Mistakes Were Made Ending Explained: Spoilers & Key Takeaways

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

Literal Account of the Climax and Resolution

The novel’s central crisis unfolds in Chapter 43 (titled “The shit show”) during the Reader Weekend event. Zoey Moody intervenes when Audrey’s abusive ex-husband Gerald tries to drag her away. Zoey runs at him, gets hit in the face and cut on the arm with a knife, and her braced wrist is re-injured. Gage Bishop, overwhelmed by the sight of Zoey bleeding and the memory of his late brother-in-law Miller, lashes out. He calls her actions “stupid,” “selfish,” and says he “can’t be with someone who would be that careless.” Zoey, hurt and angry, tells him they are “definitely done here.” Gage goes home to drink bourbon, and his mother visits to gently point out that his lifelong need to be perfect to protect everyone is impossible.

The aftermath spans several chapters. Gage spends three days trying to apologise, but Zoey gives notice to break her lease and leaves for a spontaneous book tour with Hazel. Gage’s brothers Cam and Levi force him to see he cannot argue his way to forgiveness. He finally visits Valerie Hillport at dawn, forgives her for causing the accident that killed Miller, and says, “You made a mistake. It was just a mistake.” After that, he sends Zoey a series of heartfelt apology emails admitting his fear of failure. He also negotiates a plea deal for Valerie that secures no jail time.

Zoey returns from tour to find her apartment emptied. The town holds a ceremony where the Ultimate Bingo free square is renamed after her. Gage publicly declares his love and kisses her. Zoey delivers a seven-figure book deal to Opal Mallory, who accepts. Later, at Gage’s house, Zoey finds a roll of dimes in her car door speaker grille—matching the tin of dimes she saw in his closet. They both see it as a sign. Zoey forgives him, and they reconcile, with Gage promising marriage, adoption, and a library. She tells him to “stop with the grand gesturing,” and they become intimate.

Major Character Outcomes

Zoey Moody: Receives a late ADHD diagnosis, learns management strategies (paper calendar, headphones, support from Gage). Her financial crisis ends thanks to the advance. She moves permanently to Story Lake, works from a home office Gage created, and gets a new SUV. She is engaged to Gage, planning a fall wedding, and discussing children. Her parents have made tentative contact.
Gage Bishop: Learns to forgive himself and others, becomes more spontaneous (agrees to a meteor-shower date that ends in a minor fire). He reconciles with his family and with Zoey. He continues his legal work but with a new perspective on punishment versus grace.
Hazel Hart and Cam Bishop: They marry at a lakeside ceremony in the epilogue, with Zoey as maid of honor. Hazel’s book becomes a #1 bestseller.
Opal Mallory: Accepts the seven-figure advance and is represented by Zoey. She delivers the line, “Mistakes were made… as long as you learn from them and do better, you don’t have to be defined by them.”
Valerie Hillport: Receives a plea deal with no jail time. Gage forgives her. She remains in contact with Laura, attending family events.
Laura Bishop: Continues to heal; she supports Valerie and maintains close ties with her siblings.
Levi Bishop: Hints at sharing his own manuscript, and Zoey predicts he will be Hazel’s next matchmaking target.
Supporting Characters: Felicity Acosta begins to leave her house more. George, Kitty Suarez, Chevy, and other townsfolk welcome Zoey. Pepe the donkey visits daily.

Resolved and Unresolved Threads

Resolved:

Zoey’s financial strain and housing crisis (resolved by the book deal and decision to stay in Story Lake).
Gage’s inability to forgive (he forgives Valerie and learns to earn Zoey’s forgiveness).
The conflict between the Bishop siblings over Valerie’s case (they reconcile after the family meeting).
The Reader Weekend/Bingo draft conflict (the town unites against Nina Vampic’s rival festival).
Zoey’s ADHD management (she finds strategies that work).
The romantic tension between Gage and Zoey (they become engaged).

Unresolved:

Zoey’s relationship with her parents remains tentative; only “tentative contact” is established.
Levi’s story is teased but not explored in this book. The author’s note hints his book, Just One More Chapter, will follow.
The fates of secondary characters like Audrey are stable but not detailed further.

Theme Resolution

ADHD and Neurodivergence: Zoey’s diagnosis is a turning point. The novel validates neurodivergent experiences and shows how community support and self-acceptance make management possible. The author’s note confirms Score’s personal experience with late ADHD diagnosis.
Grief and Forgiveness: Gage’s arc centres on learning that forgiveness is not an argument to win but a gift to give. He forgives Valerie and himself, allowing him to open up to love.
Small-Town Community: Story Lake embraces Zoey, renaming a bingo square after her. The town rallies against outsiders, showing that belonging is earned through vulnerability.
Vulnerability and Commitment: Both protagonists resist commitment. Zoey fears being “hard to love”; Gage fears failing to protect. By the end, they choose vulnerability, leading to engagement and plans for a future.
Control vs. Spontaneity: Gage learns to let go of rigid control, while Zoey finds stability in a home. Together they create a balance.

The Epilogue

The epilogue jumps forward several months. Zoey is maid of honor at Hazel and Cam’s wedding. Her wrist brace is gone. She works from the home office Gage built, visits from Pepe the donkey, and drives a new SUV. She and Gage are engaged, planning a fall wedding at his parents’ farm, and discussing children. Gage has become more spontaneous. Zoey’s parents have made tentative contact. Levi hints at sharing his manuscript, and Zoey predicts Hazel will target him for matchmaking. The epilogue shows a settled, happy life.

Reasonable Interpretations

The ending is unambiguous in its happy resolution for Gage and Zoey. However, a few points allow interpretation:

The dimes: The roll of dimes found in Zoey’s car and the tin in Gage’s closet act as a recurring symbol of protection and belonging. Readers may see them as a sign of fate or simply a coincidence that Gage and Zoey choose to assign meaning.
Zoey’s parents: The “tentative contact” suggests healing is underway but not complete. The book leaves room for future reconciliation, possibly in a later series entry.
Levi’s story: The epilogue explicitly sets up his novel, so his happy ending is deferred.
Gage’s transformation: Some readers might argue he changes too quickly, but the text shows his process over several chapters, including brotherly advice and his own epiphany.

6 Reader Questions Answered

Does Gage and Zoey end up together? Yes. They reconcile in Chapter 49 after Gage’s public declaration and heartfelt apology. The epilogue confirms they are engaged and planning a fall wedding.
Does Gage forgive Valerie fully? Yes. In Chapter 46, he visits her at dawn and tells her, “I forgive you. I mean it.” He then negotiates a plea deal with no jail time.
What is the seven-figure book deal? Zoey brokers a publishing deal for Opal Mallory’s books. Opal accepts, and Zoey’s financial troubles end because of the advance.
What happens to the bingo ceremony? The town renames the Ultimate Bingo free square after Zoey. This is part of the public celebration where Gage declares his love.
Is there a cliffhanger? No. The main romantic conflict is resolved. However, the epilogue introduces Levi’s story as a tease for the next book in the series.
What is the significance of the dimes? The tin of dimes appears in Gage’s closet and later a roll of dimes is found in Zoey’s car door. Both characters see it as a sign that they are meant to be together, and it helps Zoey overcome her hesitation to forgive him.

For more on the characters and themes, explore the character page for Zoey Moody, the theme of ADHD and Neurodivergence, or the theme of Grief and Forgiveness.