The film stars Jessica Barden as Blake Conway, a journalism student whose romance column receives attention when she begins to write about her experiences as a sugar baby. The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, It received a limited release in Canada on October 19, , by Elevation Pictures. Blake is a student journalist who writes a column about her love life, The Hopeless Romantic , for her school paper.
After her latest column her editor, River, cancels her column for being too dull, but offers to re-instate it if she came come up with more interesting material. On a night out with her roommate and best friend Nikki, Blake mistakenly has her ID swapped with the ID of another student. Blake goes to return the ID and meets Morgan who is with an older man. Morgan urges Blake to stay, revealing that she is a sugar baby and the man she is with will pay Blake to stay.
Blake declines. At an editorial meeting the following day Blake learns that fellow journalist Jacob is applying for an award for Gonzo journalism and is being supported by River. Jealous, Blake decides to interview Morgan about her experiences as a sugar baby.
Morgan takes Blake to a pool party where Blake meets Ian, a wealthy older professor. Ian propositions Blake about being his sugar baby but she politely turns him down. Blake writes about the experience for the paper but while River is interested in the material he refuses to give Blake her column back until she points out that it sounds like he is trying to pimp her out in return for her column.
Blake and Nikki attend a costume party where Blake shows up as Raoul Duke and is surprised to see Jacob dressed up as the same. Blake takes Jacob home, but their attempt to have sex ends when Jacob does not have a condom.
