In a dystopian society where single people are stigmatized, there exists a rule that those without a partner must check into a hotel with other singles. They are given 45 days to find a mate among the other residents or face transformation into an animal of their choice and released into the wild. The story follows David, a recent divorcee, as he navigates this peculiar rule. His choice of future animal, should he fail, is a lobster, due to their long life span and continued fertility. Along with other hotel residents, David participates in various activities and social gatherings designed to foster romance and partnership under the watchful eyes of the hotel's staff and the enigmatic Hotel Manager.

As David's days at the hotel tick down, he forges friendships with other residents, including a limping man and a man with a lisp, both of whom have their own strategies for finding a partner and avoiding the dreaded transformation. Outside the hotel, in the forests, there exists a group of rebels known as the Loners, who refuse the society's expectation of coupledom and live by their own rules, which forbid any form of romantic or sexual relationships. As David struggles with the hotel's absurd rules and the pressure to pair up, he finds himself drawn towards escape and the possibility of aligning with the loners, leading to unexpected alliances and challenges.