Chapter 18 'Pride' — Summary, Themes, 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

On Friday of Freshers' Week, Georgia and Rooney attend the Freshers' Fair at the Student Union. Rooney eagerly collects flyers from many stalls, and Georgia ends up carrying a pile for her. Georgia had arranged to meet Pip and Jason there, but the building is so large that she cannot find them, so she decides to focus on joining societies.

As they walk through the fair, Georgia feels increasingly overwhelmed. She tentatively signs up for English Soc with Rooney, but struggles to identify any other society that appeals to her. She dismisses Creative Writing Soc because her past attempts at writing fanfiction were disastrous, and she rejects Film Soc because she can just watch movies in bed. She notices the Durham Student Theatre stall at the far end of the hall and thinks that joining a play might help her meet people, but she does not approach it.

Rooney moves ahead, chatting with stall holders, while Georgia ambles along feeling out of place. She eventually reaches the Pride Society stall, which is decorated with a large rainbow flag and surrounded by excited freshers. Georgia picks up a leaflet listing various identities, including asexual and aromantic—terms she has only encountered online.

Sunil Jha, her college parent, greets her warmly and invites her to sign up. Georgia hesitates, feeling like a fraud because she does not know what her own identity is. She has considered the possibility that she is not attracted to guys, but she does not seem to like girls either, and she has never felt the “butterflies” she reads about in fanfiction. Despite her doubts, she writes down her email address. Sunil introduces Jess, a vice president, who is enthusiastic about Georgia joining. Sunil describes Pride Soc activities such as club nights, meet-ups, formals, and film nights. Georgia forces a smile and thinks that maybe she could go and have a “lesbian awakening,” but she already knows she will not attend the welcome gathering.

Key Events

Georgia and Rooney attend the Freshers' Fair; Rooney collects many flyers.
Georgia cannot find Pip and Jason and feels overwhelmed by the number of societies.
Georgia signs up only for English Soc with Rooney.
She sees the Durham Student Theatre stall but does not approach it.
At the Pride Society stall, Georgia reads a leaflet listing asexual and aromantic identities.
Sunil Jha invites her to sign up; she reluctantly writes her email.
Sunil introduces Jess, a vice president, and describes Pride Soc activities.
Georgia imagines a possible “lesbian awakening” but decides she will not attend the welcome gathering.

Character Development

Georgia’s internal conflict deepens in this chapter. She is acutely aware of her inability to fit into conventional social spaces, and the Freshers' Fair amplifies her sense of isolation. Her decision to sign up for Pride Soc—despite feeling like a fraud—marks a tentative step toward acknowledging her uncertainty about her identity. She is drawn to the leaflet’s inclusion of asexual and aromantic identities, but she immediately dismisses herself as unworthy of claiming them. Her interaction with Sunil and Jess is warm, yet she cannot shake the feeling that she does not belong. The chapter also highlights Georgia’s reliance on fanfiction as a lens for understanding romance; she even imagines her potential awakening as a plot she has read before. Her final decision not to attend the welcome gathering underscores her fear of exposure and her belief that she has nothing to offer.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Identity uncertainty: Georgia’s inability to label her attraction is central. She has considered being not into guys, but also not into girls, leaving her in a liminal space.
Imposter syndrome: Georgia feels like a fraud for signing up to Pride Soc, believing she has no right to join because she does not know her identity.
Queer community: The Pride Society represents a potential space of belonging, but Georgia’s hesitation shows her fear of claiming that space.
University societies as social pressure: The fair highlights the expectation to join groups and make friends, which overwhelms Georgia.
Fanfiction as escape: Georgia uses fanfiction to imagine romantic scenarios, but it also distances her from real-life connections.
The rainbow flag: A symbol of queer identity and community, it draws Georgia in even as she feels unworthy.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter introduces the Pride Society and its key members, Sunil and Jess, who will likely play significant roles in Georgia’s journey. It also marks a pivotal moment in Georgia’s self-discovery: she encounters the terms asexual and aromantic for the first time in a physical space, and although she does not embrace them yet, the seed is planted. The chapter reinforces Georgia’s internal conflict between her desire for connection and her fear of being exposed as a fraud. It also sets up the possibility of future events, such as the welcome gathering, which Georgia has already decided to skip, creating tension for the reader.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Georgia feel like a fraud when signing up for Pride Soc?

Georgia feels like a fraud because she does not know her own identity. She has considered that she might not be attracted to guys, but she also does not feel attracted to girls, and she has never experienced the romantic feelings she reads about in fanfiction. She believes she has no right to join a queer society without a clear label.

What does Georgia’s reaction to the Durham Student Theatre stall reveal about her?

Georgia notices the theatre stall and thinks that joining a play would help her meet people, but she does not approach it. This reveals her desire for social connection and her fear of taking initiative. She is drawn to creative activities but lacks the confidence to pursue them, reflecting her broader struggle to engage with the world.

How does the chapter use the Pride Society leaflet to advance Georgia’s self-discovery?

The leaflet lists identities such as asexual and aromantic, which Georgia has only heard of online. Seeing them in a physical space makes them more real to her, and she is surprised by their inclusion. This moment plants the idea that her experiences might have a name, even though she is not ready to claim it yet.

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