Nick Twisp is a socially awkward teenager living in Oakland, California, with his divorced mother, Estelle, and her boyfriend, Jerry. Nick is infatuated with Sheeni Saunders, a beautiful and intelligent girl he meets while vacationing at a trailer park. Sheeni shares Nick’s love for French culture and literature, but she has a boyfriend named Trent, who is more rebellious and confident than Nick.
Determined to win Sheeni’s heart, Nick creates an alter ego named François Dillinger, a suave and sophisticated bad boy. François encourages Nick to take risks and break the rules in pursuit of Sheeni’s affection. Nick’s attempts to impress Sheeni often lead to comical and chaotic situations.
As Nick’s obsession with Sheeni grows, he becomes increasingly reckless and disobedient. He steals cars, starts fires, and gets into fights, all in the name of love. However, his efforts to win Sheeni’s affection are thwarted at every turn, and he finds himself in increasingly absurd predicaments.
Meanwhile, Nick’s family life becomes increasingly tumultuous. Estelle’s relationship with Jerry deteriorates, and Nick is sent to live with his father and his girlfriend, Lacey. Nick’s father is indifferent to his son’s problems, and Lacey’s presence only adds to Nick’s frustration.
Eventually, Nick’s antics catch up with him, and he finds himself facing serious consequences for his actions. He is arrested and sent to a juvenile detention center, where he is forced to confront the consequences of his behavior.
Despite the setbacks, Nick refuses to give up on his quest to win Sheeni’s heart. With the help of his friend, Lefty, Nick escapes from the detention center and embarks on a wild road trip to reunite with Sheeni.
In the end, Nick’s persistence pays off, and he is reunited with Sheeni. However, their reunion is short-lived, as Sheeni’s parents discover their relationship and send her away to a boarding school in France. Undeterred, Nick vows to wait for Sheeni and continue his pursuit of true love, no matter what obstacles stand in his way.