Chapter 23 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 at the Logan family's winter soirée, held in a tented pavilion decorated with garlands, fairy lights, and a dozen Christmas trees. Kassidy asks a caterer for another punch, and when the caterer clarifies whether she wants the virgin version, Kassidy jokes that she hasn't been virgin since she was sixteen. Her father, overhearing, sternly reminds her she is underage. Kassidy is relieved that he doesn't seem to have caught the full implication of her joke, but she remains anxious that he might suspect what goes on between her and Blaine.

Her father appears unwell—paler than usual, with dark, bruised circles under his eyes. When Kassidy asks if he is okay, he brushes her off, insisting he is healthy as a thoroughbred, then corrects himself to a Galápagos tortoise. The exchange reveals the tenderness between them, as well as Kassidy's fear of losing him. He is older than her friends' parents, and she is acutely aware of his mortality.

He then guides her behind a Christmas tree to give her an early Christmas gift: a black key fob shaped like an anchor. It belongs to a yacht he purchased from a contact in Portugal, scheduled for delivery in March. He plans to take the yacht down the coast for spring break. Kassidy is thrilled but also embarrassed, especially because her friendship with Izzy has made her more conscious of money and wealth disparity. Her father dismisses her guilt, saying their family spending less wouldn't give Izzy's family more. He allows her to invite only Izzy on the trip, explicitly excluding her other friends and expressing disapproval of Blaine.

Kassidy returns to Blaine, who is sitting on a couch trying to balance a deviled egg on his forehead. She scolds him for acting like a buffoon, wanting her father to like him. Blaine responds that her father will never like anyone she dates, calling it part of the "Daddy's-princess package." They playfully banter, with Blaine bowing and calling her the prettiest princess in fairyland.

Their game is interrupted by a phone notification. Kassidy's immediate fear is that Blaine is receiving a text from another girl—a pattern she has experienced before, with texts at strange hours and promises that the girl was just a friend. But Blaine shows her the screen: it's an email from Dean Halliwell informing him that he failed his calculus test and will be added to Ms. Morales's tutoring group next semester. Blaine complains about the tutor, calling her a harsh name, and reveals that he only applied to theater programs, contrary to his father's expectation that he become a business major. Kassidy offers to attend tutoring with him, but Blaine declines, then kisses her forehead and whispers that she's the sweetest princess in fairyland.

Key Events

Kassidy jokes about not wanting virgin punch, and her father reminds her she is underage.
Kassidy notices her father's tired, unwell appearance; he insists he is healthy.
Her father gives her a yacht key fob as an early Christmas gift, with delivery scheduled for March.
He permits only Izzy to join the spring break trip, not Kassidy's other friends, and expresses disapproval of Blaine.
Blaine acts silly with a deviled egg; Kassidy urges him to behave for her father's sake.
Blaine receives an email from Dean Halliwell about failing calculus and being placed in a tutoring group.
Blaine reveals he applied only to theater programs, hiding this from his father.
Kassidy offers to go to tutoring with Blaine; he declines and kisses her forehead.

Character Development

Kassidy shows a growing awareness of economic disparity. Her friendship with Izzy has made her uncomfortable with her family's wealth, and she feels guilt about the yacht gift. She also displays a protective, almost maternal concern for her father's health, and a deep fear of losing him. Her reaction to Blaine's phone notification reveals past trauma around infidelity—she immediately assumes he is texting another girl, indicating a history of betrayal.

Blaine is portrayed as charming but immature, using humor and theatrical gestures to deflect serious topics. His reaction to the calculus email shows his anxiety about parental expectations: he has secretly applied to theater programs, but he cannot tell his father. He also dismisses Kassidy's offer of help, preferring to handle things alone, which hints at his pride and his tendency to keep secrets.

Kassidy's father is presented as a loving but controlling parent. He gives extravagant gifts, but he also restricts Kassidy's social circle and disapproves of Blaine. His insistence that he is healthy despite his appearance foreshadows potential health issues, and his comment about the economy being "in the tank" suggests financial strain that he tries to hide.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Wealth disparity is a central theme. Kassidy's guilt about the yacht contrasts with Izzy's family's financial situation, and her father's dismissive comment about spending less not helping Izzy's family highlights the moral complexity of inherited wealth.

Parental expectations drive much of the conflict. Blaine's father expects him to be a business major, while Blaine has secretly chosen theater. Kassidy's father expects her to associate only with certain people, and he tries to control her relationships.

The princess dynamic is a recurring motif. Blaine calls Kassidy a princess, and she protests, but the label reflects her father's overprotective treatment and her own privileged position. The motif also ties to Blaine's theatrical flair and his role as a suitor.

Fear of infidelity is introduced through Kassidy's immediate assumption that Blaine's phone notification is from another girl. This fear is rooted in past experiences, and it adds tension to their relationship.

Economic anxiety appears in the father's comment about the economy and in the family's apparent wealth, which may be more fragile than it seems. The yacht purchase, made through a contact in Portugal, suggests a desire to project stability.

Why This Chapter Matters

This flashback chapter provides crucial backstory for Kassidy and Blaine's relationship and for the events that will unfold later in the novel. It establishes the dynamics between Kassidy and her father, including his protectiveness and his disapproval of Blaine, which may influence future decisions. It also reveals Blaine's secret about his theater applications and his academic struggles, setting up potential conflicts. The chapter introduces the yacht as a significant object—a gift that may become central to the plot, especially given the spring break trip. Additionally, Kassidy's fear of infidelity and her father's unexplained health issues plant seeds for later revelations. The chapter deepens our understanding of Kassidy's motivations and the pressures she faces from both her family and her boyfriend.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Kassidy feel embarrassed about the yacht gift, and how does her father respond?

Kassidy feels embarrassed because her friendship with Izzy has made her more aware of money and wealth disparity. She loves beautiful things but is torn between glee and guilt. Her father dismisses her concern, saying that their family spending less wouldn't give Izzy's family more, and he frames the gift as a normal part of their lifestyle.

2. What does Blaine's reaction to the calculus email reveal about his relationship with his father?

Blaine's reaction shows that he is hiding his true ambitions from his father. He has applied only to theater programs, but he let his father talk him into taking calculus because his father expects him to be a business major. He is frustrated and anxious, but he doesn't feel able to be honest with his father, indicating a lack of trust and a fear of disappointing him.

3. How does Kassidy's response to Blaine's phone notification foreshadow potential conflict?

Kassidy immediately assumes the notification is from another girl, based on past experiences of texts at strange hours and Blaine's promises that the girl was just a friend. This fear suggests a history of infidelity or emotional betrayal in their relationship. It foreshadows that trust issues may resurface later, especially as secrets and tensions accumulate.