The Sparkly Bra in Mistakes Were Made: Symbol of Chaos, Connection, and Community

What Is the Sparkly Bra?

The sparkly bra is Zoey Moody’s favourite undergarment: a hot-pink bra adorned with tiny crystals, described as a three‑hundred‑dollar D‑cup. The bra is discontinued, making it irreplaceable in a literal sense. It first appears in Chapter 13 when the town bald eagle Goose steals it from Zoey’s parked Miata. Months later, in Chapter 49, Gage Bishop returns the original bra (recovered from Goose) as part of his apology and reconciliation. The bra thus becomes a physical anchor for the central romance.

How the Bra Reappears and Its Changing Meaning

The bra recurs in two key scenes, and its meaning shifts dramatically:

1. Stolen (Chapter 13): Goose snatches the bra from the car while Zoey, hungover and exhausted, watches helplessly. The theft crystallises Zoey’s streak of bad luck: she is broke, selling her belongings, and now losing expensive clothing to a bird. The town crowd that gathers (Levi, Cam, Pep, Frank, even Hazel from a window) treats the incident as darkly comic. Pep quips that Goose now has “the most blinged‑out eagle’s nest in history.” The bra is a sign of chaos, disruption, and the absurdity of Zoey’s current life.

2. Returned (Chapter 49): Gage has recovered the original bra from Goose and presents it on a bedazzled hanger inside a closet filled with Zoey’s belongings. The return of the bra—both the object and the gesture—signals that Gage has accepted the chaos Zoey brings. He no longer tries to control her or keep her at arm’s length. Instead, he embraces her quirks and proves he is willing to participate in the town’s weirdness. The bra becomes a token of love and commitment.

The Bra as a Symbol of Zoey’s Chaotic Life and Her ADHD

Zoey’s ADHD is a key theme in the novel. The bra’s disappearance and unexpected return mirror the disorder and serendipity of her daily experience. She loses things constantly, struggles with organisation, and relies on impulsive strategies (like her “disco” safe‑word game with Gage). The bra—flashy, impractical, and easily misplaced—is a perfect emblem for a life that seems perpetually off‑balance. Yet Zoey also “always look[s] for the sparkle” (she tells Gage at the prom), and the bra’s glittering crystals reflect her determination to find joy in broken, sparkly things.

In the Author’s Note, Lucy Score states that Zoey’s ADHD journey mirrors her own late diagnosis. The bra’s return is thus also a metaphor for coming to terms with one’s neurodivergence: what was lost can be reclaimed, and what seems chaotic can be reframed as part of a beautiful whole.

The Bra as a Talisman of the Quirky Small‑Town Community

Story Lake is a tight‑knit, eccentric community (theme page). The eagle theft is not just misfortune; it becomes a shared spectacle. Neighbours gather, laugh, and offer advice. Pep Bishop even suggests using organic beef treats to redirect Goose. This event demonstrates that in Story Lake, even a stolen bra is woven into the town’s fabric. The bra’s eventual return, facilitated by Gage, also involves the community: he learns Goose’s food preference from Pep. The bra thus symbolises how the town embraces everyone’s peculiarities, including Zoey’s.

The Bra’s Return as a Symbol of Gage’s Growth and Their Love

Gage is a control‑oriented lawyer, described as “serious” and “responsible.” His early resistance to Zoey stems from his fear of spontaneity (theme: control vs. spontaneity). Recovering the bra from a bald eagle is an absurd, un‑Gage‑like task. That he does it—and then proudly displays it in his closet—shows his willingness to step outside his comfort zone for Zoey. The closet itself is filled with her belongings, a reminder of his offer to build her a library and share his life. When Zoey sees the bra, she understands that Gage has fully accepted her chaotic self. Later, he promises “the sparkliest” engagement ring, echoing the bra’s sparkle.

The bra also connects to the broken, sparkly things motif. In Chapter 9, Zoey wears a disco‑ball necklace and explains she likes “broken, sparkly things”: “All those broken pieces add up to something everyone loves.” The bra, which is sparkly and physically torn in a later scene (Gage rips a different bra in Chapter 17), embodies this philosophy. Gage, initially skeptical, learns to see the value in what seems imperfect. Their relationship, like the bra, is built from broken pieces made beautiful.

Study Questions with Answers

1. Why does the return of the sparkly bra carry more emotional weight than a simple retrieval of lost property?

Answer: The bra is not merely returned; it is returned by Gage, who had to negotiate with Goose (a town emblem) and display it in a carefully staged closet of Zoey’s belongings. This act shows Gage embracing the absurdities of Story Lake and Zoey’s life. It signals his acceptance of her chaos and his willingness to make grand gestures, which contrasts sharply with his earlier desire for control.

2. In what ways does the sparkly bra reflect Zoey’s personality and her ADHD?

Answer: The bra is flashy, expensive, and impractical—much like Zoey’s vibrant, impulsive nature. Its loss and reappearance mirror the unpredictability she experiences daily. The sparkles also echo Zoey’s mantra of looking for “the sparkle” in every situation, a coping mechanism she uses to navigate the disorganisation caused by her ADHD.

3. How does the community’s reaction to the bra theft illustrate the theme of small‑town belonging?

Answer: Nearly every major character (Levi, Cam, Pep, Frank, Hazel, Hana, Billie) gathers to watch the eagle theft. Instead of judging Zoey, they joke and offer practical help—like Pep’s treat advice. This communal response shows that Story Lake accepts even the strangest mishaps as part of everyday life, reinforcing the theme that belonging comes from shared quirks, not perfection.

4. How does the sparkly bra connect to the “broken, sparkly things” motif introduced earlier in the novel?

Answer: In Chapter 9, Zoey wears a disco‑ball necklace and tells Gage she likes “broken, sparkly things” because broken pieces add up to something everyone loves. The bra—once stolen, later returned, and previously torn in a different scene—is a physical example of this philosophy. Gage initially cannot understand the appeal of chaos, but by accepting the bra (and Zoey), he learns to value what is broken and sparkly, mirroring the motif’s promise of beauty from imperfection.