Chapter 35 (Chapter 52): Monique's Moment of Empowerment and Foreboding
⚠️ 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
Monique returns home at three in the morning after another long interview session with Evelyn Hugo. Evelyn drank four cups of coffee and seemed eager to keep talking, but Monique chose to end the night. She acknowledges that she could have stayed longer but welcomed the excuse to avoid her own life for a while. Losing herself in Evelyn's story allows her to temporarily escape her personal struggles.
Once home, Monique crawls into bed and falls asleep quickly, feeling relieved that she has a valid excuse for not responding to David's text message. She is woken up at nearly nine by her mother's phone call. It is not yet six where her mother lives. Her mother explains she called because a small earthquake woke her up and she wanted to check in.
Monique shares her recent professional victories: getting Frankie to agree to a promotion and persuading Evelyn to allow a cover story. Her mother frames these accomplishments as a sign that Monique is becoming a force to be reckoned with—just as her late father would have said. Monique absorbs this praise and starts to see herself in a new light. She feels proud, even smug, as she hangs up.
The chapter ends with a dark foreshadowing: Monique reveals that within less than a week, Evelyn will finish her story, and Monique will discover the true purpose behind it. She will hate Evelyn so intensely that she is truly afraid she might kill her.
Key Events
- Monique returns home at 3 a.m. after a long interview with Evelyn.
- She thinks about how she welcomed the excuse to avoid her own life.
- Monique's mother calls early Saturday morning after a small earthquake.
- Monique tells her mother about getting Frankie to agree to a promotion and Evelyn to agree to a cover story.
- Her mother compares her to her father, saying he would be proud.
- Monique feels a new sense of empowerment and describes herself as a force to be reckoned with.
- The chapter closes with a foreboding statement: within a week, Monique will learn the full truth and hate Evelyn so much she fears she could kill her.
Character Development
Monique Grant: For the first time, Monique actively embraces her own strength. She negotiates successfully with both her boss and an iconic star, and her mother's validation pushes her to see herself as formidable. Yet the final lines reveal that this confidence is fragile; it will be shattered by whatever Evelyn reveals at the end of her story.
Monique's mother: Though appearing only briefly in a phone call, she serves as a source of unconditional support. Her pride in Monique and her reference to Monique's father reinforce the theme of legacy and familial approval.
Evelyn Hugo: Evelyn does not appear directly in this chapter, but her looming presence orchestrates the narrative. The foreshadowing positions her as a figure capable of inspiring both admiration and violent hatred.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Empowerment vs. Vulnerability: Monique's newfound confidence—"I’m out to get mine"—contrasts sharply with the chapter's ominous ending. This tension suggests that empowerment can be fragile when built on incomplete knowledge.
Mother-daughter bonds: The warm phone call underscores the importance of maternal support in Monique's life. Her mother's belief in her helps solidify Monique's self-concept.
Foreshadowing as narrative device: The explicit future statement—"in less than a week… I will hate her so much that I’ll be truly afraid I might kill her"—creates suspense and compels the reader to question what Evelyn could possibly reveal.
Dual lives: Monique's relief at escaping her own life by immersing in Evelyn's story hints at the deeper discontent she feels about her marriage and career.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter serves as a crucial turning point in Monique's internal arc. It marks the moment when she begins to own her professional identity and voice. At the same time, the foreboding final paragraph reframes the entire interview process as something dangerous. The hatred Monique predicts is so extreme that it threatens to undo her sense of self. The chapter thus balances triumph with impending crisis, setting up the emotional climax of the novel. It also deepens the mystery around Evelyn's motivations, making the reader eager for the resolution.
Study Questions and Answers
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What does Monique gain from her conversation with her mother, and why is it significant?
Monique gains validation and a new self-image as a "force to be reckoned with." This is significant because it marks a shift from self-doubt to confidence, giving her the courage to pursue her ambitions. However, the chapter's foreboding ending suggests this confidence will be challenged. -
Why does Monique say she "welcomed the excuse not to go back to my own life"?
Monique uses Evelyn's story as a distraction from her own unhappiness—especially her strained marriage and the stress of her career. The line reveals that Monique is avoiding confronting personal issues, which sets up future emotional conflict when Evelyn's truth forces her to face her own life. -
What effect does the chapter's final paragraph have on the reader?
The final paragraph creates intense suspense and curiosity. By stating that Monique will hate Evelyn enough to consider killing her, the author raises the stakes dramatically. The reader is left wondering what Evelyn could reveal that would provoke such rage, and how it will change Monique forever.