Chapter 3: Naomi — 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

The chapter opens in October 2022, seven months before Naomi's death. She wakes in Liam's room with a throbbing headache, the morning light cutting through the blinds. Her phone shows 8:07, and she realizes she is late. Beside her, Liam sleeps shirtless, and the memory of the previous night floods back: they slept together despite having broken up the previous spring. Naomi recalls the breakup vividly. After his brother's unexpected death, Liam spiraled. Naomi tried everything to support him—bringing food, writing his papers, holding him through panic attacks—but one night in April he came home bruised and bloody from a fight, refusing to explain. When Naomi tried to convince him to get help, she blurted out "I love you," and he shut down, saying he couldn't do this and walking out.

Now, in his room, Naomi feels the old hurt swell. She hears her sister Maya's voice warning her that Liam is not good for her, but she reflects on how love can trap you. She grabs Liam's shirt since she cannot find her own and leaves, hiding her tears. She jogs across campus to Dillon Gym, where the Black Arts Company (BAC) is rehearsing. Her roommate and best friend Zalikah (Zee) is choreographing and is annoyed that Naomi is late. Naomi takes her place in the formation and dances, but she is distracted and hungover. Zee calls her out for lacking energy.

During a break, Naomi reflects on her childhood. Her mother died when she was eight, and she never knew her father. At eleven, after living with her aunt Ella in San Jose and a close call with child protective services, her sister Maya sent her to live with the St. Clairs in Greenwich, Connecticut. Margaret and John St. Clair were wealthy, with a marble-floored mansion, staff, and more books than she could read. Margaret, an odd, quirky woman who had also lost her parents young, defended Naomi against dinner-party guests who treated her like a pet. Naomi grew to love her. But she did not feel at home until she found dance at fifteen. The studio became her refuge—a place of misfits who wanted to escape their hometowns. She got piercings, wore her hair in an Afro, and took hip-hop, contemporary, West African, and jazz funk classes. She read voraciously and eventually got into Princeton, following her sister.

After rehearsal, Zee catches up to Naomi and teases her about the previous night. Naomi changes the subject to Amy's surprise birthday party, which they are hosting that evening. Zee mentions a guy named Trey she has been eyeing at BlackBox. As they walk, Zee points out Ben Wong, a tall, tan, shirtless Asian guy jogging across the quad. Naomi recognizes him as the treasurer of Sterling Club, a soccer player she sat next to in psych freshman year. Zee encourages Naomi to invite him to the party, and Naomi considers that a new distraction might help her move on from Liam.

That evening, Naomi is doing laundry in the basement of her building when Ben walks in. He is wearing noise-canceling headphones and, unaware of her presence, strips down to his boxers to wash his clothes. Embarrassed, Naomi tries to look away, but Ben notices her and strikes up a conversation. He explains that his own building's machines were full. Their interaction is awkward and playful—Naomi knocks over a pile of laundry, they nearly bump heads, and Ben hands her a fallen sports bra while avoiding her colorful thongs. Naomi's phone buzzes with a call from Liam, saved as "DOUCHEBAG—DO NOT ANSWER." Ben sees the name and teases her about it. Naomi admits Liam is her ex and that she does not want to talk to him. Ben nods knowingly, saying "Been there." He asks for her room number, and she gives him 211. He leaves with a smile, and Naomi feels giddy, grinning to herself as she heads upstairs.

Key Events

• Naomi wakes in Liam's room after sleeping together, despite their breakup the previous spring.
• She recalls the breakup: Liam's brother died, Liam spiraled, and he walked out after she said "I love you."
• Naomi leaves wearing Liam's shirt and rushes to BAC rehearsal, where Zee is choreographing.
• During rehearsal, Naomi reflects on her childhood: her mother's death, her absent father, and being sent to live with the St. Clairs in Greenwich.
• She finds her sense of belonging in dance at fifteen, which eventually leads her to Princeton.
• After rehearsal, Zee and Naomi discuss Amy's surprise birthday party, and Zee points out Ben Wong.
• That evening, Naomi encounters Ben in the laundry room, where he strips to his boxers.
• Ben and Naomi have a playful conversation, and Naomi invites him to the party, giving him her room number.
• Naomi leaves feeling giddy, a new romantic possibility emerging.

Character Development

Naomi is the emotional center of this chapter. She is caught between her past with Liam and the possibility of moving on. Her grief over her mother's death and her complicated childhood shape her need for connection. She admits that no one has filled the gap Liam left, but she also recognizes the toxicity of their relationship. Her sister Maya's voice in her head serves as a moral compass, warning her that she deserves better. Naomi's decision to invite Ben to the party and her giddy reaction afterward suggest a tentative step toward healing and new beginnings.

