Chapter 20: Twenty – Reviewing the Plot and Themes
⚠️ 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
September arrives, and Mads celebrates her 18th birthday with a surprise party at an Italian restaurant hosted by her parents. Her friends Connor, Natalie, Davis, Samira, and several teammates attend, but Austin is absent due to bronchitis, and Katie declines the invitation. Mads feels the sting of Katie’s absence but admits she is not heartbroken. She throws herself into college applications, finishing her Penn submission within forty-eight hours. Natalie suggests that Mads needs a rebound kiss to get over Marco, and though Mads initially resists, she later agrees after her club teammates voice similar advice.
Meanwhile, Mads tries on her bridesmaid dress for Katie’s wedding and discovers it is far too large. Panicked, she contacts her grandmother (Nana), who reassures her and agrees to alter the gown. Emboldened by Natalie’s suggestion, Mads decides to attend Council Rock North’s September semiformal. She has been chatting online with Robbie Nielson, a classmate. At the dance, they dance together, and when Robbie asks to get some air, they share a passionate kiss under a maple tree. Mads finds the kiss enjoyable and notes that the exchange of saliva is “perfect amount,” a welcome contrast to her previous bad experience with Jacob. Her mind does not wander to anyone else, suggesting she is successfully moving on.
Key Events
- Mads turns eighteen and enjoys a surprise party organized by her parents, with friends in attendance.
- Katie does not attend the party, deepening the rift between her and Mads.
- Mads submits her college application to the University of Pennsylvania early, with help from an English tutor.
- Natalie advises Mads to pursue a casual hookup or kiss to move past her feelings for Marco.
- Mads tries on her bridesmaid dress and finds it drastically oversized; she enlists her grandmother for last-minute alterations.
- Mads attends the semiformal dance and kisses Robbie Nielson under a maple tree, finding the experience pleasant and uncomplicated.
Character Development
Mads demonstrates increasing emotional maturity by accepting Katie’s absence without devastation and refocusing on her own goals. She takes proactive steps in her college applications and seeks help from a tutor. Her decision to follow Natalie’s advice about a rebound kiss shows a willingness to try new experiences and reclaim control over her romantic life. The successful kiss with Robbie confirms that she can enjoy intimacy without emotional baggage, contrasting with her previous anxiety about kissing Jacob.
Natalie acts as a supportive friend who encourages Mads to move forward. Her blunt, humorous advice (“you fell for him like an elevator”) underscores her role as a pragmatic confidante.
Nana provides essential practical support by altering the bridesmaid dress, reinforcing the theme of family assistance during stressful moments.
Robbie Nielson appears as a kind, respectful partner for Mads’s first voluntary kiss after Marco. He is attentive and makes her feel safe, contributing to the positive experience.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Moving On and Reclaiming Agency: Mads deliberately chooses to stop dwelling on Marco and instead engages in a new kiss. The act of attending a dance she normally avoids symbolizes her willingness to break old patterns and take control of her own narrative.
Family and Support Networks: Nana’s quick help with the dress and the parents’ surprise party highlight the importance of family in Mads’s life. These moments counterbalance the emotional distance with Katie.
Rebound and Self-Discovery: Natalie’s suggestion of a rebound kiss—an idea echoed by Mads’s teammates—reflects a common teenage approach to healing. Mads uses the experience not merely to forget Marco but to learn what she wants in a romantic encounter: safety, fun, and no rush.
Contrast with Past Experiences: The kiss with Robbie is deliberately compared to the earlier kiss with Jacob. Robbie’s “perfect amount of saliva” and slow pace offer a positive revision of Mads’s least favorite kissing memory, allowing her to reclaim the act.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 20 marks a turning point in Mads’s emotional journey. After months of unrequited interest in Marco and the awkward aftermath of the Finger Lakes trip, she actively takes steps to move forward. The chapter resolves the lingering tension about the bridesmaid dress, clearing the way for the upcoming wedding. Most importantly, Mads experiences a kiss that is entirely her choice, enjoyable, and free of the weight she felt with Marco. This moment of closure prepares her for future romantic encounters and reinforces her growing independence.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Mads decide to attend the semiformal despite previously avoiding school dances? Mads wants to embrace “senior year” and be open to new experiences. Following Natalie’s advice about a rebound, she sees the dance as an opportunity to connect with Robbie and potentially share a kiss that helps her move on from Marco.
2. How does the bridesmaid dress incident affect Mads’s relationship with her grandmother? The incident deepens Mads’s reliance on Nana, who immediately offers to fix the dress. Nana’s practical help and calm reaction relieve Mads’s stress and reinforce the bond between them, showing that family support remains reliable even when friendships are strained.
3. What does the kiss with Robbie reveal about Mads’s emotional state? The kiss shows that Mads is ready to separate physical intimacy from deep emotional attachment. She feels safe and enjoys the moment without obsessing over Marco or seeking a serious relationship. This indicates personal growth and a healthier approach to romance.