Imogen, Obviously Chapter 1: Arrival at Blackwell
⚠️ 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
Imogen Scott is a high school senior visiting her friend Lili at Blackwell College for the first time, despite Lili having invited her many times. The campus is close to Imogen’s home in Penn Yan, New York. Imogen is driven to campus by her friend Gretchen, along with Imogen’s sister Edith and friend Otávio. Gretchen offers to stay, but Imogen insists she’s fine—though internally she feels anxious, imagining a hostile talk-show audience in her head. Edith, a junior in high school, teases Imogen about being too cautious and encourages her to break out of her comfort zone, jokingly suggesting she give up flossing for the weekend and seek spontaneous campus high jinks.
Imogen reflects on her identity as a capital-“A” Ally in her high school’s Pride Alliance, a group she has attended almost every meeting of since freshman year. She feels unworthy and worries about being a straight girl invading queer territory; she has read countless blog posts and Reddit forums on the topic without finding a clear answer. She knows she is technically allowed to be there per the student handbook and that her support is important to Gretchen, but she still feels too “normie” and distinctly unqueer.
When Lili finally arrives, she hugs everyone and greets Gretchen stiffly. The group separates, and Imogen prepares to stay on campus for three nights. Before leaving, Gretchen jokes about a “cute college guy” she spotted and dubs him “Bruce” from Maine, suggesting he could be Imogen’s spring-break fling. Imogen deflects but appreciates her friends’ support. The chapter ends with Imogen inwardly agreeing to not floss, acknowledging Edith’s teasing advice.
Key Events
- Imogen arrives at Blackwell College with Gretchen, Edith, and Otávio; she is nervous about this first visit.
- Edith tries to persuade Imogen to step out of her comfort zone, using humor and references to Little Women.
- Imogen internally reviews her participation in Pride Alliance, her feelings of being an outsider as a straight ally, and her research on the topic.
- Lili meets them late, exchanges greetings (stiffly with Gretchen), and takes Imogen’s suitcase.
- Gretchen teases Imogen about a college boy she nicknames “Bruce,” implying a potential fling.
- Imogen accepts Edith’s challenge to give up flossing for the weekend, indicating a small willingness to loosen up.
Character Development
Imogen Scott: Imogen is established as a rule-follower who craves certainty and clear boundaries. She hates the lack of consensus she found online about allies in queer spaces, and she equates restriction with safety. She sees herself as the opposite of her bold, spontaneous sister Edith—identifying more with Meg March than Jo March. Despite her anxiety, Imogen is deeply loyal: she attends Pride Alliance meetings to support her friends and has done extensive research to ensure she is not overstepping.
Edith: Edith is Imogen’s younger sister, but she acts as the older, wiser provocateur. She is daring (pictured petting a donkey despite a “do not pet” sign as a child) and pushes Imogen to let go of control. Her advice to “give up flossing” symbolizes the larger challenge to abandon rigid habits.
Gretchen: Gretchen is a loyal, impulsive friend who drove Imogen to campus without being asked. She openly jokes about finding Imogen a college fling, showing she wants Imogen to have fun. Her dynamic with Lili is slightly tense (a stiff greeting), hinting at a history.
Lili: Lili is friendly and warmly greets the group, but her late arrival and curt interaction with Gretchen suggest possible friction or awkwardness.
Otávio: Otávio is quietly present, mostly playing on his phone. He is also an ally who joined Pride Alliance after Lili came out, but he receives more praise than Imogen (“woke king”), which Imogen notes with mild resentment.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Allyship and Belonging: The central theme of the chapter. Imogen questions whether she belongs in queer spaces as a straight person. Her anxiety about being an “invader” and her search for rules around allyship highlight a common tension between wanting to support and fearing overstepping.
Identity and Performance: Imogen sees herself as a character from Little Women—the safe, conventional Meg instead of the ambitious Jo. This self-labeling reflects how she restricts her own identity. Edith’s description of her as a “lone wolf” and “badass” feels ironic and unearned to Imogen, underscoring her low confidence.
Comfort Zone: Edith’s repeated encouragement to break out of routines (e.g., stop flossing, seek spontaneous jinks) symbolizes the push Imogen needs to loosen her grip on control and certainty. The chapter’s title word “Obviously” (also Imogen’s favorite adverb) hints at her tendency to state the obvious as a way to manage situations.
The LGBTQ+ Space: Pride Alliance is presented as both a safe space and a place where Imogen feels like an outsider. The group’s reaction to Otávio vs. Imogen reveals an unspoken hierarchy of belonging.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 1 lays the foundation for Imogen’s internal conflict and emotional arc. It introduces her key relationships (supportive sister, loyal friends, subtly strained friendship with Lili) and establishes her insecurity about her identity as an ally. The stage is set for a transformative weekend, where the safe, rule-abiding Imogen will be challenged to question not only her role in queer spaces but also her own assumptions about who she is. The chapter also plants seeds for potential romance (the “Bruce” joke) and deeper friendship dynamics (the tension between Lili and Gretchen).
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Imogen feel anxious about attending Pride Alliance meetings, even though she is technically allowed?
Imogen worries about being a straight girl “invading queer territory.” She has researched the topic extensively but found no clear consensus online about whether allies are welcome in safe spaces. This uncertainty makes her feel like an outsider and undeserving of the space, despite the student handbook permitting her attendance.
2. How does the author use the Little Women reference to characterize Imogen and Edith?
Imogen describes herself as “Wants-to-Be-Jo, Is-Actually-Meg,” meaning she admires Jo March’s independence but sees herself as the more conventional, cautious Meg. Edith, in contrast, is called a “modern-day Amy March,” implying she is bold, artistic, and unapologetic about breaking rules. This contrast highlights their different approaches to life.
3. What clues in the chapter suggest there is tension between Lili and Gretchen?
When Lili arrives, she hugs everyone warmly but “turns stiffly to Gretchen” and says a simple “Hi.” Gretchen responds with a similar “Hi” and a nod. Earlier, Imogen notes that Gretchen knows about Lili’s queer friends, and Lili rolls her eyes when Imogen says goodbye to Gretchen. These subtle cues hint at a strained or awkward relationship that may be explored later.