Chapter 17 Summary: The County Fair Date
⚠️ 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
Stevie rides to the county fair with Savannah and Savannah’s boyfriend, Jake Mackey, who is insensitive and unaware that Stevie cannot remember the past two years. Once at the fair, Stevie separates from the couple and meets Ryan, who has bought a huge stack of tickets. They play games, winning a pocketknife from the ring toss, a stuffed Minion, and failing repeatedly at the rope ladder. Ryan later buys a caramel apple for Stevie. Over food, they talk about their futures: Ryan plans to spend his first semester in Rome, while Stevie admits she feels stuck attending Bower Community College after her accident. Ryan suggests she could still apply to other colleges. They run into Nora at the animal barn, where she is selling raffle tickets for a cow to support the fire station. Nora seems sad, and Stevie suspects it is because Nora is vegan and upset about the cow being raffled for meat. On impulse, Stevie and Ryan pool their money and buy a long string of raffle tickets, writing down Stevie’s name and number, hoping to win the cow and save it. As the fair closes, Ryan walks Stevie toward the exit. He tries to kiss her, but Stevie steps back, feeling no romantic spark despite having enjoyed the evening. She makes an excuse to leave, then hides behind the bathrooms, disappointed and confused that her earlier crush on Ryan has not returned.
Key Events
- Stevie rides to the fair with Savannah and Jake; Jake makes offensive comments and plays loud country music.
- Stevie finds Ryan waiting by the Ferris wheel; Ryan has bought over a hundred tickets.
- They play the ring toss and win a wooden-handled pocketknife; Ryan gives it to Stevie.
- Ryan repeatedly attempts the rope ladder and fails but remains cheerful.
- Ryan reveals he will study in Rome in the fall; Stevie shares her frustration about staying in Wyatt for community college.
- They encounter Nora, who is working at a cow raffle booth; Nora seems withdrawn.
- Stevie speculates Nora is vegan and upset about the cow; she and Ryan decide to buy raffle tickets to try to win the cow.
- At the end of the night, Ryan leans in for a kiss; Stevie avoids it by claiming she needs to find Savannah.
- Stevie hides and reflects on her lack of romantic feelings for Ryan.
Character Development
Stevie spends the date feeling comfortable with Ryan as a friend but is acutely aware that she does not feel the romantic attraction she expected. She tries to summon the movie‑style feelings that should accompany a first kiss, but they do not come. Her disappointment reveals how her memory loss has fractured her emotional continuity: she knows she had a crush on Ryan before the accident, but she cannot access those feelings now. Her impulse to buy raffle tickets for Nora’s cow shows her compassionate nature and desire to help others, even someone she barely knows.
Ryan is patient, good‑humored, and attentive. He buys the caramel apple Stevie wanted, does not pressure her to ride rides after she declines, and contributes his own money to the cow raffle without hesitation. His mention that he “barely knows” Nora reinforces that his interest is solely in Stevie, making her eventual rejection more poignant.
Nora appears only briefly, but her melancholic demeanor raises questions. Stevie’s theory that Nora is vegan and sad about the cow—while unconfirmed—shows Stevie’s empathy. Nora’s earlier apology for being “weird” at her house indicates she is dealing with personal struggles, possibly connected to the memories Stevie has lost.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Memory and Identity. Stevie’s inability to replicate her former feelings for Ryan highlights how amnesia disrupts the continuity of self. She is “the same person” but cannot access the emotional history that once defined her attractions.
Romantic Expectations vs. Reality. The chapter contrasts the idealized first‑date narrative (spontaneous love, a perfect kiss) with Stevie’s experience of platonic enjoyment and emotional absence. The knife she jokingly calls “every girl’s dream” underscores the gap between conventional romance and her truth.
Small‑Town Stagnation. Both Stevie and Ryan critique Wyatt’s lack of diversity and opportunity. Stevie’s description of the town as “dead” and its people as “stuck” reinforces her longing for escape, a longing now complicated by her injury.
The Cow Raffle as a Symbol of Compassion. The cow, destined to be raffled for meat, becomes a catalyst for spontaneous kindness. Stevie’s and Ryan’s willingness to spend their money on the raffle—even knowing the odds—demonstrates their shared empathy, yet the act also distracts Stevie from processing her feelings about Ryan.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the central conflict of the novel: Stevie’s amnesia has severed her emotional ties to her past self. Her failure to feel romantic interest in Ryan—the boy she was supposed to like—calls into question whether she can ever reclaim her former relationships. It also sets up a potential contrast with her feelings for Nora, whose unexplained sadness and significant role in saving Stevie’s life suggest a deeper connection Stevie has yet to remember. The chapter also reinforces Stevie’s desire to leave Wyatt, a desire that will become a key motivation as the plot unfolds.
Study Questions
1. Why does Stevie avoid kissing Ryan at the end of the date?
Stevie realizes that despite enjoying the evening, she does not feel the romantic spark she expected. She recalls that she had a crush on Ryan before the accident, but now the feeling is absent, leaving her confused and disappointed.
2. What does Stevie’s decision to buy raffle tickets for the cow reveal about her character?
It shows that Stevie is empathetic and impulsive. She notices Nora’s sadness and, believing Nora is vegan, wants to prevent the cow from being slaughtered. The act also demonstrates her willingness to act on behalf of someone she barely knows, a trait that may later connect her to Nora on a deeper level.
3. How does the chapter portray the theme of feeling “stuck” in a small town?
Both Stevie and Ryan express dissatisfaction with Wyatt. Ryan describes the residents as “all kinda the same” and is eager to leave for Rome. Stevie calls the town “dead” and laments that she is now stuck there attending community college, despite having hoped college would be her escape. Their conversation underscores the limited opportunities in Wyatt and Stevie’s frustration with her current situation.