Mistakes Were Made: A Complete People-First Guide to Lucy Score’s Story Lake Romance

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Quick Facts

Short Summary

Zoey Moody, a New York City literary agent, flees to the small town of Story Lake after her life and career implode. There she collides – literally – with Gage Bishop, a lawyer/contractor who prizes order and predictability. What begins as an antagonistic attraction deepens when Zoey takes a job as the town’s publicist and moves into an apartment Gage renovated. Their no‑strings physical relationship cracks under the weight of unresolved grief: Gage’s sister Laura wants him to defend the woman whose distracted driving killed Laura’s husband, while Zoey receives a late ADHD diagnosis that reframes her impulsive behaviour. As they fight their growing feelings, a public crisis forces Gage to confront his need for control, and Zoey must decide whether to trust that she is “enough.” The town’s warm, quirky community – complete with a thieving eagle and a bingo‑based honour – helps them find forgiveness and a love that embraces imperfection.

Full Summary

The Meet‑Cute and a Town in Crisis

Zoey Moody arrives in Story Lake at her best friend Hazel Hart’s invitation after learning her Manhattan apartment building is converting to condos. While walking to Hazel’s bookstore, the local bald eagle, Goose, drops a live snake on Zoey’s head. Panicked, she runs into the road and nearly gets hit by a truck driven by Gage Bishop. Gage, still haunted by the accident that killed his brother‑in‑law Miller and left his sister Laura in a wheelchair, yells at her. The near‑miss is recorded and quickly becomes town gossip.

Desperate for income, Zoey accepts a low‑salary position as the town’s publicist from teenage mayor Darius Oglethorpe. Her first official act is to propose an education initiative to attract tourists and outshine rival town Dominion. Meanwhile, Gage learns that Laura has asked him to defend Valerie Hillport – the woman who caused Miller’s death. Gage initially refuses, but Laura reveals her own guilt and insists that Valerie has already suffered enough. After meeting Valerie and her young daughters, Gage reluctantly agrees to take the case pro bono.

Sparks and Self‑Discovery

Zoey and Gage’s attraction simmers. At a family dinner, Zoey’s disco ball necklace becomes a “safe word” for honesty. Gage admits that the light sentence for the driver feels unjust, and Zoey shares her fear of being fired. They agree they are wrong for each other, but the intimacy of their conversations draws them closer.

Zoey struggles with impulse control – she throws a drink at a rival agent in front of the publisher Navya, who urges her to find a “pause between stimulus and response.” Later, Zoey meets Opal Mallory, a retired psychologist who bluntly observes Zoey’s symptoms and diagnoses her with ADHD. Zoey begins medication and experiences a sense of normalcy for the first time. Opal also agrees to let Zoey represent her fantasy series, and an auction for the manuscript eventually yields a seven‑figure advance.

Gage renovates an apartment for Zoey, and they establish a “monogamous casual sex” arrangement. Their physical relationship becomes deeply emotional. Zoey, who cannot have children due to an ovarian torsion, initially hides this from Gage; when she finally reveals it, Gage responds with empathy and tells her he sees her potential as a mother.

Family, Forgiveness, and a Public Break

The Bishop family grapples with Gage’s decision to defend Valerie. At a family meeting, Laura forces her brothers to stand in corners and talk it out. Gage’s mother reminds him that his lifelong attempt to be perfect stems from a childhood fear that being “good enough” would prevent tragedy. When Laura appears in court to support Valerie and reaches for her hand, the community is shocked.

Reader Weekend arrives, uniting Story Lake against Dominion’s rival event. Zoey adopts a pit bull she calls Buttercup. At the bonfire, Audrey’s abusive ex‑husband Gerald attacks her. Zoey rushes in and takes a knife wound. Gage, terrified, calls her reckless and breaks up with her publicly. Zoey confronts him later, yelling that he is “just not enough” and leaving for an impromptu book tour with Hazel.

Gage spends days trying to apologise. He finally forgives Valerie at dawn, realising he cannot ask for Zoey’s forgiveness without granting it himself. He sends a series of apology emails, negotiates a plea deal that keeps Valerie out of jail, and receives Zoey’s sparkly bra back from Goose the eagle – a sign that Cam says is a cosmic permission to fix things.

Reconciliation and the Ultimate Bingo

When Zoey returns from tour, she finds her apartment empty. The town has gathered at the lake to rename the Ultimate Bingo free square after her. Gage publicly declares his love and kisses her. Opal signs the book deal and tells Zoey that mistakes don’t have to define her.

Zoey discovers a roll of dimes in her car door – a callback to the dimes Gage secretly left for Laura as a symbol of love. She finds a disco ball in his living room and a closet full of her belongings. They reconcile and become engaged. In the epilogue, Zoey serves as maid of honour at Hazel’s wedding to Cam. Gage has become more spontaneous, and Zoey manages her ADHD with support. The novel ends with teasing hints that Levi’s story is next.

