Chapter 5: The Joshua Tree Departure – Summary and 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

Hannah arrives at the FLO yoga studio in Venice Beach, hesitating in her car before committing to the weekend trip. She meets Tess, who doubts Hannah would show, then Luna, the yoga teacher whose identity has shifted from college cheerleader Lauren. Luna’s thin frame and intrusive concern for Hannah’s heart unsettle her. Miles arrives on a longboard—Hannah’s almost-relationship from college, whom she has been secretly following on Instagram. Their reunion is awkward; Miles prioritizes consensual touching. Jared, Luna’s fraternity-bro boyfriend, pulls up in his Range Rover, already drinking. Tess takes a difficult call from her ex Kelsey and turns off her phone. The group piles into the car, and they set off east on the 10 freeway, leaving Los Angeles behind for what Hannah hopes will fix her.

Key Events

Hannah sits in her car across from the yoga studio, debating whether to bail on the trip.
Tess greets her; Hannah admits to watching Tess for ten minutes before approaching.
Luna emerges from class, hugs Hannah, and asks about her heart; Hannah recoils from the unwanted touch.
Miles arrives on a longboard; the two share a tense, attraction-laden reunion.
Miles initiates a handshake instead of a hug to be “conscious of consensual touching.”
Luna and Tess exchange knowing grins about Hannah and Miles’s history.
The narrator recalls the night in college when she and Miles held hands and talked until morning, before he walked away because she was still with Keith.
Jared pulls up in his black Range Rover, calls the group “dick licks,” and sets out the car rules.
Tess steps away for a phone call and angrily tells her ex Kelsey to stop contacting her; she turns her phone off for the weekend.
The group loads luggage; Miles offers to take the middle seat, and Hannah awkwardly climbs in.
Jared drives away, heading east toward Joshua Tree.

Character Development

Hannah – Her internal conflict is front and center: she wants to “exorcise her demons” but is tempted to invent a hospital emergency to escape. Her attraction to Miles reignites old feelings, and she judges her past decisions (getting back with Keith, choosing “safe bet” Ben) as mistakes. Hannah’s discomfort with Luna’s physical touch and her critical observations of Luna’s eating habits reveal a protective, clinical perspective shaped by medical training.

Miles – He appears grounded and respectful, explicitly stating his commitment to consent culture in his shows. His gentle handling of the reunion—opting for a handshake, deferring the middle seat—suggests maturity and awareness. Yet the palpable sexual tension indicates unresolved feelings on both sides.

Luna / Lauren – She has reinvented herself multiple times (from sorority hazer to yoga teacher). Her forced warmth and intrusive question about Hannah’s heart come across as performative. The narrator notes Luna’s starvation in the name of “wellness,” tying her to broader societal pressures on women.

Jared – Still trapped in college-bro behavior: he drinks before driving, slaps crude nicknames on Hannah, and makes loud demands. His success in “crushing” ad sales mirrors his lack of personal growth.

Tess – A supportive friend, but her angry phone call with Kelsey hints at a messy romantic life of her own. Turning off her phone signals a desire for escape and boundaries.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Identity Shifting – Luna’s multiple name changes (Lauren to Luna) and her constant adaptation to different social scenes symbolize the instability of self-presentation in Los Angeles. Hannah contrasts her own sense of self, rooted in medicine, with Luna’s chameleon nature.

Consensual Touch and Boundaries – Miles explicitly prioritizes consent, a theme reflecting modern cultural shifts. Hannah’s discomfort with Luna’s uninvited hand on her chest underscores the importance of bodily autonomy.

Running from the Past – The entire drive to Joshua Tree is framed as an escape. Hannah hopes the weekend will “fix everything,” while Tess silences her ex and Jared self-medicates with alcohol. The car moving away from Los Angeles suggests a literal and emotional departure.

Alcohol and Driving – Jared’s decision to drink and drive (and his “no grab-ass” joke) creates an undercurrent of risk, contrasting with Miles’s mindful consent. The chapter quietly questions the safety of the journey.

Unresolved Attraction – The almost-relationship between Hannah and Miles remains a simmering tension. Their hand-holding memory and awkward physical proximity in the car suggest the past is not truly behind them.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 5 launches the physical and emotional journey that the rest of the book’s action will follow. It establishes the group dynamics, reintroduces Miles as a romantic complication, and deepens Hannah’s internal conflict between wanting to heal and wanting to run. The careful detailing of each character’s baggage—Hannah’s guilt, Luna’s performative wellness, Jared’s reckless bravado, Tess’s boundary issues—previews the tensions that will unfold in Joshua Tree. The chapter also positions Hannah as a reluctant participant, making her eventual commitment to the trip a crucial character choice.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Hannah sit in her car for ten minutes before approaching the group, and what does this reveal about her state of mind?
Hannah is paralyzed by doubt and fear. She considers faking a hospital emergency to escape the trip. This hesitation shows that despite telling herself she won’t run anymore, she is still tempted to avoid confronting her past, including Miles and the memory of her bad relationship with Keith.

2. How does Miles’s emphasis on “consensual touching” contrast with other characters’ behavior in this chapter?
Miles consciously offers a handshake instead of a hug to respect boundaries, while Luna touches Hannah without permission and Jared makes crude jokes. This contrast positions Miles as more emotionally mature and respectful, heightening the romantic tension while critiquing casual disregard for consent in the wider group.

3. What is the significance of the chapter’s final line, “Away from Los Angeles and into the weekend that I hope will fix everything. Fix me.”?
The line expresses Hannah’s unrealistic expectation that a single trip can solve long-standing issues—her guilt, her broken engagement, her unresolved feelings for Miles. By placing the hope for “fixing” herself externally, the narrator shows she is still avoiding the internal work needed. The geographical movement east parallels her emotional attempts to leave problems behind, but the novel’s title hints that such escape may only lead to more bleeding.