Imogen Scott: A Character Analysis of Self-Discovery and Queer Identity

Overview

Imogen Scott is the protagonist of Becky Albertalli’s 2023 young adult novel Imogen, Obviously. A high school senior from Penn Yan, New York, Imogen arrives on the Blackwell College campus for her first visit to her best friend Lili Cardoso. She is a self-described “capital-A Ally” who has attended Pride Alliance meetings for years yet feels like an outsider in queer spaces. Over the course of the novel, Imogen grapples with her assumed heterosexuality, navigates a fabricated backstory as Lili’s ex-girlfriend, and ultimately embarks on a journey of authentic self-discovery. Her character arc moves from impostor syndrome and performance to vulnerability and genuine questioning.

Plot Role

Imogen is the first-person narrator and central consciousness. The story follows her weekend visit to Blackwell, where Lili has told her new queer friends that she and Imogen were girlfriends in high school. Imogen initially goes along with the lie to protect Lili’s credibility, but the deception quickly unravels her sense of identity. She becomes the fulcrum of the novel’s exploration of compulsory heterosexuality, authenticity, and belonging. Her growing attraction to Lili’s friend Tessa and her eventual coming out provide the emotional engine of the plot.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Imogen’s core motivation is belonging—she desperately wants to be accepted in queer spaces without feeling like an intruder. This desire drives her to attend Pride Alliance meetings since ninth grade (chapter 1 evidence) and to accept Lili’s lie without hesitation. She is deeply self-aware to the point of paralysis: in chapter 1, she mentions researching whether allies are welcome in queer spaces. Her tendency to overanalyze is revealed through internal monologues about her “Resting Bunny Face” and her habit of framing experiences as talk-show interviews.

She is also empathetic and loyal. When Lili asks for a promise before revealing the lie, Imogen agrees without knowing the cost. She worries about appropriation—in chapter 5, she internally panics about not being “believable as a queer girl.” Her shyness is consistent: she compares herself unfavorably to Lili’s new friends and feels “far away” from Lili after she left for college.

As the story progresses, Imogen’s motivations shift from performing allyship to understanding her own desires. She begins questioning her sexuality in chapter 27, mentally listing past crushes and rationalizing patterns. Her actions—taking an online sexuality quiz (chapter 28), flirting with Tessa, and eventually kissing her—demonstrate a growing willingness to explore rather than suppress.

Chronological Arc

1. Arrival and Impostor Syndrome (Chapters 1–5): Imogen arrives at Blackwell feeling like a “relic of Lili’s heteronormative small-town childhood.” She learns about Lili’s lie and agrees to play along. A flashback in chapter 5 reveals her long-standing insecurity about passing as queer.

2. Performance and Connection (Chapters 6–11): Imogen meets Lili’s friends, wins trivia night, and begins to bond with Tessa. She internally questions her attraction while still insisting she is straight. Tessa calls her a “closeted goofball” in chapter 10, startling her.

3. Return Home and Unraveling (Chapters 22–24): Imogen leaves without saying goodbye to Tessa. At home, she feels relief in mundane routines but realizes she has been lying by omission. She asks herself when lying became comfortable—a turning point.

4. Questioning and Confrontation (Chapters 27–31): Imogen searches online for sexuality quizzes, admits to a crush on Tessa, and receives a flirty comment from Tessa on her Instagram. Gretchen’s assumption that Imogen is “a freaking heterosexual” (chapter 31) stings, highlighting the conflict between others’ perceptions and her inner uncertainty.

5. Climactic Confession and Resolution (Chapters 44–62): At a party, Imogen participates in a conversation about first queer crushes and shares a story about Ilana, a girl from third grade. She and Tessa kiss for the first time in chapter 52 after Imogen comes out as bi at a diner. The arc culminates in a rain-soaked reunion in Penn Yan (chapter 60) where Imogen declares she wants to be Tessa’s girlfriend.

Relationships

• Lili Cardoso: Best friend since childhood. Imogen views Lili as having “clicked into place” at college, which stirs feelings of being left behind. Their friendship is tested by the lie but ultimately reaffirmed when Lili insists Imogen’s friends liked her for herself (chapter 22). Lili’s easy confidence contrasts with Imogen’s shyness.