Main Characters

• Zoey Moody – A literary agent from NYC, impulsive and fiercely loyal. Diagnosed with ADHD, she learns to accept herself and let go of her fear of abandonment.
• Gage Bishop – A lawyer and contractor who prizes control. He must confront his perfectionism and learn that love requires vulnerability.
• Hazel Hart – A romance novelist, Zoey’s best friend and client. She provides emotional support and matchmaking.
• Cam Bishop – Gage’s brother, a construction worker who eventually marries Hazel. A stabilising family force.
• Laura Bishop – Gage’s sister, a wheelchair user after the accident. She insists on defending the driver who killed her husband.
• Opal Mallory – A retired psychologist and fantasy author. She diagnoses Zoey’s ADHD and becomes a client and mentor.

Themes

• ADHD and Neurodivergence – Zoey’s late diagnosis and management strategies normalise neurodivergent experiences.
• Grief and Forgiveness – Characters must forgive themselves and others to heal from Miller’s death.
• Small‑Town Community – Story Lake unites to support events and defend against rival Dominion.
• Vulnerability and Commitment – Zoey’s fear of intimacy clashes with Gage’s desire for permanence.
• Control vs. Spontaneity – Gage’s need to plan and Zoey’s chaos resolve through mutual acceptance.

Symbols

• Dimes – Laura’s late husband called her a perfect ten; dimes left secretly by Gage become tokens of love.
• Disco Ball Necklace – Inspires the safe word “disco” for truth‑telling, later a symbol of hope.
• The Sparkly Bra – Stolen by Goose, lost, and returned, representing Zoey’s chaotic life and the town’s embrace.
• Goose the Eagle – The town eagle triggers the meet‑cute and embodies small‑town mischief.

Ending Overview

Zoey and Gage reconcile after Gage publicly declares his love at the Ultimate Bingo ceremony. Opal accepts a seven‑figure book deal, and Zoey realises she belongs in Story Lake. Gage apologises sincerely, shows her a disco ball in his home, and returns her sparkly bra. They become engaged, planning a fall wedding. The epilogue shows Zoey managing her ADHD with Gage’s support, Hazel’s book becoming a #1 bestseller, and hints at Levi’s story in the next series instalment.

For a deeper breakdown, read the ending explained.

Chapter‑by‑Chapter Table

For individual chapter summaries, see: Chapter 1 through Chapter 51.

Frequently Asked Questions (with Answers)

1. What is the main plot of Mistakes Were Made?
A literary agent moves to a small town, clashes with a lawyer/contractor, and they navigate a no‑strings relationship while dealing with family trauma, a late ADHD diagnosis, and a legal case involving the woman who killed the lawyer’s brother‑in‑law.

2. Does Zoey have ADHD?
Yes. She is diagnosed by retired psychologist Opal Mallory in chapter 17. The author’s note explains that Lucy Score also received a late ADHD diagnosis, which informed the character’s journey.

3. What happens with Valerie Hillport?
Laura Bishop asks Gage to defend Valerie, the distracted driver who killed Laura’s husband. Gage initially refuses but eventually agrees. He forgives Valerie before the final reconciliation, and she receives a plea deal with no jail time.

4. How do Zoey and Gage finally get together?
After a public breakup and separation, Gage apologises via email, forgives Valerie, and declares his love at the Ultimate Bingo ceremony. Zoey finds dimes and a disco ball at his house, and they reconcile, becoming engaged.

5. What is the significance of the dimes?
Laura’s late husband Miller gave her a dime as a “perfect ten.” Gage secretly leaves dimes to comfort Laura. Later, dimes become a sign of love between Zoey and Gage.

6. Does Zoey stay in Story Lake?
Yes. She decides to stay permanently after the Reader Weekend crisis, buys a house, and works from a home office Gage created for her.

7. What role does the town of Story Lake play?
The small‑town community supports Zoey and Gage at every turn, from taking care of dump animals to planning events and publicly honouring Zoey with a bingo square. The rival town Dominion serves as a source of comic conflict.

8. Is there a cliffhanger?
No. The main romance is resolved. The epilogue teases Levi Bishop’s story, which is told in the next book, Just One More Chapter.

For more questions, visit the questions and answers page.

Explore Further

• Characters – Detailed profiles of Zoey, Gage, and the Bishop family.
• Themes – Deep dives into ADHD, grief, community, and vulnerability.
• Symbols – The meaning of dimes, the disco ball, the sparkly bra, and Goose the eagle.
• Ending Explained – A closer look at the final chapters.
• Quiz – Test your knowledge of the book.
• Essay Prompts – Ideas for further analysis.