Chapter 47 Summary and Analysis: Larissa
⚠️ 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
Larissa meets her best friend Lexi at a boba place in Brooklyn Park, their first meeting in over a month. Lexi reveals that Mike has stopped talking to his mother because of how she treated Larissa, and he’s now working full-time with Tony and moving out of the guesthouse. Larissa is glad he’s standing up for himself but isn’t ready to talk to him yet.
The main topic is Larissa’s new business: Board & Sweet, a nut-free grazing company. Chris helped her create six staged graze tables, using different locations (a neighbor’s kitchen, a hotel event room, their living room) to make the photos look professional. She added paper quilling decorations to each table, a unique touch she can personalize for events. The website is live, and she has emailed previous customers. Now she’s waiting for orders, nervous because the startup cost was nearly two thousand dollars—and Chris co-signed everything. He also bought wire racks, folding tables, and extra fridges for the garage, turning their home into a production space. Larissa is overwhelmed by his belief in her and says she finally feels stable because Chris is there to catch her.
Larissa describes the ache she feels for Chris: she misses him when he’s at work, sometimes drives to bring him lunch just to see him. She contrasts this with what she never felt for Mike. Both she and Chris acknowledge their feelings but refuse to act on them because they don’t want to hurt Mike. Lexi presses her: if she could move out, would she? Larissa admits her credit has recovered and she could afford her own apartment now. Yet she chooses to stay: “There is literally nowhere else I want to be and nobody else I want to be with.” Lexi jokes about them finally being together.
At the end of their conversation, Larissa receives a text she thinks is from Chris about the dog, Woofarine. But it’s not—it’s an email about her business. She decides Chris should hear the news first.
Key Events
- Larissa and Lexi catch up at a boba shop after more than a month apart.
- Lexi reports that Mike has cut off his mother and is moving out of the guesthouse.
- Larissa reveals the full scale of her new business, Board & Sweet.
- Chris has funded and helped build the business, turning their home into a graze table workshop.
- Larissa reflects on her deep feelings for Chris—feelings she never had for Mike.
- Both Larissa and Chris are aware of the mutual attraction but choose not to pursue it to avoid hurting Mike.
- Lexi helps Larissa realize she’s been living in “survival mode” and is now relaxed because of Chris’s support.
- Larissa confirms she could afford her own place but chooses to stay with Chris.
- An email arrives that makes Larissa smile, and she decides to tell Chris first.
Character Development
Larissa: Demonstrates tremendous growth in this chapter. She has moved from financial instability and codependency to a point where she can support herself and make a conscious choice about where to live. Her business is thriving, thanks to Chris’s help, but she also credits her own hard work and creativity. Emotionally, she is honest with herself about her love for Chris, though she remains committed to protecting Mike’s feelings. Her friendship with Lexi is a grounding force.
Chris: Though he appears mostly off-screen, his actions define the chapter. He has invested time, money, and care into Larissa’s dream without expecting anything in return. His acts of service (filling her gas tank, replacing tires, funding the business) show a selfless, practical love. He shares the same restraint regarding Mike, which deepens his integrity.
Lexi: Serves as a wise sounding board. She identifies that Larissa is out of survival mode—a key insight. She also pushes Larissa to admit what she wants, even if Larissa can’t act on it yet.
Mike: Briefly mentioned off-screen, but his choices (cutting off his toxic mother, moving out, getting a real job) show he is trying to mature, possibly influenced by losing Larissa.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Survival mode vs. safety: Lexi’s phrase, “You’re out of survival mode,” crystallizes a major theme. For years Larissa has operated from a place of scarcity and constant alertness. Chris’s emotional and practical support has given her enough safety to relax, even nap—something she never did before.
Unconditional support as love: Larissa states, “This is what love looks like. It’s lifting someone up even if you know it means they can get out.” Chris builds her up without trying to trap her. This redefines love not as possession but as empowerment.
The ache of restraint: Larissa’s feelings for Chris are described as a constant ache—one she feels when she sees him, smells his hoodie, watches him leave for work. The pain of wanting someone you choose not to have is a central emotional thread.
Paper quilling as art and identity: Larissa’s handmade quilled decorations set her business apart. They symbolize her willingness to go the extra mile, her creativity, and the personal touch she brings to her work. They also represent the care she puts into everything, including her relationships.
Why This Chapter Matters
This is a turning point for Larissa’s character arc. She has achieved the financial and emotional independence she lacked for most of the book. By being able to move out but choosing to stay, she demonstrates that her relationship with Chris is not born of necessity but of genuine desire. The chapter also reinforces the central conflict: two people who clearly love each other but are held back by their loyalty to Mike. The cliffhanger (the mysterious email) hints that the business may finally take off, which could change the dynamics further.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Larissa say she can’t pursue a relationship with Chris, even though she loves him?
She doesn’t want to be the reason Chris loses his friends, especially Mike, who is still struggling mentally after his father’s death. Both she and Chris agree that hurting Mike is unacceptable, so they suppress their feelings.
2. What does Lexi mean when she says Larissa is “out of survival mode,” and how does that relate to Chris?
Lexi explains that the constant stress Larissa lived under (from poverty, debt, her father’s illness) kept her body in a state of perpetual alertness. Chris’s consistent support and safety allowed her cortisol levels to drop, making her feel relaxed enough to nap—something she never did before. His presence calmed her nervous system.
3. How does Larissa’s ability to afford her own apartment change the meaning of her living arrangement with Chris?
For the first time, Larissa has a choice. Previously, she cohabited with partners (like Mike) because she couldn’t afford rent elsewhere. Now she could leave, but she chooses to stay because she wants to be with Chris. This transforms her situation from economic dependence to a deliberate emotional decision.