Chapter Three: The Engagement Party
⚠️ 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
Madeline takes an unusually long time getting ready for Austin and Katie’s engagement party, wanting to look older among the bridesmaids. She wears a violet dress and tries a cat-eye makeup look. At the farmhouse, her dads debate party music. Austin finds her and reminds her about the bridesmaid bracelet. Downstairs, she trips and is caught by Marco Álvarez, an old school acquaintance now working for the caterers. They banter, and he calls her Catwoman because of her eyeliner. Nana intervenes, unbraiding her hair into a half-up style. Madeline meets the bridesmaids: Amanda (maid of honor and Katie’s sister), Reese, Courtney, Paige, Yasmin, and Meredith. During introductions, an appetizer of tomato soup and mini grilled cheese (a nostalgic joke from her dads) spills on Yasmin’s dress; Dad saves the situation. Samira Bhatia, Austin’s ex-girlfriend and family friend, arrives. Madeline notices Katie’s fake warmth toward Samira. The group takes a photo, and Madeline internally resolves to endure being a bridesmaid for Austin’s sake.
Key Events
- Madeline spends an hour getting ready, including following a YouTube makeup tutorial.
- She and Austin fake-drink the mini prosecco from her bridesmaid box.
- Madeline meets Marco Álvarez, a former schoolmate who works for the caterers.
- Nana redoes Madeline’s hair, turning her braid into a half-up style.
- Madeline is introduced to the six bridesmaids: Amanda, Reese, Courtney, Paige, Yasmin, and Meredith.
- A soup-and-grilled-cheese appetizer spills on Yasmin; Madeline’s father helps clean it.
- Samira Bhatia arrives; Katie’s strained politeness toward her ex-girlfriend is evident.
- The bridal party poses for a group photo with a professional photographer.
- Madeline decides to tolerate being a bridesmaid because the wedding is for Austin.
Character Development
- Madeline shows insecurity about being perceived as a “kid sister” and tries to present a more mature image. Her internal monologue reveals deep loyalty to Austin and growing discomfort with Katie’s superficial behavior, especially toward Samira.
- Marco Álvarez is reintroduced as a confident, teasing presence. His easy banter with Madeline hints at a potential future connection, contrasting with the stiff formality of the bridal party.
- Katie is depicted as performatively gracious but genuinely cold toward Samira, exposing her jealousy or insecurity. Her earlier refusal to include Madeline in the wedding party is contrasted with her forced acceptance.
- Nana is practical and warm, stepping in to help Madeline feel more confident.
- Austin remains supportive but largely offstage, reinforcing his role as the emotional center of Madeline’s choices.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Appearance vs. reality: Madeline’s cat-eye makeup and desire to look older contrast with her inner anxiety. The bridesmaid bracelet ties her to a role she doesn’t fully want.
- Sibling loyalty: Madeline’s decision to grin and bear the wedding for Austin’s happiness underscores the book’s emphasis on family bonds.
- Nostalgia and family history: The tomato-soup-and-grilled-cheese appetizer references Austin’s childhood, and the 1960s heels from Grandma link past generations to the present.
- Social class or belonging: Madeline feels like an outsider among the bridesmaids, who are older and more polished. Marco, a working caterer, offers a more familiar connection.
- Fake vs. genuine connections: Katie’s interactions with Samira contrast with the easy warmth among the bridesmaids, and Madeline’s internal fake-it-till-you-make-it strategy mirrors Katie’s own performance.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens Madeline’s internal conflict: she must participate in Katie’s wedding despite her misgivings. It introduces key characters who will shape the plot—Marco as a potential love interest and Samira as a reminder of Austin’s past. The party setting allows Walther to showcase family dynamics (the dads’ banter, Nana’s intervention) and to set up future tension between Madeline and Katie. Madeline’s decision to endure for Austin establishes her core motivation and loyalty, while her discomfort with the bridesmaids hints at future obstacles in the wedding preparations.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Madeline resist being a bridesmaid despite saying yes?
Madeline felt Katie initially did not want her in the wedding party and only asked under pressure from Austin. At the party, Madeline feels like an outsider among the other bridesmaids and observes Katie’s fake behavior, especially toward Samira. She decides to stay involved only because the wedding is for her brother, not because she supports Katie.
2. How does the tomato-soup-and-grilled-cheese appetizer serve as a character moment?
The appetizer is a nostalgic joke from Madeline’s dads, referencing Austin’s childhood favorite meal. It humanizes the dads and the family’s warmth, but the spill also triggers Madeline’s embarrassment—she worries the bridesmaids will remember her as the one who caused the mess. The moment highlights Madeline’s anxiety about first impressions.
3. What does Katie’s reaction to Samira’s arrival reveal about her character?
Katie’s greeting to Samira is polite but hollow; she shifts on her feet and seems uninterested in Samira’s life. This reveals Katie’s insecurity about Austin’s history with Samira and a lack of genuine effort to accept her as family. It contrasts with Madeline’s and the rest of the family’s love for Samira, suggesting future friction.