In a typical high school in California, Olive Penderghast, an intelligent and somewhat introverted girl, lives a pretty normal life. Everything changes one weekend when, after a deception about a fictitious date with a "bad boy," she starts receiving attention she never imagined. As her classmates learn about the story, Olive becomes the center of attention, but not in the way she expected. To turn around her new social life, she decides to take advantage of her reputation and starts pretending to have relationships with boys from school, helping her friends with their romantic troubles.
Her behavior soon triggers a domino effect on campus, bringing both admiration and criticism from her peers and teachers. The girl who once felt invisible now finds herself trapped in a cycle of lies and misunderstandings, while dealing with a stigma she never imagined she would bear. Throughout the storyline, Olive must also confront her relationship with her parents, who are incredibly understanding, and her deep friendship with her best friend.
With a sharp sense of humor and references to pop culture, Olive discovers that the truth behind appearances can be more complex than it seems. In a world where reputation is everything, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and courage, learning that the most important thing is to be true to herself.