A small bookstore owner clashes with a chain bookstore heir opening a new store but finds a soulmate thru e-mail.

I’m breaking down movies by their three-act structure. What is three-act structure? I explain it here.

Note: I break the story down into five-minute blocks to make it easier to see the length of each section. Rough time codes follow.

Act 1

Kathleen Kelly enjoys spending time online as Shopgirl with a pen pal NY152. He is Joe Fox. Both are in relationships (introducing both heroes). 5

Joe is opening a big Fox Books store for his father’s chain store company and is cheery about running independents out of business (the inciting incident). 10

Kathleen runs an independent bookstore in the same neighborhood (introducing the conflict). 15

Joe’s father is getting married yet again. Kathleen learns a Fox bookstore is coming but assures her employees it’s no big deal (her call to action and refusal of the call). 20

Joe spends the day with his much younger half-brother and aunt, including attending storytime at Kathleen’s store. 25

Joe is charmed by the little shop and impressed with Kathleen’s love of books (his call to action and refusal, given that he opens his store, but Kathleen is the main hero, so there is less emphasis). 30

Act 2

Fox Books opens (forcing the heroes into an extraordinary world where they are competing). Kathleen’s staff worries about loss of business. 35

Meeting at a publishing party, Kathleen and Joe clash when she realizes who he is. He writes Shopgirl about regretting his behavior. 40

Joe and Kathleen run into each other in a grocery store. Joe makes a point of being nice. 45

Joe and Kathleen spend the holidays with family and friends, including each other’s online personas. 50

Based on NY152’s advice, Kathleen gets her boyfriend Frank to write about her store, leading to picketing in front of Fox Books (plot twist 1, because he is unwittingly recommending that she fight him). 55

There are cracks in Kathleen’s relationship, and her shop is still dying. When they set up a blind date, Joe realizes Shopgirl is Kathleen and stands her up (which is a three-part crisis!). 60

Midpoint

Joe approaches Kathleen without telling her he is NY152 and tries to charm her. 65

Kathleen hurts his feelings, and Joe leaves (which is his crisis). 70

Kathleen expresses regret to NY152 (which, with her attack on him, is her rallying against the crisis; she gets to be mean to someone who hurt her in multiple ways but still a good person for regretting it). 75

As NY152, Joe apologizes for standing Kathleen up (a difficult act that shows him rallying). Kathleen decides to close the store. She and Frank’s relationship falls apart. 80

Kathleen and Frank break up. Kathleen goes to Fox books and finds it surprisingly nice. Joe sees her help a customer with knowledge that far outstrips his staff. 85

Getting stuck in an elevator prompts Joe to break up with Patricia (plot twist 2). 90

Kathleen closes her store. Joe quits his job. His father’s relationship also falls apart… (the failure). Joe’s father accidentally makes Joe realize Kathleen, as Shopgirl, fills his heart with joy. 95

Act 3

Joe brings flowers to Kathleen and apologizes for wrecking her business and tells her he quit his job and relationship. She apologizes for hurting his feelings and tells him that she ended her relationship as well. They become friendly (turning the tables on their conflict). 100

Joe makes a point of running into Kathleen, spending time with her, and even teasing her about NY152. 105

Kathleen and Joe continue to meet and discuss NY152, and he continues his charm offensive (using his secret key of knowing who she is without her knowing who he is). She’s writing a children’s book at NY152’s urging. Kathleen agrees to meet NY152 in the park. 110

Joe tries to talk Kathleen out of meeting NY152, but she feels she owes it to him (the climax). Joe shows up, and Kathleen is relieved. 115