Iris Simpkins, a London-based society columnist for The Daily Telegraph, is caught in a web of heartbreak and longing as she clings to memories of her ex, Jasper Bloom, who has moved on and is now engaged. Despite his assurances of “being friends,” Iris watches as his life in the corporate circle unfolds with a gleaming engagement at the company Christmas party, leaving her feeling crushed and adrift.
Across the ocean in Los Angeles, Amanda Woods, who runs a film trailer company, ends a rocky relationship with her film composer boyfriend, Ethan, after he cheats on her and she realizes she’s emotionally unavailable. When Iris’s cottage listing pops up on a home swap site, Amanda reaches out, and the two agree to swap homes for two weeks starting at once, hoping a change of scenery might offer both a fresh start.
Iris happily settles into Amanda’s sunlit Surrey cottage, savoring the quiet and the unfamiliar charm of the English countryside. Amanda, however, wrestles with the stillness and the slower pace, and she decides to fly back to California the very next day. That night, Iris’s brother Graham appears, having overindulged at the local pub, and asks to sleep at the cottage. Amanda agrees, and after a candid conversation, Graham unexpectedly kisses her. She suggests they have sex because she doesn’t anticipate seeing him again, and the morning after finds them choosing to go their separate ways—yet the next day, Amanda has a change of heart and makes the decision to stay and pursue what they’ve started.
Meanwhile, Iris befriends Arthur Abbott, an elderly neighbor and Oscar-winning screenwriter from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Over dinner, Iris opens up about her fixation on Jasper and the pain of unrequited love, and Arthur responds with a thoughtful gesture: a long list of classic films featuring strong, smart female leads—films like The Lady Eve—that can inspire her to become “the leading lady of her own life.” Iris returns the kindness by helping Arthur prepare for a Writers Guild of America gala in his honor, while also meeting Miles, a colleague of Ethan’s who is dating the aspiring actress Maggie. When Miles later catches Maggie with another man, Iris and Miles connect over their shared romantic misfortunes, and they share a reflective dinner on Christmas Eve.
Back in London, Amanda and Graham’s bond grows, but Amanda worries she might be just another player in his life. Graham reveals a hidden truth: he’s a widower with two young daughters, Sophie and Olivia, and he has kept this part of his life separate from new relationships to protect his kids and his own fragile routine as a single father. He explains that he doesn’t introduce partners to his daughters until a relationship feels truly rooted and lasting.
The day of the gala arrives, and the atmosphere is filled with sentiment and celebration. Maggie asks Miles to take her back, but he declines, choosing to move forward on his own terms. Jasper makes a surprise appearance at Amanda’s place, attempting to rekindle their romance, only to expose that he’s still engaged, prompting Amanda to turn him away. At the gala, Arthur delivers a rousing speech that leaves the room inspired. Miles then asks Iris out for New Year’s Eve, even offering to travel to England to be with her; Iris gladly accepts, and they share a hopeful kiss.
Graham finally confesses his love for Amanda, but she doesn’t mirror the feeling. They agree to try a long-distance relationship, acknowledging the work ahead. As the two prepare to leave for the airport, Amanda breaks down in tears and races back to the cottage to find Graham, likewise moved to tears. In a moment of mutual vulnerability, they choose to spend New Year’s Eve together, with Sophie and Olivia, and welcome the possibility of a future built on honesty and connection.
As the clock nears midnight, the film closes on a scene of shared warmth and second chances. Iris, Amanda, Miles, Graham, Sophie, and Olivia gather at Graham’s house to celebrate New Year’s Eve, embracing what has begun to feel like a brand-new chapter for all of them.
