Prologue Summary: Lucy Meets Felix on PEI
⚠️ 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
Lucy Ashby (Bee) travels alone to Prince Edward Island after her best friend Bridget misses their flight. She stops at Shack Malpeque, a seafood restaurant, and is drawn to the oyster shucker, Felix. Their flirtation is electric; Felix cuts his wrist while shucking, Lucy bandages the wound, and he invites her to his home. They have repeated sexual encounters through the night and the next morning. The following day, Felix asks where she is staying; Lucy reads Bridget’s address aloud. Felix’s face pales. He reveals that he is Bridget’s brother, known as Wolf. Lucy realizes she has broken Bridget’s third rule for the trip: “Don’t fall in love with my brother.” The prologue ends with the weight of this knowledge crashing down.
Key Events
- Lucy arrives on PEI alone after Bridget misses their flight.
- She goes to Shack Malpeque, where she meets Felix, the oyster shucker.
- They engage in flirty banter; Felix cuts himself and Lucy tends to the wound.
- Felix invites Lucy to his home; they have sex multiple times.
- The next morning, they enjoy a relaxed breakfast on the deck.
- Felix asks for Lucy’s address to send recommendations; she reads Bridget’s family home address.
- Felix reveals he is Bridget’s brother (Wolf), and Lucy realizes she has broken Bridget’s rule.
Character Development
Lucy Ashby (Bee) – Shows vulnerability beneath a confident, flirtatious exterior. She left her PR job and feels the weight of her parents’ disappointment. Her willingness to follow Felix home reveals a desire for escape and adventure. The discovery about Felix shatters her assumptions and sets up internal conflict.
Felix Clark (Wolf) – Initially appears as a confident, slightly guarded flirt. His eyes betray sadness and wariness. He is skilled at his job and comfortable with casual intimacy, but his reaction to Lucy’s address reveals hidden layers. His nickname “Wolf” hints at a family identity separate from the Felix Lucy met.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Fate vs. Chance – Lucy feels the meeting is “destiny,” but the revelation that Felix is Bridget’s brother turns fate into a cruel twist. The repeated “spark, fizz, crackle” imagery suggests an inevitable connection.
- Masks and Vulnerability – Both characters wear emotional armor. Lucy uses flirting and humor; Felix hides sadness behind his dimple. The cuts (Felix’s wrist, Lucy’s emotional wounds) symbolize the risk of being seen.
- The Sea as Escape – PEI represents a fresh start for Lucy. The ocean, the salt air, and the beauty of Felix’s home offer a temporary reprieve from her problems.
- Identity and Nicknames – Lucy is “Bee” to Bridget but “Lucy” to Felix. Felix is “Wolf” to his family. These dual identities create a tension between who they are with each other and who they are in Bridget’s world.
Why This Chapter Matters
The Prologue establishes the novel’s central conflict: a passionate secret connection that breaches a friend’s trust. It introduces the passionate chemistry between Lucy and Felix while foreshadowing the emotional fallout. The idyllic setting contrasts with the looming betrayal, and the chapter’s final reveal sets the stage for the main narrative, which will likely explore consequences, secrets, and the struggle to maintain a relationship under the shadow of Bridget’s rule.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does the setting of Prince Edward Island contribute to the mood of the Prologue?
The island’s beauty—sparkling water, rust-colored cliffs, and Felix’s seaside home—creates a dreamlike atmosphere that mirrors Lucy’s desire for escape. The idyllic setting makes the eventual revelation more jarring, heightening the sense of betrayal.
2. What is the significance of the three rules Bridget gives Lucy?
The rules (eat oysters, leave the city behind, don’t fall in love with her brother) establish Bridget’s protective nature and foreshadow the central conflict. The third rule directly sets up the Prologue’s twist, showing that Lucy has unknowingly failed before her vacation truly begins.
3. How does the author use physical details to suggest emotional connection?
Details like the “triangle of moles” on Lucy’s chest, Felix’s “smudge of brown” in his blue iris, and the repeated “spark, fizz, crackle” sensations emphasize a fated, almost physical recognition between the characters. These details make the later betrayal feel more painful.