Chapter 11 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

Rory wakes up at Ash and Seth's house after the events of the previous night, with Luca's finger in her nose. She is still raw from the revelation about Ian and Mia. Seth makes a large breakfast, and Ash is hungover. Rory deflects their questions about Ian, claiming she and Ian are not exclusive. She leaves abruptly, refusing a ride, and walks through the cold town.

She stops at a grocery store, where she fills a cart with rotisserie chickens and orders a large amount of meat from the butcher. While waiting, she receives a text from Mia, who apologizes for the Ian situation and insists she is not interested in him. Rory's grip tightens, and she crushes her new phone into pieces. She then runs into Matty in the store. They argue, with Matty insisting he has done nothing wrong and that the problems are between Scarlett and Rory. Rory is frustrated by his lack of accountability.

She walks home carrying her groceries. She sees Matty's car in the driveway and locks herself in her room, where she eats the chickens in bed. She finds her old silver jewelry in the nightstand. Compelled by a desire for self-destruction, she puts on a silver bracelet. It burns her, but she welcomes the pain. Her senses dull, and she loses consciousness.

Scarlett finds her three days later, unresponsive in bed. She drags Rory to the bathtub, removes the bracelet, and revives her. The silver has left a severe burn on her wrist. They have a tearful argument about support and abandonment, which dissolves into laughter when Rory splashes Scarlett. Scarlett takes Rory to Hillside Cemetery, where she confesses that she cheated on Matty when she first found out she was pregnant. She explains her panic about losing her freedom and her fantasy life. Rory is shocked but understanding. Scarlett reveals she told Matty the day she got out of the hospital, and they are working through it.

They return home and spend Christmas Eve baking cookies and video-calling their mother, who is in Aspen with Guy. On Christmas Day, they attend Joann's dinner, where Rory reconnects with Grandma Candy. Later, they go to Ash's for dessert, where Mia is present. Seth warns Rory that Ian is invited to the New Year's Eve party. Mia and Rory step outside to smoke, where Mia makes a comment about Rory being a