Liam is present mostly through memory and a phone call. He is portrayed as a grieving, self-destructive figure who pushes Naomi away. His refusal to accept help and his abrupt departure after Naomi's confession reveal his emotional unavailability. The text does not excuse his behavior but frames it as a consequence of unresolved trauma.

Zalikah (Zee) is Naomi's loyal best friend and roommate. She is sharp, teasing, and protective. She calls Naomi out for being late and distracted, but she also softens afterward, showing her care. Zee's encouragement to invite Ben reflects her desire to see Naomi happy and moving forward.

Ben Wong is introduced as a potential new love interest. He is confident, playful, and observant—he notices Naomi's phone screen and teases her gently. His willingness to strip down in the laundry room and his easy humor make him a refreshing contrast to Liam's brooding intensity. He seems emotionally mature, having "been there" with exes, which positions him as a healthier possibility for Naomi.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Grief and Loss: The chapter is steeped in loss—Naomi's mother, Liam's brother, and the end of their relationship. Grief is shown as a force that can either connect or destroy. Naomi's childhood loss shaped her resilience, while Liam's loss drove him to self-destruction.

Toxic Relationships: Naomi's relationship with Liam is depicted as a vise that makes her forget how to live without him. The chapter explores how love can become a trap, even when you know someone is not good for you.

Dance as Escape: The dance studio is Naomi's sanctuary. It is where she found belonging as a teenager and where she still goes to process her emotions. The rehearsal scene shows dance as both a physical and emotional release.

Found Family: Naomi's biological family is fractured—her mother dead, her father absent, her sister distant. She builds a family of choice: Zee, her dance friends, and the St. Clairs, who gave her a home even if she never fully felt she belonged.

Class Disparity: Naomi's move from a futon in San Jose to a marble-floored mansion in Greenwich highlights the stark contrast between her origins and the privileged world of Princeton. The St. Clairs' wealth is both a gift and a reminder of her otherness.

Identity and Belonging: Naomi's journey—from a motherless child to a dancer to a Princeton student—is a search for a place where she fits. The chapter shows that belonging is not automatic; it is found through passion and chosen connections.

Moving On and New Romance: The laundry room scene with Ben is a classic meet-cute, offering Naomi a chance at a fresh start. The chapter ends on a note of hope, suggesting that moving on is possible, even after deep hurt.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is crucial for establishing Naomi's backstory and emotional state. It explains why she is vulnerable to Liam's pull and why she might be drawn to someone like Ben. The contrast between her past (grief, instability, class displacement) and her present (dance, friendship, a potential new romance) sets up the central tension of her character. Since the novel opens with the knowledge that Naomi dies seven months later, this chapter also deepens the tragedy—readers see her beginning to heal and find happiness, which makes her eventual fate more devastating. The introduction of Ben Wong as a love interest adds a layer of complexity to the mystery, as his role in Naomi's life and death remains to be seen.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Naomi's childhood shape her adult relationships?

Naomi's childhood was marked by loss and instability. Her mother died when she was eight, she never knew her father, and she was sent to live with the St. Clairs at eleven. This history makes her crave connection and belonging, which explains why she clings to Liam even after he hurts her. She is used to making the best of imperfect situations, and she has learned to find family in chosen spaces like the dance studio. Her past also makes her resilient—she has survived loss before—but it also makes her vulnerable to accepting less than she deserves, as seen in her relationship with Liam.

2. What role does dance play in Naomi's life?

Dance is Naomi's primary escape and source of identity. She discovered it at fifteen, after years of feeling out of place in Greenwich. The studio gave her a community of misfits and a space to breathe. In the present, dance is still her refuge—she goes to rehearsal even when she is hungover and emotionally raw. The chapter shows that dance is not just a hobby but a lifeline, a way to process grief and assert control over her body and her life.

3. How does the laundry room scene with Ben contrast with Naomi's interactions with Liam?

The laundry room scene is light, playful, and full of mutual respect. Ben teases Naomi gently, respects her boundaries, and does not push her to explain her ex. He even acknowledges his own experience with exes, showing empathy. In contrast, Naomi's interactions with Liam are heavy with unspoken pain, guilt, and emotional manipulation. Liam's phone call interrupts the moment, but Ben handles it with humor and grace. The contrast highlights what a healthy connection might look like for Naomi, and it sets up Ben as a potential positive influence in her life.