Landon Carter (Shane West) is popular, confident and the leader of the cool group at Beaufort High. A senior with the world at his feet, Landon breezes through school on looks and bravado. But when a school prank leaves his friend paralysed, Landon is punished with community service and a compulsory stint in the school musical. Here he is forced to seek help from Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) the conservative, daggy classmate and brunt of his group's jokes. Jamie, however, is a girl whose confidence doesn't depend on the opinion of others. She is smart, kind and intriguing; and as they spend more time together, Landon discovers that the girl he wouldn't normally notice, may just prove to be the love of his life.