Ellie Chu is an intelligent but introverted high school senior living in the small, conservative town of Squahamish. She is an outsider, often ignored by her classmates, and spends most of her time helping her widowed father, Edwin, run the townβs train station while also ghostwriting essays for her peers to earn extra money. Her life takes an unexpected turn when Paul Munsky, a well-meaning but socially awkward football player, asks her to write a love letter to Aster Flores, the most beautiful and seemingly unattainable girl in school. At first, Ellie refuses, seeing it as dishonest and unnecessary. However, after realizing that her father is struggling to keep up with the bills, she reluctantly agrees to help Paul, unaware that this simple arrangement will profoundly change her life. As she writes more letters, Ellie quickly realizes that her words resonate with Aster in ways that Paul never could have imagined. What starts as an innocent favor soon becomes deeply personal for Ellie, as she finds herself falling for Aster through the very letters she is writing on Paulβs behalf.
As Ellie continues corresponding with Aster under Paulβs name, the two girls develop an intellectual and emotional connection. Through letters and text messages, they discuss love, philosophy, art, and literature, forming a bond that Ellie knows she can never fully claim as her own. Meanwhile, Paul is thrilled with the progress he is making, though he remains unaware of Ellieβs true feelings. Despite his lack of eloquence, Paul is a genuinely kind-hearted person, and as the weeks go by, he and Ellie form an unlikely but endearing friendship. Paul begins to admire Ellieβs intelligence and wit, even as he remains oblivious to the depth of her emotions. At the same time, Ellie and Aster accidentally cross paths in real life, sparking conversations that further deepen their connection. During a spontaneous trip to a hot spring, Aster confesses to Ellie that she feels trapped in her seemingly perfect life, expected to date her popular boyfriend Trig and live up to everyoneβs expectations. Ellie listens intently, but the guilt of her deception lingers beneath the surface.
As the letters continue, Paul starts to notice that Aster seems drawn to the written words more than their actual in-person interactions. He tries to match the depth and thoughtfulness of the messages, but it quickly becomes clear that the person Aster is falling for is not himβitβs Ellie. As Paul becomes more aware of this truth, he begins to sense that Ellieβs feelings for Aster run deeper than simple friendship. One night, Paul accidentally walks in on Ellie watching a romantic foreign film and suddenly realizes that she might be in love with Aster. Confused and overwhelmed, he confronts Ellie about it, but his initial reaction is one of shock and discomfort. He tells Ellie that what sheβs feeling is wrong, leading to a painful moment of rejection. Ellie, devastated by his words, withdraws emotionally, feeling ashamed and isolated. Meanwhile, Aster starts to suspect that something is off about the entire situation, as the thoughtful words she fell for do not seem to match Paulβs in-person personality.
The tension reaches its peak at the school talent show, where Paul, in a last-ditch effort to win Asterβs heart, kisses her in front of the entire audience. Aster is visibly uncomfortable and pulls away, realizing in that moment that something has been amiss all along. Meanwhile, Ellie watches from the sidelines, her heart breaking as she sees the consequences of her deception unfold. Later that night, Sensing the weight of her hidden emotions, Ellie finally decides to be honest and confesses everything to Asterβthat she was the one writing the letters, not Paul. Aster is taken aback, feeling both betrayed and confused. She acknowledges that the connection she felt was real, but she is unsure of what it means for her own feelings and identity. Unlike Ellie, who has spent her life as an outsider, Aster has always played the role expected of her, and stepping outside those expectations is a terrifying prospect. Paul, now having fully processed his feelings, apologizes to Ellie for his earlier reaction and offers his support, showing that he truly values their friendship.
In the end, Ellie comes to terms with the fact that her love for Aster, while real, does not guarantee a happily-ever-after. Instead of chasing after an unrealistic ending, she chooses to focus on her own journey of self-discovery. On the day of her departure for college, she and Aster share a quiet but meaningful goodbye, acknowledging that their story is unfinished but that they have both grown because of it. As Ellie boards the train, Paul runs alongside it, mirroring a classic romantic movie moment, except this time, itβs a testament to their friendship rather than a romantic confession. The Half of It subverts the traditional love story by showing that love isnβt always about ending up togetherβitβs about learning, growing, and becoming more honest with oneself. The film beautifully explores themes of identity, unspoken emotions, and the different forms love can take, ultimately delivering a poignant and deeply moving coming-of-age story.
