Chapter Ten: Summary & Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

On an April day, Mads heads to Philadelphia for bridesmaid dress shopping with the Gallants. Samira visits Mads but stays behind. In the car, Mrs. Gallant mentions Katie's high school field hockey career, shocking Mads, who never knew Katie played. Mads wonders why Katie keeps her life hidden from the family. At Petal & Lace Bridal, Katie looks upset because her bridesmaids—Yasmin, Courtney, Paige, and Reese—are working instead of focusing on dress shopping. Amanda gets them to put away devices. The group tries on several gowns while Katie's mother prefers traditional styles, but Katie seems unsure. Reese brings up Mads' junior prom photos with Connor, and the bridesmaids tease Mads about having feelings for him. Mads calls Samira, who suggests being with a best friend can be wonderful, making Mads reflect on her own feelings for Connor. Mads overhears Katie, Amanda, and Meredith discussing dress choices; Katie wants unique Anthropologie dresses but is worried about pleasing her mother. Later, Mads receives an email from Penn's field hockey coach inviting her for an unofficial visit. Excited, Mads tells her family, and they celebrate with a cookout. She texts Marco, who jokes about Princeton's rivalry with Penn. Amanda then messages Mads about a new potential match.

Key Events

Samira visits Mads but does not join the shopping trip.
Mads learns Katie played field hockey, deepening her confusion about Katie's distance.
Bridesmaids are distracted by work; Amanda asserts control.
Dress shopping reveals tension between Katie's preferences and her mother's expectations.
Bridesmaids question Mads about Connor, leading to a phone call with Samira.
Mads reflects on her potential romantic feelings for Connor.
Mads overhears Katie's real desire for unique dresses and her sisters' support.
Mads receives Penn recruitment email, causing excitement.
Mads texts Marco about the visit and Connor; Marco deflects.
Amanda hints at setting Mads up with someone new.

Character Development

Mads: Grapples with her feelings for Connor, realizing she may want more than friendship. Also continues questioning Katie's guarded nature, feeling hurt by her apparent distance.
Katie: Revealed to have a past in field hockey, contradicting Mads' image of her. Shows vulnerability during dress shopping, struggling between her own taste and her mother's traditional expectations.
Samira: Offers insightful advice about being with a best friend, hinting at her own understanding of love and loss (given her history with Austin).
Amanda: Takes charge as maid of honor, mediating between Katie and their mother, and remains supportive of Katie's choices.
Marco: Remains elusive, deflecting questions about Connor while maintaining a light teasing tone about Penn.
The bridesmaids (Reese, Paige, Yasmin, Courtney): Portrayed as career-focused but also engaged in Mads' love life, pushing the friends-to-lovers narrative.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Hidden selves: Katie's secret field hockey past symbolizes how people can hide significant parts of their lives, even from close family.
Friends-to-lovers trope: The bridesmaids and Samira discuss the possibility of Mads and Connor, making this a central motif in the chapter.
Wedding as pressure cooker: The dress shopping scene illustrates the tension between the bride's desires and family expectations, reflecting broader wedding planning stress.
College recruitment anxiety: Mads' fixation on Penn and Princeton represents the high stakes of her athletic future and the conflict between rival opportunities.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens Mads' internal conflicts on two fronts: her feelings for Connor and her strained relationship with Katie. The revelation about Katie's field hockey past humanizes Katie and makes Mads question her assumptions. The dress shopping scene also highlights family dynamics and the pressures of wedding planning. The Penn recruitment email advances Mads' college decision plot, while the ongoing texting with Marco keeps the possibility of a romance with him alive, complicating the Connor question. Samira's advice ties back to her own storyline with Austin, enriching the theme of first love.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What new information does Mads learn about Katie, and why does it surprise her? Mads learns that Katie played field hockey in high school and even wanted to play in college, but was told she wasn't good enough. This surprises Mads because she has always seen Katie as non-athletic and distant; the revelation makes Mads feel that Katie has been hiding her true self from the family.

2. How do the bridesmaids and Samira influence Mads' thoughts about Connor? The bridesmaids tease Mads about her prom photo with Connor, suggesting they make a good couple. Samira later tells Mads that being with a best friend can be wonderful, using the phrase "favorite person" which resonates with Mads. These conversations force Mads to acknowledge her own growing romantic feelings for Connor.

3. Why does Katie seem uncomfortable during the dress shopping, and how does Amanda help? Katie is uncomfortable because she wants unique, fun dresses (like from Anthropologie) but fears disappointing her mother, who prefers traditional uniform styles. Amanda supports Katie by promising to handle their mother's objections and by emailing the assigned dress choices to the bridesmaids, allowing Katie to have her way without direct confrontation.