Mistakes Were Made Book Quiz: 20 Questions & Answer Key
Think you know every twist, dime, and sparkle in Lucy Score’s Mistakes Were Made? This quiz spans the whole novel—from Zoey’s snake-in-the-face introduction to the lakeside bingo ceremony. Each question is grounded in the story, and the answer key explains why every response is right or wrong.
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Quiz Questions
Plot and Sequence (Questions 1–8)
1. What does the eagle Goose drop on Zoey’s head in Chapter 2?
- A) A dead fish
- B) A live snake
- C) A rabbit
- D) A mouse
2. Why does Zoey run into the road in Chapter 2?
- A) To catch a bus
- B) To escape the snake
- C) To chase her dog Meetcute
- D) To wave at a friend
3. What job does teenage mayor Darius Oglethorpe offer Zoey?
- A) Bookstore manager
- B) Town publicist
- C) Librarian
- D) Event planner
4. What happens at the publishing gala in Chapter 11?
- A) Zoey knocks over a champagne tower
- B) Zoey throws a drink at Jim and splashes publisher Navya
- C) Zoey’s dress rips on stage
- D) Zoey argues with Hazel in public
5. What does Opal Mallory reveal she used to do with her writing?
- A) Post chapters online anonymously
- B) Read her stories aloud to her late wife Alice
- C) Keep every manuscript locked in a drawer
- D) Sell stories to a local newspaper
6. How does Zoey injure herself at Gage’s house after their first night together?
- A) She trips over Nana the dog
- B) She falls down the interior stairs
- C) She falls off the porch stairs after being startled by a donkey, fracturing her wrist
- D) She cuts her hand on broken glass
7. What does Gage find in Zoey’s car door speaker grille in the final chapters?
- A) A lost earring
- B) A roll of dimes
- C) Her missing phone
- D) A crumpled twenty-dollar bill
8. What public honor does the town of Story Lake bestow on Zoey?
- A) They name a park bench after her
- B) They rename the Ultimate Bingo free square the “Zoey Moody XPSFS”
- C) They create a holiday called Zoey Day
- D) They give her a key to the town
Character Motivation (Questions 9–13)
9. Why does Gage initially refuse to defend Valerie Hillport?
- A) He does not practice criminal law
- B) Valerie caused the accident that killed his brother-in-law Miller
- C) The case conflicts with his other clients
- D) He believes Valerie cannot afford his fees
10. Why does Laura Bishop insist Gage take Valerie’s case?
- A) She wants revenge on Valerie through legal tactics
- B) She believes Valerie has already suffered enough and deserves forgiveness
- C) She needs to avoid a lengthy trial for personal reasons
- D) Valerie is a distant family friend
11. Why does Zoey resist moving to Story Lake permanently at the start of the novel?
- A) She has a job offer in another state
- B) She is low on savings and not ready to give up her city life plan
- C) She is afraid of the town’s wildlife
- D) She dislikes small-town gossip
12. Why does Gage secretly leave dimes for Laura?
(Short answer: 1–3 sentences)
13. What drives Zoey to throw her drink at Jim Whitehead at the publishing gala?
(Short answer: 1–3 sentences)
Theme and Symbol (Questions 14–17)
14. What does the disco ball necklace represent for Zoey and Gage?
- A) A reminder of their first date
- B) The idea of being broken but still beautiful or sparkly
- C) A party lifestyle
- D) A gift from a past lover
15. What do the dimes throughout the novel primarily symbolize?
- A) Financial security and wealth
- B) Love, remembrance, and being a “perfect ten”
- C) Good luck charms
- D) A secret code between Gage and Laura
16. How does the novel use the concept of “sparkle” in relation to Zoey?
- A) As a literal description of her glittery fashion
- B) As a symbol of her ability to bring joy, connection, and hope to others
- C) As a marketing slogan for the town
- D) As Gage’s private nickname for her
17. What function does the word “disco” serve in Zoey and Gage’s relationship?
(Short answer: 1–2 sentences)
Synthesis (Questions 18–20)
18. How does Zoey’s ADHD diagnosis change the way she approaches her life and work?
(Short answer: 2–4 sentences)
19. Compare how Gage and Zoey each learn to forgive—Gage with Valerie and Zoey with herself. What key insight does Opal offer Zoey about mistakes?
(Short answer: 3–5 sentences)
20. The Bishop family has a tradition of building wedding pergolas. What does this tradition represent, and how does it connect to the novel’s themes of permanence versus spontaneity?
(Short answer: 2–4 sentences)
Answer Key
Plot and Sequence (1–8)
1. B – A live snake.
The eagle Goose drops a live snake on Zoey’s head. A dead fish, rabbit, or mouse would not match the scene described in the story.
2. B – To escape the snake.
Zoey panics after the snake lands on her and dashes into the road to get away from it. The other options (catching a bus, chasing a dog, waving) do not happen in this scene.
