Margaret Tate is a high-powered book editor living in New York City who faces deportation to Canada due to an expired visa. To avoid this, she convinces her overworked and beleaguered assistant, Andrew Paxton, to marry her. Reluctantly agreeing, Andrew bargains for a promotion and a book deal in return. The couple travels to Andrew’s hometown in Alaska to meet his family, pretending to be engaged.

Margaret struggles to adapt to the warm and quirky family dynamics, contrasting sharply with her own cold and detached personality. As they keep up the charade, various humorous and challenging situations arise, causing both of them to reevaluate their lives and feelings towards each other.