Chapter 20 Summary and Study Guide: Key Moments 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

In the early hours of June 15, ten years before the novel's present timeline, Fern and Will sit on the edge of her bed in her Toronto apartment, facing each other in near darkness. Fern finally opens up about the rebellious phase she hinted at earlier. She explains that everything changed when she discovered her mother's old diaries, specifically one from the summer she became pregnant with Fern. The diary revealed that Fern's biological father was Eric, a lifeguard who worked at the resort for one season. He and Fern's mother had been in love, but Eric left as soon as he learned about the pregnancy and never looked back.

Fern admits that she had always hoped Peter—her mother's long-time partner—was her real father. She had fantasized about DNA tests proving it, and she cherished the many ways Peter had been present in her life: attending her soccer games, teaching her to drive, and making mix CDs. The diary shattered that illusion.

Enraged and hurt, Fern forced her mother to contact Eric. The call went badly: Eric had a wife and children and refused to acknowledge Fern or even speak to her. Fern's grief spiraled into self-destruction. She started drinking heavily, blacking out, making poor choices with guys, skipping classes, and getting kicked off the soccer team. The most dramatic incident was stealing a tractor from a farm during a party, which ended with her sobering up in a police cruiser. Her best friend Whitney confronted her, saying she couldn't stay friends if Fern kept risking herself. Fern, defensive and bitter, told Whitney she'd been a bad friend since she started dating Cam, and they stopped speaking.

The rebellion peaked one night when Fern invited strangers over while her mother was working. Drinking in the sunroom, Fern passed out in the bathroom, hitting her head on the sink. A small fire broke out—likely from a cigarette—and smoke filled the house. Her mother and Peter rushed in, broke down the bathroom door, and pulled Fern out. She woke in the hospital with a concussion and a burn on her throat. Her mother had a bandaged arm from the rescue. Fern realized her mother had saved her life.

That realization shifted everything. When her mother suggested Fern apply to business school and eventually take over the resort, Fern agreed without argument. She felt she owed her mother everything. But now, sitting with Will, she confesses she has no idea what she actually wants. She envies Will's clarity about his art. Will responds that ten-year plans are nonsense, and he gently points out that Fern already knows what she doesn't want: she doesn't want to move back to Muskoka, and she doesn't want to run the resort. He tells her, “Your mom may have saved your life, but it's still your life.”

Inspired, Will pulls out his sketchbook and proposes a one-year plan instead. He writes Fern's goals: not working at Brookbanks, not living in Muskoka, and being in Toronto. Fern adds her own touch, and they create a plan for Will too: he'll be broke, won't treat art like a hobby, and will work on getting his comic Roommates published. The act of writing down these intentions feels radical to Fern—like an alternate future becomes possible.

As the night winds down, Fern asks Will what he would have guessed she studied in school. He says English, maybe poetry. She laughs it off, but he insists she's more interesting than she thinks. Their hands rest close on the bed, and Fern inches her fingers toward his. She whispers that she wishes she cared about something the way he cares about art. Will says she will, with time. Fern admits she doesn't want her mother to hate her. Will squeezes her pinkie and says she won't. Fern whispers, “I trust you,” and they fall asleep as the candle burns out.

Key Events

Fern reveals the diary discovery and Eric's identity as her biological father.
She recounts her spiral: drinking, skipping classes, getting kicked off the soccer team, and stealing a tractor.
Whitney ends their friendship after a confrontation.
A house fire leads to Fern's rescue by her mother and Peter; Fern sustains a concussion.
Fern agrees to attend business school and work at the resort out of guilt and obligation.
Will dismisses ten-year plans and helps Fern create a one-year plan in his sketchbook.
They write down concrete goals for both of them, including Will's commitment to Roommates.
Fern admits she trusts Will, and they fall asleep together.

Character Development

Fern undergoes a major emotional shift in this chapter. She moves from guardedness to vulnerability, sharing the most painful parts of her past with Will. Her confession reveals deep-seated guilt and a sense of indebtedness to her mother, which has shaped her life choices. Yet Will's gentle challenge—that her life is still her own—plants a seed of self-determination. Fern's willingness to write a one-year plan, even without knowing all the details, shows her first step toward reclaiming agency. Her admission of trust is a significant milestone, as she has been burned by abandonment (Eric) and by her own self-destructive choices.

Will emerges as a steady, non-judgmental listener. He doesn't flinch at Fern's darkest moments, and he reframes her situation with empathy and practicality. His insistence on one-year plans over ten-year ones reflects his own artistic philosophy: focus on the immediate, commit fully, and adapt. He also demonstrates emotional intelligence by recognizing Fern's fear of disappointing her mother and reassuring her without dismissing her feelings.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Parental secrets and identity: The diary is a literal key to Fern's past, but it also symbolizes the hidden truths that shape who we become. Fern's fantasy about Peter being her father highlights her longing for a stable paternal figure.
Rebellion and self-destruction: Fern's acting out—drinking, stealing a tractor, the fire—illustrates how unresolved grief can manifest as risky behavior. The fire is both a literal and metaphorical low point.
Guilt and obligation: Fern's decision to follow the Brookbanks career track is driven by guilt, not passion. She feels she owes her mother for saving her life, which creates a tension between duty and desire.
Self-determination: Will's line about Fern's life being her own is a turning point. The one-year plan becomes a symbol of taking control, even in small, concrete steps.
Future planning and artistic commitment: The contrast between ten-year plans and one-year plans underscores the theme of living in the present. Will's dedication to his art—even at the cost of financial stability—shows his integrity.
Trust and vulnerability: Fern's confession and her whispered “I trust you” mark a deepening of her connection with Will. The physical closeness of their hands and pinkies symbolizes emotional intimacy.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal for several reasons. It provides essential backstory that explains Fern's present-day choices, especially her reluctance to embrace the resort and her complicated relationship with her mother. It also establishes the emotional foundation of Fern and Will's relationship: Will sees Fern's scars and accepts her without judgment, and Fern learns to trust him. The one-year plan they create together becomes a touchstone for the rest of the novel, as it foreshadows Fern's eventual decisions about her career and her life. Moreover, the chapter deepens the theme of self-discovery—Fern begins to realize that she can define her own future, even if she doesn't yet know all the details.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Fern agree to attend business school and work at the resort, and how does Will challenge that decision?

Fern agrees because she feels she owes her mother for saving her life. After the fire, her mother's sacrifice made Fern feel obligated to follow the path her mother suggested. Will challenges this by pointing out that Fern already knows she doesn't want to live in Muskoka or run the resort. He tells her that her mother saving her life doesn't mean Fern has to surrender her own. This reframing encourages Fern to consider what she actually wants.

2. What does the one-year plan symbolize for Fern, and how does it differ from a ten-year plan?

The one-year plan symbolizes a manageable, concrete step toward self-determination. Unlike a ten-year plan, which feels overwhelming and abstract, a one-year plan is realistic and adaptable. For Fern, seeing her goals written down—not working at Brookbanks, not living in Muskoka, being in Toronto—makes an alternate future feel possible. It also represents a shift from passive obligation to active choice.

3. How does Fern's confession about her past affect her relationship with Will?

Fern's confession deepens the trust between them. By sharing her most painful memories, she allows Will to see her fully, and his non-judgmental response reassures her that she is safe with him. His support helps Fern feel less alone, and her admission of trust marks a turning point in their emotional intimacy. The chapter shows that vulnerability can strengthen a connection rather than weaken it.