Stolen Burgers and Kisses: Hugh – Chapter 190 Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This chapter summary contains spoilers for Chapter 190 of Releasing 10 (The Boys of Tommen) by Chloe Walsh. Read at your own risk if you haven't finished this chapter.
Summary
On New Year's Eve 2003, Hugh is reluctantly coaxed into going out with his friends Feely, Gibsie, and Johnny (Kav). He is still grieving his ex-girlfriend Lizzie Young; this is the first New Year's Eve they have spent apart in a decade. The group heads to a disco at the BCS GAA Pavilion, and all four boys drink vodka beforehand.
At the disco, Gibsie dances provocatively, drawing a crowd of screaming girls. Feely keeps eyeing a redhead on the dance floor, but during the midnight countdown, a curvy brunette named Casey intercepts and kisses him instead. Meanwhile, Hugh is approached by the same redhead, Katie. She begs him to kiss her, and Hugh, seeing desperation in her green eyes, agrees. It is his first kiss with someone who is not Liz.
After the disco, Hugh and Katie sit on the footpath outside. Katie reveals she is a scholarship student in third year and transferred from St. Bernadette's. She attended Hugh's birthday party months earlier via Feely, who knows her from the school choir. Casey, now Feely's hookup, texts Katie from Hugh's phone and warns him that Katie is a good girl. Feely emerges, seeming agitated.
Later, at a chip van, the friends tease Hugh about his kiss. Feely suddenly punches Hugh in the nose, accusing him of always coming first. A drunken argument erupts over who finishes first in sprints, with Kav insisting he comes first, Hugh second, Feely third, and Gibsie last. Gibsie steals Feely's burger, and Hugh walks off in frustration, telling his friends to leave his sister out of it. The chapter ends with the tension unresolved.
Key Events
- Hugh attends a New Year's Eve disco despite dreading it without Liz.
- Gibsie performs an exaggerated dance routine, attracting a crowd.
- Feely is intercepted by Casey just before midnight and kisses her instead of Katie.
- Katie kisses Hugh at midnight; he reciprocates despite initial hesitation.
- Hugh gives Katie his jacket and they have a sincere conversation afterward.
- Casey texts Katie from Hugh's phone, making Katie feel embarrassed.
- Feely punches Hugh at the chip van, angry that Hugh kissed Katie.
- The four friends argue about who comes first in sprints, revealing their drunken pettiness.
- Hugh steals someone else's burger and leaves the group.
Character Development
- Hugh: Still emotionally raw from losing Liz, Hugh shows a willingness to open up to someone new when he kisses Katie. His kindness is evident when he gives her his jacket and listens to her without judgment. However, his lingering pain is underscored by his inability to remember Katie's name clearly and his repeated thoughts of Liz.
- Feely (Pa): Feely displays unexpected jealousy and aggression. His immediate punch suggests he has feelings for Katie, or at least resents Hugh for getting the kiss he wanted. The drunken argument reveals Feely's insecurity about his place in the friend group.
- Katie: Introduced as a quiet, earnest scholarship student, Katie is self-aware and honest about her insecurities. She is determined not to be like her friend Casey, who hooks up casually. Katie's vulnerability draws Hugh in and hints at a potential future connection.
- Gibsie: Remains the comic relief, using dance and stolen burgers to lighten the mood, though his antics also highlight the chaotic dynamic among the boys.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Grief and Moving On: Hugh's struggle to enjoy the night without Liz is palpable. His decision to kiss Katie marks a tentative first step toward healing, even if the kiss is not mind-blowing.
- Friendship Tension: The fight at the chip van reveals underlying rivalries and miscommunication. Feely's outburst shows that even the closest friends can become petty when drunk and emotionally charged.
- Class and Privilege: Katie's scholarship and her mention of living in Rosewood while Hugh lives in Avoca Greystones subtly highlight economic differences. Hugh's obliviousness to these details underscores his privileged background.
- First Kisses: The midnight kiss serves as a symbolic threshold. For Katie, it is a rescue from embarrassment; for Hugh, it is a release from the ghost of Liz.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 190 is a turning point for Hugh. It is his first romantic interaction with a girl other than Liz, setting up a slow-burn connection with Katie. The chapter also deepens the supporting cast: Feely's jealousy and Gibsie's clowning become more layered. The chaotic chip-van scene foreshadows future conflicts within the friend group, especially between Hugh and Feely. Finally, Katie's introduction as a scholarship student enriches the world of the novel by adding a character from a different social background.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Hugh agree to kiss Katie at midnight?
Hugh initially jerks away because he feels foreign lips have no business on his, but he remembers his lips don't belong to anyone anymore—meaning he is no longer with Liz. He is also moved by the desperation in Katie's eyes, which look close to tears. He nods slowly and allows the kiss.
2. What causes Feely to punch Hugh at the chip van?
Feely punches Hugh because he feels that Hugh always comes first—in this case, Hugh kissed the redhead (Katie) whom Feely had been eyeing all night. Feely is also upset about his own hookup with Casey and takes his frustration out on Hugh, accusing him of getting the girl without effort.
3. How does Hugh's grief for Liz manifest in this chapter?
Hugh dreads going out because it is his first New Year's Eve without Liz in ten years. He thinks of her during the countdown and feels a tsunami of pain. Even after kissing Katie, he confuses her face with Liz's while drunk, and he still declares his love for Liz aloud, showing he is far from ready to move on.