Chapter 29 Summary and Analysis

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Now, let's dive in.

This chapter is a turning point in Maddie's romantic life, as she navigates her first real date with Alex and confronts her own assumptions about bisexuality.

It's a chapter that balances humour, vulnerability, and genuine self-reflection.

Let's break it down.

Summary

The chapter opens with Maddie reeling from the revelation that Alex is bisexual.

She's already wary of dating another white man after her painful experience with Ben, but she's also intrigued by Alex's apparent awareness of racial issues—he's read a book about Britain's erasure of non-white contributions.

Now she has to process his bisexuality.

She worries about competing with men as well as women, and she wonders if she can satisfy him physically.

She turns to the internet, finding a chat room where people share mixed opinions about dating bisexual men, ranging from supportive to dismissive.

Unsatisfied, she calls her friend Shu to ask why she's a lesbian and not bisexual.

Shu, in her typically blunt way, explains that she's simply more attracted to women and doesn't miss men.

She teases Maddie about her odd questions, and the conversation ends with Shu hanging up.

On Saturday, Maddie spends two hours getting ready for her date, trying on multiple outfits before settling on jeans and a red jumper.

She meets Alex at a Scandinavian-style coffee shop that smells of warm butter and cinnamon.

He's already there, having ordered green tea, a Danish pastry, and a brownie.

They chat easily, and Maddie lies about her weekend plans, inventing a brunch with a friend and a barbecue to seem more socially active.

The conversation turns to online dating.

Alex mentions he's been on two dates before this one—one with a girl, and one with a guy.

Maddie is momentarily thrown by the pronoun, and Alex notices.

He gently calls her out, and she admits it was jarring.

He then opens up about the challenges of being a bisexual man: the constant questions about his sex life, the assumption that he's secretly gay, and the phenomenon of bi-erasure.

He explains that he used to label himself as 'queer' but felt he was hiding his true identity.

Maddie reflects on her own experiences with online dating, where men often fixate on her skin tone, body shape, and perceived sexual prowess.

They share a moment of unspoken understanding about the difficulties of dating as a Black woman and as a bisexual man.

Alex directly asks if his bisexuality is a problem for her.

She says no.

After nearly two hours, they leave the coffee shop.

Outside her station, Alex asks permission to kiss her.

She agrees, and they share a soft kiss that leaves her smiling all the way to the supermarket.

Then she remembers she doesn't actually have a barbecue to attend, and she heads back to her flat.

Key Events

Maddie learns Alex is bisexual and grapples with her initial discomfort.
She searches online for perspectives on dating bisexual men, encountering a range of opinions.
She calls Shu to ask about her sexuality, leading to a humorous and revealing conversation.
Maddie spends two hours getting ready for her date, ultimately choosing jeans and a red jumper.
She meets Alex at a Scandinavian coffee shop, where he has ordered tea and pastries.
They discuss online dating, and Alex reveals he's been on a date with a man.
Alex explains the challenges of bi-erasure and the assumptions people make about him.
He asks Maddie directly if his bisexuality is a problem; she says it isn't.
They share a kiss after Alex asks for permission.
Maddie walks away smiling, but then remembers she lied about having a barbecue and returns home.

Character Development

This chapter is a significant moment for Maddie's emotional growth.

She begins with internalized biphobia, worrying that Alex's attraction to men means she can't compete.

Her initial thoughts are steeped in stereotypes—she wonders if he wants