The Boyfriend Chapter 35 Summary & 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.

Chapter 35 Summary — Before: Tom

The chapter opens with the news that Alison Danzinger has disappeared. Her mother found her bed empty when she didn’t come down for breakfast, and an AMBER Alert has been issued. Police suspect Alison may have run away after a minor argument with her parents the night before.

Daisy, visibly distressed, confides in Tom that Alison would never run away intentionally. She describes her as a sweet, responsible person who wouldn’t want to worry her family. Privately, Tom disagrees — he knows Alison has been blackmailing him to end his relationship with Daisy.

Daisy mentions that Alison never goes anywhere without her dog, Rufus, which deepens her fear that something serious has happened. Tom tries to reassure her, but inside he feels the same dread. He knows the police will question all students again.

After leaving Daisy, Tom heads straight to Slug’s locker. Slug greets him casually, as if nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. Tom asks if Slug has heard about Alison. Slug replies that “someone took care of our little problem” and winks at Tom. Tom is horrified and asks directly if Slug did something the night before. Slug tells him to relax, insists he did nothing to Alison, and claims that sometimes “things just work out in your favor” — calling it luck.

Tom does not believe him. In that moment, he comes to a chilling realization: He himself might be dangerous, but Slug is something far worse.

Key Events

• Alison Danzinger is reported missing; an AMBER Alert is issued.
• Daisy tells Tom that Alison would never run away and is worried she has been harmed.
• Tom privately remembers that Alison was blackmailing him to break up with Daisy.
• Tom confronts Slug at his locker.
• Slug makes a cryptic remark about their “problem” being solved and winks.
• Tom realizes Slug is more dangerous than he initially believed.

Character Development

Tom — This chapter reveals the depth of Tom’s guilt and paranoia. He suspects the worst but is unwilling to voice it. His earlier willingness to consider violent solutions (implied in prior chapters) now recoils when he sees that same logic in someone else. He recognizes a line he himself may have been close to crossing.

Daisy — Her emotional, intuitive trust in her best friend contrasts sharply with Tom’s secret knowledge. Her grief is genuine, and her instincts about Alison’s character are correct, making her a sympathetic counterweight to the malevolence around her.

Slug — His calm, almost cheerful demeanor after Alison’s disappearance reveals a chilling lack of empathy. The wink and “luck” comment suggest he either knows more than he admits or feels no remorse about the possibility that he caused harm. He is positioned as the true predator in the story.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The Mask of Normalcy — Both Tom and Slug present ordinary fronts to the world. Tom tries to soothe Daisy while hiding his dread; Slug jokes and slams his locker as if nothing is wrong. The chapter underscores how easily violence or danger can hide behind everyday routines.

Guilt and Complicity — Tom is not directly responsible for Alison’s disappearance, but his past willingness to consider harming her (because of the blackmail) makes him feel complicit. Slug’s casual “solution” suggests that Tom’s earlier thoughts have found a willing executor.

The Escalation of Menace — The chapter draws a clear distinction between Tom’s internal dangerousness and Slug’s external, practiced menace. Tom is unsettled by what he sees in Slug because it mirrors his own darkest impulses, but taken to an extreme.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 35 is a turning point in the novel’s suspense. Alison’s disappearance removes the immediate blackmail threat but raises the stakes enormously. Tom’s confrontation with Slug exposes the true danger in his orbit: Slug is not merely an accomplice or a bully — he is a predator capable of acting on his worst instincts. This chapter reframes the story’s central question: who is the real threat to those around Tom? It deepens the mystery of Alison’s fate and sets up a more sinister conflict between Tom and Slug.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Tom go to Slug’s locker immediately after learning Alison is missing?
Tom suspects Slug may have done something to Alison because they were together the previous night and Alison was blackmailing Tom. He wants to gauge Slug’s reaction and possibly confirm his fears.

2. How does Slug’s response to Tom’s question reveal his character?
Slug’s wink and his comment about “luck” show that he views Alison’s disappearance as a convenient solution rather than a tragedy. He is detached, untroubled, and possibly even pleased — indicating a lack of empathy and a willingness to act ruthlessly.

3. What does Tom realize about himself and Slug at the end of the chapter?
Tom realizes that while he may be capable of dangerous thoughts, Slug is capable of dangerous actions without remorse. The chapter marks Tom’s recognition that he has been moving toward a moral precipice, but Slug has already crossed it.

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