Chapter 10 Summary, Themes, and Character 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
The chapter opens with Liz in her Forensic Musicology class, taught by the intimidating but brilliant Elaine Lowell. After assigning a heavy reading load, Lowell dismisses the class but asks Liz to stay behind. To Liz’s surprise, Lowell smiles—a rare occurrence—and explains that Lilith Grossman, Liz’s mentor and internship supervisor, reached out to let her know her intern is in the class. Lowell offers herself as a resource for questions and extra discussion. Liz leaves the classroom energized, feeling that her dream career is becoming tangible. She puts on her AirPods and assigns the song “Unwritten” to the moment, visualizing a movie scene as she walks across campus.
Her reverie is shattered when a scooter nearly runs her down. The rider is Wes Bennett, who circles back to tease her, calling her “Lizzie Buxbaum” and offering a mock apology. Liz tries to ignore him, but he persists, using the nickname “Lib” and saying it was “really great seeing you” before zipping away. Liz is furious, gritting her teeth and reflecting on how she spent all of Saturday spiraling over his presence. She worries that Wes, as a UCLA baseball player, will disrupt the life she has carefully built—her job filming athletes, her internship, and her sense of belonging. She feels he has landed in the center of her “million-miles-away-from-Omaha world” and that it’s unfair.
Later, Liz confides in her coworker Clark, who dismisses her fears. Clark points out that Wes thinks Liz has a boyfriend (Clark himself, as a cover), so he’ll likely stay away. He also notes that baseball season hasn’t started, and they can avoid Wes by focusing on pitchers. Liz takes a deep breath and convinces herself that avoidance is feasible.
The chapter’s turning point comes when Liz meets with Lilith for her internship assignment. Lilith reveals that Liz’s social media post of the baseball team’s preseason practice went viral, and the athletic department wants to capitalize on the team’s hype. Lilith assigns Liz to embed with the baseball team for a Hard Knocks-style docuseries, tentatively titled Bruins Baseball: Building a Championship Team. Liz is horrified—Wes is on the team—but she lies and says it sounds amazing. Lilith details the grueling schedule: daily 6:30 a.m. workouts, classes, position coach practices, team practice, conditioning, and study hall. Liz’s head spins, but she doesn’t dare say no to Lilith, whom she idolizes. Lilith also mentions that the content could end up in a documentary, and that Liz can choose a dedicated counterpart—she immediately thinks of Clark.
Before accepting, Liz confesses her “complicated history” with Wes Bennett, explaining that they dated in high school and she hadn’t seen him in years. Lilith asks if she can work with him professionally. Liz insists she can, calling it “ancient history.” After the meeting, Liz reflects on her growth: she’s no longer “Little Liz,” she loves her life, and she refuses to let someone from her past ruin this opportunity. She tells Lilith she can handle it and is excited to get “imbedded.”
Key Events
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Elaine Lowell reveals that Lilith Grossman reached out, offering Liz extra support and mentorship.
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Liz nearly gets hit by Wes on a scooter; he teases her and calls her “Lib,” reigniting her anger.
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Clark reassures Liz that they can avoid Wes by focusing on pitchers and using the “boyfriend” cover.
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Lilith assigns Liz to embed with the baseball team for a Hard Knocks-style docuseries.
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Liz lies about her excitement, then confesses her history with Wes to Lilith.
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Lilith asks if Liz can work professionally; Liz says yes and decides not to let Wes ruin her opportunity.
Character Development
Liz undergoes significant internal growth in this chapter. Initially, she is consumed by anxiety and rage at Wes’s presence, feeling that his proximity threatens the life she has built. Her instinct is to avoid him at all costs, and she even convinces herself that Clark’s plan will work. However, when faced with the reality of Lilith’s assignment, Liz is forced to confront her fear. Her confession to Lilith shows maturity—she chooses transparency over secrecy. More importantly, her final decision to embrace the challenge marks a turning point: she recognizes that she is no longer the person she was in high school. By telling herself, “I wasn’t Little Liz anymore,” she asserts her agency and refuses to let the past dictate her future. This is a pivotal moment of self-definition.
Wes appears only briefly, but his behavior is telling. He teases Liz with a “smart-ass grin” and uses old nicknames, suggesting he remembers their history fondly. His comment “It was really great seeing you” carries a hint of sincerity beneath the sarcasm. He also calls her “Lib,” a nickname that clearly triggers Liz’s memories. While the chapter doesn’t delve into his perspective, his actions imply he is not indifferent to her.
Lilith emerges as a powerful mentor figure. She has already taken steps to support Liz by contacting Lowell, and she trusts Liz with a major assignment. Her direct question about professionalism shows she values integrity over personal drama. She also gives Liz the freedom to choose her counterpart, demonstrating confidence in Liz’s judgment.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Avoidance vs. Confrontation: Liz’s initial strategy is to avoid Wes—she speed-walks, grits her teeth, and relies on Clark’s plan. But the chapter forces her to confront the impossibility of avoidance when her dream assignment places her directly in his orbit. Her eventual decision to face the challenge head-on symbolizes her growth.
Professional vs. Personal: The chapter explores the tension between career ambition and personal discomfort. Liz’s internship is her “dream career,” but it now requires her to work with her ex. Her confession to Lilith and her commitment to professionalism highlight her ability to separate the two spheres.
Music as Emotional Soundtrack: Liz assigns songs to moments throughout the chapter—