting the tone for their unorthodox relationship.
As the story unfolds, Nadine takes us back to her childhood. When she was just 7 years old (portrayed by Lina Renna), she began to feel overshadowed by her older brother Darian (played by Christian Michael Cooper), whose popularity in their family, especially with their mother, Mona (played by Kyra Sedgwick), was palpable. Nadine’s only source of comfort was her father, Tom (Eric Keenleyside), who made her feel secure, contrasting sharply with the bullying she faced from mean girls at school. This loneliness was somewhat alleviated when she met Krista (Ava Grace Cooper), who shared a tender moment with Nadine by caring for a pet caterpillar, only for it to tragically die due to Nadine’s accidental mishap.
Fast forward to when Nadine is 13, and she faces new insecurities about her appearance, particularly as Darian (now played by Blake Jenner) becomes increasingly handsome. Krista (now portrayed by Haley Lu Richardson) attempts to boost Nadine’s confidence, but everything changes when tragedy strikes their family; Tom passes away from a sudden heart attack, leaving Nadine and her family shattered.
Presently, at 17, while at school with Krista, Nadine's life takes another turn when she becomes infatuated with the rebellious Nick Mossman (Alexander Calvert), a boy with a troubled past. During Mr. Bruner’s class, she also meets Erwin Kim (Hayden Szeto), an awkward but kind classmate who harbors feelings for her.
A night of reckless fun at Nadine's home leads to a disastrous morning when she wakes up to find Krista and Darian entangled in a compromising position, leading to an explosive confrontation filled with jealousy and heartbreak. Her relationship with Krista deteriorates as they drift apart over a conflict surrounding Darian, resulting in deeply felt frustrations and emotional turmoil for Nadine.
Amid her struggles, Nadine makes several questionable decisions, including a misguided attempt to reach out to Nick, which turns into a regrettable encounter. After a tumultuous series of events, her bond with her brother deteriorates, and encounters with both Mr. Bruner and Erwin intensify her feelings of isolation and anger.
Ultimately, the journey leads Nadine to a surprising but heartwarming moment of connection with her brother Darian, where they share a long-overdue apology and an emotional candidness about their fears and insecurities. Nadine's character arc concludes at Erwin's film festival, where she learns vulnerability and acceptance through both his film narrative and the blossoming of friendship, as Erwin introduces her to new friends, suggesting a glimmer of hope and growth in her life as she navigates the complexities of adolescence.