• Tessa: The romantic interest. Tessa is flirtatious, accepting, and patient. She never questions Imogen’s claimed bisexuality—in chapter 9, she says “the bisexuals have spoken.” Their relationship deepens through shared vulnerability: Tessa shares her coming-out story, and Imogen later admits she didn’t think she was queer. Their physical intimacy is marked by mutual care and humor.

• Gretchen: Imogen’s abrasive but loyal friend. Gretchen is openly queer and often frames Imogen as straight. In chapter 7, Imogen recalls Gretchen calling her out for discomfort. Gretchen’s assumption that Imogen is heterosexual (chapter 31) inadvertently pressures Imogen. The relationship highlights the harm of assuming someone’s identity.

• Family: Sister Edith encourages Imogen to “break out of your comfort zone” (chapter 1) and later drives her to meet Tessa in the rain. Her mother is supportive and absentmindedly warm. Home represents comfort and honesty, contrasting with the performative space of college.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Theme/Symbol Connections

Self-Discovery and Queer Identity: Imogen’s arc mirrors the novel’s central theme of self-discovery and queer identity. She moves from performing allyship to recognizing her own attraction. The online quiz in chapter 28 symbolizes her active questioning.

Compulsory Heterosexuality: The novel explicitly names “comphet” as an oppressive force (chapter 52). Imogen’s early belief that she is “obviously straight” despite clear signs (crush on Ilana, fixation on Tessa) illustrates the theme of compulsory heterosexuality.

Authenticity vs. Performance: The lie about being Lili’s ex forces Imogen to perform queerness, but she gradually realizes that performance cannot substitute for genuine authenticity. Her plaid pinafore and “dark academia” costume underscore this tension.

Friendship and Belonging: Imogen’s desire to be accepted by Lili’s friends drives her actions. The novel explores how friendship and belonging can either pressure or liberate someone.

Queer Community and Allyship: Imogen’s journey critiques performative allyship while affirming the importance of queer community and allyship. Gretchen’s question “Who gets let in? Who gets shoved out?” (chapter 59) echoes throughout.

5 Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Imogen initially go along with Lili’s lie about being her ex-girlfriend?
   Imogen values her friendship with Lili and does not want to undermine Lili’s credibility with her new queer friends. She also feels insecure about her own place in queer spaces and hopes the story might help her belong. However, she later admits the lie became comfortable (chapter 24), revealing her desire to be seen as queer.

2. What triggers Imogen’s first explicit acknowledgment that she might not be straight?
   In chapter 27, Imogen wakes up unable to shake the thought that her attraction to girls might be real. She mentally lists past crushes and compares her pattern to role-play. This internal debate escalates in chapter 28 when she takes an online sexuality quiz, marking her first active step toward questioning.

3. How does Tessa’s response to Imogen’s coming out differ from Gretchen’s?
   Tessa immediately accepts Imogen’s bisexuality without skepticism, saying, “I’m not skeptical. I would never be” (chapter 52). In contrast, Gretchen has repeatedly assumed Imogen is straight and even accuses Tessa of not dating bi girls, forcing Imogen to defend her identity. Tessa offers unconditional support; Gretchen initially imposes her own framework.

4. What role does the flashback to the Girl Scout SWAPs convention play in Imogen’s self-discovery?
   The memory of Ilana, the girl with felt rainbow SWAPs, becomes a recurring touchstone. In chapter 44, Imogen shares the story with Lili’s friends, revealing she looked Ilana up on Instagram years later. This retrospective awareness suggests Imogen’s attraction to girls was present long before she consciously recognized it. The felt rainbows symbolize buried queer desire.

5. In what way does the novel’s ending suggest Imogen has fully embraced her identity?
   By chapter 62, Imogen tells Tessa she wants to be her girlfriend—a clear, assertive declaration. She no longer hesitates or performs. The rain-soaked reunion in Penn Yan (chapter 60) shows her taking initiative: she drives to meet Tessa, admits she was scared, and kisses her openly in public. The “bat signal” photo she posts earlier symbolizes her willingness to be seen.

For a complete understanding of the novel’s ending, see the ending explained page. Additional context on themes is available in the themes section.