Chapter 27 Summary, Analysis, and Key Themes

⚠️ 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

Sam and Nisha approach the front door of Liz Frobisher's house, with Jasmine and Andrea watching from a parked car across the street. Sam is nervous—she has never been good at lying—but she notices an open bin nearby, and her resolve hardens. Nisha, wearing the Chanel jacket, takes the lead. When a man (later identified as Darren, Liz's husband) answers, he initially assumes they are religious or charity collectors. Nisha smoothly claims they represent the Global Cat Protection Fund and that Liz has won a prize as the charity's one-millionth customer.

The prize is a night for two at the Bentley Hotel in London. Sam and Nisha explain that Liz must bring the shoes she recently bought from the charity for a publicity photo. Liz is excited by the prospect of fame, while Darren is skeptical and protests, but Liz overrides him. Nisha shows a fake Instagram page that Andrea created the previous evening to make the story more convincing. Liz agrees to come on Sunday, and the women leave her a hotel card. As they walk away, Sam briefly ducks back to check the bin, then rejoins the others.

Later, Nisha walks home with Aleks, as they have been doing regularly. She tells him she never liked other women before, but the group she's with now are different. He asks why she is uncomfortable with help, and she explains that her past friendships were transactional—based on what each person could do for the other. She even suggests that all relationships, including marriage, are transactional. Aleks challenges this, asking about genuine warmth and love. Nisha feels exposed and changes the subject.

Aleks tells her she looks different—happier, more beautiful—and that she has self-respect, friends, and agency. Nisha bristles but then admits she doesn't have her son. She reveals that her son Ray is in a residential facility after a serious incident—a suicide attempt that required an ambulance and a stomach pump. She explains that her husband Carl rejected Ray because of his sensitivity and sexual orientation, seeing it as weakness. Nisha confesses that she agreed to send Ray away because she thought it would give him stability, but she now realizes she was also afraid of losing her own life and status. She admits that what Ray really needed was just her, and that she can't even get to him now. Aleks holds her hand and reassures her that she will have her son back soon, and that Ray is lucky to have her as a mother. Nisha is moved but doesn't know how to respond.

Key Events

Sam and Nisha execute a fake charity prize scheme to convince Liz Frobisher to bring the shoes to a hotel on Sunday.
Liz agrees despite her husband's objections, excited by the prospect of a publicity photo.
Sam checks a bin after leaving, hinting at a larger plan.
Nisha and Aleks walk together, and Nisha opens up about her past transactional friendships.
Nisha reveals the painful story of her son Ray, his rejection by Carl, and her own guilt.
Aleks offers genuine reassurance, telling Nisha she will have her son back soon.

Character Development

Nisha undergoes significant emotional exposure in this chapter. She admits that her previous friendships were transactional, revealing a deep discomfort with receiving help because she has nothing to give back. This is a stark contrast to the confident, polished woman she appeared to be earlier. Her confession about Ray is the most vulnerable moment we've seen from her. She acknowledges that she prioritized her own life and marriage over her son's needs, and she now recognizes that Carl—not Ray—was the one who needed fixing. This self-awareness marks a turning point in her character, as she begins to value genuine connection over status.

Sam shows a new side of herself as well. Though she is nervous about lying, she carries out the deception effectively, even improvising when Nisha's eyes start to roll. Her quick check of the bin suggests she is more invested in the plan than she lets on, and her ability to stay composed under pressure indicates growth from earlier in the novel.

Aleks continues to be a grounding presence. He challenges Nisha's cynical view of relationships, offering a counterpoint of genuine warmth and love. His simple, unpretentious reassurance—that Nisha will have her son back—is more powerful than any grand gesture. He also demonstrates that he is not transactional, telling her he wouldn't say nice things just to kiss her.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Deception and Performance: The entire scheme to retrieve the shoes is built on a lie. Sam and Nisha perform roles—charity workers, prize givers—to manipulate Liz. This highlights how easily appearances can be used to deceive, and how the characters are willing to bend the truth for their own ends.
Transactional vs. Genuine Relationships: Nisha's monologue about transactional friendships and marriages contrasts sharply with the genuine care she receives from Aleks and the other women. The chapter questions whether all relationships are ultimately exchanges, or if true warmth and love can exist without expectation.
Maternal Guilt and Acceptance: Nisha's guilt over Ray is palpable. She admits she wanted his problems to go away rather than face them, and she now understands that what he needed was her presence, not a facility. This ties to the theme of acceptance versus fixing—Nisha tried to fix Ray by sending him away, but what he needed was acceptance and love.
The Shoes as Symbol: The shoes are the object of the scheme, representing the link between Nisha's past and her present. They are also a symbol of identity and transformation—the shoes that were taken from her, and now must be reclaimed.
Homophobia and Rejection: Carl's rejection of Ray because of his sexual orientation is a painful undercurrent. It shows how prejudice can fracture a family and how Nisha's complicity in that rejection haunts her.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal for Nisha's character arc. It reveals the emotional weight she carries beneath her polished exterior and explains why she is so determined to reclaim her life. The scheme to retrieve the shoes is not just about material possession—it's about agency and self-respect. Nisha's confession to Aleks deepens their connection and sets up her eventual reconciliation with Ray. The chapter also reinforces the novel's central themes of identity, friendship, and the courage to be vulnerable.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Nisha feel uncomfortable when people help her?

Nisha explains that she is used to transactional relationships, where help is exchanged for favors or status. Receiving help without being able to give something back makes her feel indebted and vulnerable, which is unfamiliar and uncomfortable for her.

What does Nisha realize about her decision to send Ray to a residential facility?

She initially believed it was for Ray's stability, but she now admits she was also afraid of losing her own life and status. She realizes that what Ray really needed was her presence, not a facility, and that Carl—not Ray—was the one who needed to change.

How does Aleks challenge Nisha's view of relationships?

Aleks questions her belief that all relationships are transactional, asking about genuine warmth, love, and the desire to care for someone without expecting anything in return. He demonstrates this by being kind to her without any ulterior motive, and by reassuring her that she will have her son back.