Chapter 20: Child's Pose – 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
Avalon Boone, a new yoga instructor, arrives at Hollis Shaw's house before eight o'clock, eager to earn the $300 fee. The house is silent with shades drawn. She takes photos of the sea-glass windows and helps herself to a blueberry from the lavish breakfast spread (granola, fruit salad, Wicked Island Bakery morning buns). She texts Hollis but receives no reply. The door is unlocked; she enters and calls out, but no one answers.
Hollis wakes at six from her alarm labeled "MORNING BUNS." She is still in her clothes, hungover from tequila shots, and knocks over a wineglass. She drives to the bakery, makes a lame joke to the teenage clerk, and sets out breakfast. Exhausted, she returns to bed naked, leaving her phone in the car.
Tatum wakes at six-thirty and misses her husband Kyle. She reads his text asking about last night. Tatum recalls the satisfying moment when she froze out Dru-Ann during dinner. She also remembers dancing to "Take My Breath Away" with Hollis, performing their old choreography. Tatum feels uneasy about Gigi's presence and compares her wealth and sex life with the others. She worries about a lump in her breast, having received a voice mail about test results. Kyle texts that he and Jack went to Straight Wharf and the Gaslight. Tatum decides to meet Kyle for breakfast at ten, ignoring the group itinerary. She sees Avalon through the window but does not respond to the knock.
Dru-Ann wakes to find a rubber snake coiled around her leg. After a brief scare, she does a 45-minute Peloton ride while sweating out tequila. She admires the midcentury decor of the Twist cottage. Checking her phone, she sees a text from JB about the escalating Twitter fallout from her #TeamDruAnn post. Two more clients have dropped her; Kendall Hennaker will stay if Dru-Ann issues an apology drafted by Legal. Dru-Ann deletes the voice mail. She also reads a text from Nick Wofford informing her that Phineas Pine has eagled the 14th hole and moved into the top ten at the British Open. Dru-Ann is irritated that Nick seems more focused on Phineas than on Posey's abandonment of the golf tournament.
Brooke lies in bed masturbating, stimulated by the previous night's conversation. She hears Avalon calling "Namaste" in the hallway but her door is locked, adding to her excitement. She achieves climax alone, feeling she has found enlightenment without yoga.
Gigi has taken a walk on the beach. She sits in the sand and cries, feeling isolated.
Avalon, after wandering through the house and peeking into Gigi's room (which has jungle-print wallpaper and a living garden), finally checks the pool deck but finds it empty. Frustrated, she packs up her Camry and leaves, taking a morning bun wrapped in a napkin.
Key Events
- Avalon arrives for a scheduled yoga class but finds the household asleep.
- Hollis wakes hungover, buys morning buns, then goes back to sleep, leaving her phone in the car.
- Tatum texts with Kyle, reminisces about freezing out Dru-Ann, and worries about a lump in her breast.
- Tatum decides to skip yoga to meet Kyle for breakfast.
- Dru-Ann discovers a rubber snake in her bed, then does a Peloton workout.
- Dru-Ann receives JB's voice mail demanding an apology for her tweet; she deletes it.
- Nick texts Dru-Ann about Phineas's success at the British Open.
- Brooke masturbates while Avalon calls outside her locked door.
- Gigi walks to the beach alone and cries.
- Avalon abandons the yoga session and leaves with a morning bun.
Character Development
Avalon Boone: Eager and professional, Avalon is desperate for money and hopes to impress Hollis. Her frustration grows as she is ignored, but she remains resourceful (taking photos, grabbing a bun). She is an outsider observing the luxury lifestyle.
Hollis Shaw: Underneath her hostess persona, Hollis is overwhelmed and physically depleted from the previous night's drinking. Her failure to prepare for the yoga class shows cracks in the "five-star" façade.
Tatum: Tatum's insecurity about money and her marriage emerges. She prioritizes meeting Kyle over group activities, revealing her dependence on her husband. The breast lump adds a layer of health anxiety that she keeps private.
Dru-Ann: Defiant and stubborn, Dru-Ann refuses to apologize for her tweet despite professional consequences. Her fixation on Nick and Posey shows vulnerability, but she masks it with anger. The rubber snake incident and midcentury decor provide comic relief.
Brooke: Brooke's masturbation scene highlights her sexual frustration and self-sufficiency. She rejects the yoga class in favor of private pleasure, suggesting a defiant independence.
Gigi: Gigi's beach crying reveals deep unhappiness. She remains the most mysterious guest, possibly struggling with something unspoken.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Child's Pose (Yoga Pose): The chapter title refers to a restorative yoga posture, yet no one practices it. The pose implies vulnerability and surrender, which contrasts with the characters' resistance: Hollis sleeps through class, Tatum avoids it, Dru-Ann works out aggressively, Brooke masturbates, Gigi cries. Each character is in their own version of child's pose—dealing with inner turmoil.
Morning Buns: These coveted pastries symbolize effort and comfort. Hollis drags herself to buy them as a token of hosting, but they go uneaten because the group is scattered. Avalon snatches one as a consolation prize, highlighting the gap between intention and reality.
Telephones and Texts: The chapter is driven by missed messages (Hollis leaves her phone, Dru-Ann ignores JB, Tatum texts Kyle). Communication fails repeatedly, reinforcing disconnection among the women.
The Twist Decor: The midcentury design of Dru-Ann's cottage represents a nostalgic escape, yet the rubber snake shatters the illusion of safety. Similarly, the beautiful beach and house backdrop contrast with Gigi's tears and Avalon's frustration.
Tequila and Hangover: The physical aftermath of drinking mirrors emotional hangovers—regret, shame, avoidance. Hollis and Dru-Ann both suffer physically, suggesting the cost of their actions.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 20 deepens character arcs by revealing private struggles. Tatum's health scare, Dru-Ann's professional crisis, Gigi's unexplained sorrow, and Brooke's isolated pleasure all occur simultaneously while the planned yoga session fails. The chapter underscores that the Five-Star Weekend is not the harmonious escape Hollis envisioned; each woman is dealing with personal issues that pull her away from group bonding. Avalon's departure with a stolen morning bun signals a missed opportunity for connection. The chapter sets up future conflicts: Tatum's medical results, Dru-Ann's possible career damage, and the unresolved tension between Dru-Ann and Tatum.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Tatum decide to meet Kyle for breakfast instead of participating in the group shopping trip?
Tatum feels insecure about her marriage and wants to reconnect with Kyle after hearing about his night out. She also needs support regarding the possible cancer diagnosis, though she doesn't admit this. She believes no one will notice her absence for an hour. -
What is Dru-Ann's immediate response to JB's voice mail demanding an apology for her tweet?
She deletes the voice mail without listening to the whole message and decides she will not issue an apology. She feels that the corporate shame is not her own and has a supporter in Linzy's mother. This defiance continues her professional downfall. -
What does Brooke do instead of joining the yoga class, and what does this reveal about her state of mind?
Brooke masturbates while Avalon calls outside her locked door. She feels she has found enlightenment without yoga, suggesting she is sexually frustrated and prefers private self-gratification over structured group activity. It shows her rebellious and independent nature.