Chapter 24: Molly — Summary and 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

Chapter 24 opens at a game night in Holland Hall's common room, where Molly and Alex are facing off against Kendall and Jordan in a competitive Ping-Pong match. Molly, who was nervous about attending the event alone, asked Alex to join her. The nerves fade quickly once the game begins, and Molly finds herself relaxed and fully present, enjoying the sport she loves. She draws on tricks that Noah taught her during summer breaks when he was home from college, but despite her skill, the match reaches game point at 20–18. Kendall delivers a backspin that Alex, who has little Ping-Pong experience, swings at and misses entirely, ending the game in defeat for Molly and Alex.

After the match, Molly and Alex head to the potluck table, a collection of low-quality snacks spread across an old pool table. Molly brought a plate of cheddar cheese and crackers, while Alex contributed two bags of chips from 7-Eleven. Alex spots an open tube of raw cookie dough and enthusiastically eats a slab of it, much to Molly's disgust. The two banter playfully, with Alex complimenting Molly's Ping-Pong skills and Molly insisting that Ping-Pong is an art form rather than a sport.

The lighthearted mood shifts when Molly checks her phone and finds a chain of texts from her mother. The messages include a photo of Leonard, the family dog, chasing geese at a park, along with questions about whether Molly is busy, whether she's wearing her new clothes, and whether she wants to do lunch the next day. Molly is visibly frustrated, explaining to Alex that she told her mother she needed space, but the request only seemed to work for about a week.

Alex suggests Molly simply call her mother, pointing out that her mom just wants to be part of her life. Alex adds that she would want a mother who actually cares, a comment that gives Molly pause. Molly explains that for a long time, her mother was her best friend—her only friend—but now she needs independence. She reflects that the space is working and that she feels like a different person from the one who moved to campus at the start of the semester.

Before the conversation can go further, Jordan and Kendall propose a rematch. Molly and Alex step up to the table, but just as the game is about to begin, Molly's phone buzzes again. This time, her mother is calling. Alex encourages her to answer, and Molly steps into the hallway to take the call. Her mother's face appears on the screen, and she cheerfully notes that she can hear Molly's friends in the background. Molly tries to keep her irritation in check, but when her mother says she was just calling to catch up, Molly points out that it's only been three days since they last spoke. She tells her mother she's busy and ends the call.

Back in the common room, Alex hands Molly her paddle, and they resume the rematch. Molly tries to push the conversation out of her mind, but a nagging feeling lingers. She acknowledges to herself that she needs to have a real conversation with her mother about needing space—and about the embarrassing scene at the food court—but decides that now is not the time. For the moment, all she wants is to win the game.

Key Events

Molly and Alex lose a competitive Ping-Pong match to Kendall and Jordan at game point.
At the potluck table, Alex eats raw cookie dough, and the two share a lighthearted exchange.
Molly discovers a long chain of texts from her mother, who wants to visit for lunch.
Molly explains to Alex that she needs space from her mother, who was once her only friend.
Alex reveals she would want a mother who cares, offering a contrasting perspective.
Molly's mother calls during the rematch, and Molly steps into the hallway to answer.
Molly tells her mother she's busy and ends the call, then resolves to have a real conversation with her later.

Character Development

Molly continues to grow into her independence in this chapter. She attends the game night without relying on Cora, instead asking Alex to join her, and she notices that her nerves fade once she's engaged in something she loves. Her frustration with her mother's constant contact reflects her desire to establish herself as her own person, separate from the girl who had only one friend. She recognizes her own progress, noting that she feels like a different person from the one who arrived at the start of the semester. At the same time, she's not yet ready to have the difficult conversation with her mother, showing that growth is a process rather than a single moment.

Alex shows a more vulnerable side in this chapter. Her comment about wanting a mother who cares hints at her own family situation without dwelling on it. She encourages Molly to call her mother, offering practical advice from a place of longing rather than judgment. Her playful demeanor—eating raw cookie dough, teasing Molly about being a