Chapter summaries The Divorce Freida McFadden

Chapter 28: Cora Calls Out Gaslighting Ahead of Mediation

⚠️ 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

After the traumatic elephant encounter, Naomi meets her friend Cora for drinks at a bar. Cora has free childcare because Zack is with his ex-husband, but Naomi longs to be home with Teddy. Over wine, Naomi shares Jeremy’s recent behavior but omits her suspicion that Veronica tried to poison her, fearing she will sound delusional.

Cora immediately diagnoses the situation as gaslighting. She points out that Jeremy schedules meetings verbally, then claims Naomi misremembered the time, making her doubt herself. Naomi defends Jeremy, suggesting Veronica is manipulating him. Cora insists Jeremy has made his choice and it is time for Naomi to move on. She playfully asks if anyone at the bar appeals to Naomi, then suggests the cute divorce lawyer.

Naomi admits she cannot turn off her feelings for Jeremy like a switch, even though he is being awful. Cora warns that tomorrow’s mediation is a war and predicts Jeremy will eventually surrender. Naomi agrees but reflects that it would be easier to give up on Jeremy if she did not think he might be in danger.

Key Events

  • Naomi and Cora meet for drinks after the elephant incident.
  • Cora identifies Jeremy’s behavior as gaslighting: contradictions in appointment times with no written record.
  • Naomi defends Jeremy, claiming he is being manipulated by Veronica.
  • Cora urges Naomi to move on and treat the upcoming mediation as a war.
  • Naomi admits she still has feelings for Jeremy and worries he might be in danger.
  • The scene sets Naomi’s conflicted state just before mediation.

Character Development

  • Naomi: Struggles between recognizing Jeremy’s cruelty and still caring for him. She is aware of gaslighting but resists fully accepting it, partly because she suspects a greater threat from Veronica. This internal conflict deepens her vulnerability.
  • Cora: Acts as a voice of reason and a catalyst for Naomi’s self-awareness. She is blunt, loyal, and perceptive, seeing the manipulation that Naomi is reluctant to acknowledge. Cora’s insistence on moving on shows her protective role.
  • Jeremy (mentioned): Portrayed as deliberately manipulative (gaslighting) but also possibly a victim of Veronica’s influence, leaving his true intentions ambiguous.
  • Veronica (mentioned): Continues to be presented as the cold-blooded antagonist, though her role in Jeremy’s actions remains unclear.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Gaslighting: The central theme of the chapter. Cora explicitly names the tactic, explaining how Jeremy undermines Naomi’s reality. The lack of written communication (texts, emails) makes Naomi doubt her memory.
  • Manipulation vs. Genuine Danger: Naomi’s internal conflict mirrors the book’s larger question: is Jeremy a calculating villain or another victim of Veronica? The chapter deepens the mystery.
  • Friendship as Support: Cora’s role highlights the importance of an outside perspective. She sees what Naomi cannot, providing both emotional support and strategic advice.
  • War Metaphor: Cora frames the upcoming mediation as a battlefield, with Jeremy as the enemy. This militaristic language contrasts with Naomi’s lingering affection, emphasizing the emotional war she faces.
  • Danger: Naomi’s final thought — that Jeremy might be in danger — introduces a new layer of suspense, suggesting the threat extends beyond the divorce proceedings.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 28 serves as a critical turning point. It solidifies the gaslighting plotline, gives Naomi external validation (from Cora), and sets the stage for the mediation in the next chapter. Naomi’s unresolved love for Jeremy, combined with her suspicion of danger, creates dramatic tension. The chapter also reinforces the theme of perception vs. reality: Naomi must decide whom to trust — her own feelings, Cora’s reasoning, or her fears about Veronica. This internal conflict drives the narrative forward and raises the stakes for the mediation.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What specific behavior does Cora identify as gaslighting, and why does Naomi have trouble accepting it?
Cora points out that Jeremy schedules meetings verbally and then claims Naomi misremembered the time, with no written proof. Naomi struggles to accept this because she still loves Jeremy and believes Veronica is manipulating him, making her reluctant to see Jeremy as the aggressor.

2. How does Cora’s advice differ from Naomi’s emotional state?
Cora advises Naomi to treat the mediation as a war and move on from Jeremy. Naomi, however, admits she cannot simply turn off her feelings and worries that Jeremy may be in danger, revealing a deeper emotional attachment and concern for his safety.

3. What new layer of suspense does Naomi’s final thought introduce?
Naomi thinks it would be easier to give up on Jeremy if she didn’t believe he might be in danger. This suggests that Veronica’s threat may extend to Jeremy himself, complicating the narrative and hinting at a possible shared danger between the estranged spouses.

Previous Chapter: Chapter 29 Summary
Next Chapter: Chapter 31 Summary
Return to The Divorce Book Hub