Chapter 33: Zoey, daughter of Mariella

⚠️ 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

The official MDBC meeting kicks off on the terrace, with Zoey tasked by her mother, Mariella, to handle the cocktails. Zoey resists the urge to create viral TikTok drinks and instead invents a “Como-politan,” a limoncello variation. She also provides Aperol spritzes and smoked almonds. Merry is anxious because her mother, Grace, has not returned from an outing with Captain Handsome. Elin repeatedly assures everyone Grace is fine, but the delay unsettles the group, recalling the last meeting when Meg and Kathleen were late—only for the group to witness a traumatic event. Zoey steers conversation toward book presentations. Jamie nervously presents Hello Beautiful, earning praise from Mariella. Zoey, having forgotten her assigned book, whispers to Merry for the title and wings a talk on Where'd You Go, Bernadette, drawing a comparison between the eccentric architect and her own mother. Mariella gives her a B-plus. Elin, Brigid, and Kathleen present their books in turn, and Mariella threatens to sing a review of The Whispers until Zoey teases her about TikTok. The meeting grows loud and argumentative as Meg finally speaks up during a debate about toxic motherhood and trigger warnings for books like Women Talking and A Little Life. Zoey’s father announces dinner in thirty minutes. Meg rolls her eyes, Merry checks her watch, and Jamie and Brigid exchange a long, mysterious look.

Key Events

Zoey prepares custom cocktails for the meeting, including her invented Como-politan and Aperol spritzes.
Merry reveals that Grace has not checked in and her phone is dead; Elin reassures her.
The group briefly reflects on the previous meeting's traumatic event involving Meg and Kathleen.
Jamie gives a nervous but well-received book talk on Hello Beautiful.
Zoey improvises a presentation on Where'd You Go, Bernadette after forgetting her assignment.
Mariella grades Zoey B-plus and chides her for not preparing.
Elin, Brigid, and Kathleen present their chosen books.
Mariella's threat to sing a review is defused by Zoey's TikTok warning.
The discussion devolves into a loud argument about toxic motherhood and trigger warnings.
Meg speaks without prompting for the first time during the weekend.
Zoey’s father announces dinner, and the scene ends with Meg rolling her eyes, Merry anxious, and Jamie and Brigid sharing a significant look.

Character Development

Zoey: Shows resourcefulness and humor as she takes charge of cocktails and thinks on her feet during her book talk. Her impulse to troll her mother is tempered by consideration for the group's enjoyment. She demonstrates leadership and the ability to manage her mother’s high expectations.
Mariella: Remains the controlling organizer, checking the agenda and assigning grades. However, she laughs at Zoey’s joke and accepts the almond thrown at her, revealing a playful side beneath her bossiness.
Merry: Grows increasingly anxious as her mother Grace remains missing. Her frequent watch-checking and strained responses contrast with her usual composure.
Meg: For the first time in the retreat, speaks without being asked, engaging in the book debate. Her eye-roll at Mariella indicates ongoing resentment.
Jamie and Brigid: Their shared “mysterious look” hints at a private understanding or secret, adding intrigue to their otherwise supportive roles.
Grace: Though absent, her silence drives the chapter’s underlying tension, raising questions about her well-being and the group’s collective memory of past trauma.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Control vs. Spontaneity: Mariella’s rigid agenda clashes with Zoey’s improvised talk and the meeting's eventual chaotic debate. The contrast symbolizes the tension between planning and organic connection.
Memory of Trauma: The group’s uneasy recall of the last meeting when a happy outing turned tragic looms over the present. Zoey actively tries not to dwell on it, but the memory colors everyone's anxiety about Grace.
Humor as a Coping Mechanism: Zoey’s joking threats to serve bizarre drinks and her TikTok tease deflect stress. Even Mariella joins in, using laughter to mask deeper worry.
Mother-Daughter Mirrors: Zoey compares Bernadette Fox to Mariella, and Meg’s defiant engagement suggests she is stepping out of her mother Jamie’s shadow. The book discussions become metaphors for the real relationships in the club.
The Mysterious Look: Jamie and Brigid’s exchanged glance closes the chapter with a motif of secrecy, suggesting that not all tensions are surface-level.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 33 marks the midpoint of the retreat’s pivotal day, blending the MDBC’s tradition of book discussions with mounting personal pressures. It deepens Zoey's characterization as a witty and capable daughter who can both tease and cooperate with her mother. More crucially, Grace’s prolonged absence activates the group’s shared trauma, foreshadowing a potential crisis. The chaotic, argumentative tone of the meeting reveals fissures within the club—Meg’s silence breaking, Merry’s worry, and the cryptic look between Jamie and Brigid. This chapter sets up the emotional stakes for the retreat's climax, where unresolved issues and hidden information may come to light.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Zoey decide not to make the viral TikTok cocktails, and what does this choice reveal about her character? Zoey realizes that while pranking her mother with bizarre drinks would be funny, it would also ruin the drinks for everyone and provoke Mariella’s anger. This decision shows she balances humor with responsibility and cares about the group’s enjoyment, not just her own amusement.
How does the memory of the last MDBC meeting affect the characters’ reactions to Grace’s absence? The previous meeting ended traumatically when what seemed like a simple delay turned into a shocking event. This memory makes everyone more sensitive to Grace not returning, even though they try to dismiss the worry. Zoey actively avoids thinking about it, but the parallel creates an undercurrent of dread.
What might the “mysterious look” between Jamie and Brigid signify, and why is it placed at the end of the chapter? The look suggests a shared secret or private understanding between the two mothers. It is placed at the end to create suspense, implying that despite the apparent focus on book talks and cocktails, deeper interpersonal dynamics are at play that may soon surface in the story.