Chapter 17 Summary: Lies, Love, and Climbing Walls
⚠️ 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
Joanna finds herself halfway up a climbing wall, regretting the white lie she told Paul on their first date—that she loved climbing. While Paul ascends with ease, Joanna is stuck. She had attempted to avoid the situation by faking a wrist injury, but now at the National Indoor Climbing Centre, her deception unravels. Paul, who had known all along (he noticed her amateurish bandage and her manicured nails), gently helps her down by carrying her on his back. They joke about the small lies that spice up a relationship, but Joanna reflects that big lies—the ones about identity and values—are what matter. Shortly after, Joanna receives a text from her mum asking for Holly's number. When Joanna asks Paul to send it, his unusually non-committal grunt makes her suspect he may be hiding something. The chapter ends with Joanna hoping this is a small lie, not a big one.
Key Events
- Joanna struggles on a climbing wall while Paul glides up.
- Flashback reveals Joanna lied about loving climbing to impress Paul on their first date and later faked a wrist injury.
- Paul confesses he knew all along, pointing to Joanna's poorly wrapped bandage and her nails.
- Paul carries Joanna down, and they reconcile with lighthearted banter about small deceptions.
- Joanna gets a message from her mother asking for Holly's telephone number.
- Paul's response to forwarding the number is strangely reluctant, raising Joanna's suspicion.
Character Development
- Joanna: Her discomfort on the wall shows her willingness to maintain a facade for love, but she also craves honesty. By the end, she becomes wary, attuned to potential deception in Paul.
- Paul: Appears forgiving and perceptive—he saw through Joanna's lies early on. His non-committal grunt about Holly marks a deviation from his usual openness, hinting at hidden depths or secrets.
- Holly (mentioned off-stage): Already integrated into Joanna's family plans, suggesting she has a meaningful role beyond this chapter.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- White Lies vs. Big Lies: The chapter contrasts harmless relationship fibs (liking climbing, Mumford & Sons) with dangerous concealments (Paul's possible secret about Holly). Joanna's internal rule—that big lies are about identity—becomes a test for Paul.
- Climbing as a Metaphor: The climbing wall represents the effort required to maintain a lie and the risk of falling when the truth emerges. Paul's ease reflects his comfort with transparency (at least about small matters).
- Reinvention and Performance: Joanna views each new relationship as a doorway to a new version of herself; white lies are "course corrections." This motif ties to the novel's broader interest in the stories we tell ourselves and others.
- Observation & Knowledge: Paul noticed Joanna's nails and bad bandage, underscoring that intimate partners often see through small deceptions. The question is whether major secrets are equally visible.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 17 deepens the romantic subplot while planting seeds of unresolved tension. It shows Joanna's vulnerability and Paul's apparent loyalty, then introduces a cryptic note about Holly. For readers, this is the first clear hint that Paul may not be entirely trustworthy, setting up potential conflict. The chapter also reinforces the novel's central questions about truth, trust, and the masks people wear in relationships.
Study Questions & Answers
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Why does the climbing wall serve as an effective symbol for Joanna and Paul's relationship at this point?
The wall represents the effort needed to climb out of deception and the risk of falling when pretending. Joanna is literally stuck in a lie, while Paul climbs effortlessly, suggesting he is comfortable with honesty—at least regarding small matters. Their eventual teamwork (him carrying her down) mirrors the trust required for a healthy relationship. -
What distinction does Joanna make between "small lies" and "big lies," and how does that distinction apply to Paul's reaction about Holly?
Joanna believes small lies (liking a band or a hobby) are harmless fun, while big lies concern a person's core identity and values. Paul's evasive grunt about forwarding Holly's number hints at a big lie—something fundamental about his connection to Holly that he hasn't disclosed. -
How does the chapter use indirect characterization to reveal that Paul has known about Joanna's climbing lie all along?
Paul mentions that Joanna's "nails" gave her away—climbers keep their nails short. He also refers to her poorly wrapped wrist bandage. These details show that Paul is observant and has been gently waiting for Joanna to confess, which he allows her to do in a safe, humorous way.