Chapter Twenty-Five: Will – 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
Will cannot stop thinking about the weekend threesome with Charlotte and Beckett. He describes it as the best sex of his life. But when Charlotte wakes up early and deletes the dating app, Will worries he or Beckett hurt her. In Monday’s lab, Charlotte acts cold and distant. After class, Will catches her and asks if she’s okay. She insists she had a good time but says it can’t happen again because the arrangement isn’t “normal.” Will shares his own summer struggle with Beckett, explaining he once felt the same way but later accepted that liking what he likes is fine. Charlotte sticks to her decision, agreeing only to school-related contact. Later, Will meets his stepmother Kelsey for lunch. She asks about Christmas with his father; Will agrees to go home. He also asks Kelsey to persuade his father to back off plans for a press tour during finals. Kelsey promises to handle it.
Key Events
- Will reflects on the weekend and notices Charlotte deleted the app.
- In lab, Charlotte avoids Will and gives short, emotionless answers.
- Will confronts Charlotte after class; she admits the night was fun but declares it a one-time thing.
- Will challenges her “not normal” reasoning by sharing his own past experience with Beckett.
- Charlotte restricts future contact to school topics only.
- Will meets stepmother Kelsey for lunch; she presses him about Christmas with his father.
- Will agrees to visit home and asks Kelsey to talk his father out of a press tour during finals.
- Kelsey promises to support Will and handle his father.
Character Development
Will shows growth in empathy and self-awareness. He doesn’t push Charlotte beyond her comfort zone but gently challenges her internalized shame, drawing from his own journey. He also asserts boundaries with his father through Kelsey, choosing his education over being a campaign prop.
Charlotte remains guarded but reveals her vulnerability. She enjoyed the experience yet fears social judgment. Her insistence that it’s “not normal” mirrors Will’s earlier mindset, creating a parallel that deepens their connection.
Kelsey emerges as a stabilizing force. She balances loyalty to Will’s father with genuine care for Will, acting as a mediator and advocate.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Evidenced Here
- Normalcy vs. personal desire: Charlotte and Will both wrestle with societal definitions of normal, especially regarding non-monogamous sex. Will’s arc suggests self-acceptance is possible; Charlotte remains conflicted.
- Family obligation vs. autonomy: Will’s father uses guilt and Kelsey’s emails to push a Christmas visit and campaign appearances. Will resists without rejecting family ties, symbolizing a negotiation between duty and self.
- Communication and silence: Charlotte’s deleted app and cold demeanor represent emotional withdrawal. Will’s persistence in checking on her shows the importance of honest conversation, even when answers are uncomfortable.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter serves as a turning point for the trio’s dynamic. Charlotte’s choice to frame the night as “not normal” introduces a central conflict: whether the three of them can reconcile their genuine connection with societal expectations. Will’s parallel struggle from the summer validates Charlotte’s feelings while offering a path forward—if she chooses to take it. Meanwhile, Will’s family subplot reinforces the theme of living under someone else’s expectations, tying his personal agency in romance to his agency in family life. Without direct confrontation between the three, the stage is set for future tension and possible reconciliation.
Study Questions and Answers
-
Why does Charlotte delete the app and avoid Will after the weekend?
Charlotte deletes the app because she enjoyed the threesome but feels it violates her sense of normalcy. She tells Will it was “fun” but “not normal,” and she wants to eliminate future temptation. Her avoidance stems from shame and fear of being judged. -
How does Will respond to Charlotte’s reasoning, and what does it reveal about his character growth?
Will shares that he felt the same way last summer when he avoided Beckett. He now accepts that there is nothing wrong with liking what he likes. This reveals his emotional maturity and willingness to challenge societal norms, which he offers as a model for Charlotte. -
What does the lunch scene with Kelsey reveal about Will’s family dynamics?
Kelsey acts as a bridge between Will and his controlling father. Will trusts Kelsey more than his father, and her willingness to intervene shows the family’s power structure—his father’s image matters most, but Kelsey has influence. Will’s request to delay the press tour until after graduation underscores his prioritization of school over his father’s political ambitions.