3. B – Town publicist.
Darius offers Zoey a part-time job as Story Lake’s publicist to boost tourism. The other roles (bookstore manager, librarian, event planner) are not offered to her in that chapter.
4. B – Zoey throws a drink at Jim and splashes publisher Navya.
At the gala, Zoey impulsively throws vodka at her nemesis Jim, but also hits Navya’s dress. The other outcomes (knocking over champagne, ripping a dress, arguing with Hazel) are not what happens.
5. B – Read her stories aloud to her late wife Alice.
Opal reveals she stopped writing after Alice died because she used to read every story to her. Posting online, locking manuscripts, or selling to a newspaper are not mentioned in that scene.
6. C – She falls off the porch stairs after being startled by a donkey, fracturing her wrist.
While trying to sneak out after a one-night stand, a donkey startles Zoey, causing her to fall and break her wrist. The other injuries (tripping over a dog, falling inside, cutting on glass) do not occur.
7. B – A roll of dimes.
Gage finds a roll of dimes in Zoey’s car speaker grille, which both take as a sign of their connection. The other items (an earring, a phone, a bill) are not found there.
8. B – They rename the Ultimate Bingo free square the “Zoey Moody XPSFS.”
At the bingo ceremony, the town honors Zoey by naming the free square after her. The other honors (a park bench, a holiday, a key) are not given in the story.
Character Motivation (9–13)
9. B – Valerie caused the accident that killed Gage’s brother-in-law Miller.
Gage’s refusal stems from personal grief and anger, not from lack of expertise, scheduling conflicts, or fees.
10. B – She believes Valerie has already suffered enough and deserves forgiveness.
Laura argues that Valerie has paid for her mistake every day since the accident. The story does not show Laura wanting revenge, avoiding a trial, or treating Valerie as a family friend.
11. B – She is low on savings and not ready to give up her city life plan.
Zoey faces a condo-conversion deadline and struggles financially. The story makes clear she does not hate small towns, has no other job offer, and is not afraid of the eagle.
12. Gage leaves dimes for Laura because Miller once gave Laura a dime and called her a “perfect ten.”
After Miller’s death, every dime Laura finds reminds her of that compliment. Gage secretly places dimes around her home to comfort her and keep Miller’s love present in her life.
13. Jim Whitehead knows exactly which fears to trigger, and Zoey reacts impulsively to his provocation.
At the gala, Jim pushes Zoey’s deepest insecurities. Rather than staying composed, she acts on impulse—an act she immediately regrets. Navya later advises her to learn to pause between stimulus and response.
Theme and Symbol (14–17)
14. B – The idea of being broken but still beautiful or sparkly.
In chapter 8, Zoey’s disco ball necklace prompts a conversation about brokenness and finding value despite flaws. It is not a first-date memento, a party symbol, or a gift from an ex.
15. B – Love, remembrance, and being a “perfect ten.”
Miller gave Laura a dime and called her a perfect ten. Laura sees dimes as reminders of his love, and Gage uses them to keep that memory alive. The story does not tie dimes to wealth, luck, or a secret code.
16. B – As a symbol of her ability to bring joy, connection, and hope to others.
At the bingo ceremony, characters say Zoey makes everything sparkle. The sparkle motif runs through the novel as a metaphor for the positive energy she spreads, not as literal glitter, a slogan, or a nickname.
17. The word “disco” serves as a safe word that allows Zoey and Gage to speak the truth without judgment.
When either one says “disco,” they agree to be completely honest. The safe word helps them share vulnerable feelings—like Gage admitting the driver who killed Miller got off too lightly.
Synthesis (18–20)
18. Zoey’s ADHD diagnosis reframes her past struggles as part of a neurotype rather than personal failings.
After Opal suggests the diagnosis, Zoey begins medication, experiences a sense of normalcy for the first time, and develops practical strategies such as using a paper calendar and noise-canceling headphones. In the epilogue, she manages her ADHD better with Gage’s support, working from a home office and celebrating her strengths instead of obsessing over weaknesses.
19. Gage learns to forgive Valerie by visiting her home, meeting her children, and hearing her account of the accident.
He realizes that Valerie has been devastated by her own mistake and that holding onto anger hurts everyone. Zoey, meanwhile, learns to forgive herself for being imperfect and impulsive. Opal tells her, “Mistakes were made, but you don’t have to be defined by them,” emphasizing that errors are part of growth, not life sentences. Both characters move forward when they stop letting guilt dictate their futures.
20. The Bishop family’s pergola tradition represents commitment, family legacy, and the act of building something lasting together.
Gage initially craves rigid plans and permanence, while Zoey embodies spontaneity and chaos. The pergola tradition shows that strong relationships are built through shared effort, not pre-written blueprints—mirroring Gage’s arc from controlling his life to embracing the imperfect, present-moment connection he finds with Zoey.