The film's protagonist, Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman), is a young man who lives in a foster home on the island. He's a bit of a loner, and his awkwardness and introversion make him a target for bullying. But Sam is also a romantic at heart, and he's desperate to find someone who understands him. That someone is Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward), a fellow outsider who has just moved to the island with her family.