Chapter summaries here:
Page 1-39
In the beginning of the book Charlie mostly introduces every single character in the book and talks about her past and how her mom gave her up to the Mental health center where she could be treated for her suicidal thoughts. On pages 24-25, we get to know that the people from the mental health center made her see a doctor and she has to take meds every night and people judge her and call her a freak for it.
Page 39-78
From pages 39-78, we are told how Charlie destroys herself little by little by committing self-harm. She explains how she cuts herself with some glass from her tender kit and explains how she has done it forever. A few pages into the book, Charlie cuts her hair, but she still feels the same, insecure, ugly, and unhappy, she thought a new look would suit her and change her a bit but it didn't.
Pages 78-118
On pages 78-118, Charlie goes back to therapy, Casper ( The therapist ) asks her how the new changes are feeling, Charlie responds by saying "Ugly" and Casper just keeps asking her questions and encouraging her to answer with her voice since she doesn't talk as much.
Pages 118-157
On pages 118-157, we find Charlie looking for an apartment to live in and a job, she attempts to try the coping skills that Casper taught her. Since she wants to listen to Casper's advice and not hurt herself, she distracts herself and goes shopping to refill her food supplies. She buys herself a bottle of iced tea and when she gets home she drinks the tea, and smashes the bottle and adds the pieces of glass to her tender kit just incase she ever has weird thoughts again.
Pages 157-196
Pages 157-196 we know that Charlie already moved to her new apartment. Mikey (one of her close friends) Returns to Tucson and they reconnect again. A few days later Charlie writes down her apartment number for Mikey and he comes to visit her. When she sees him she cries, but not a sad cry but a happy cry she feels excited to see her friend again and feels safe knowing that he is around.
Pages 196-235
Mikey and Charlie talk and he takes her out to eat to talk about her Non -suicidal self-injury and some other of her diagnoses. Mikey feels sorry for her because he never knew what she was going through and asked to see her scars, he brings up Casper and starts telling her to talk to Casper and Charlie explains that everything felt too big/heavy to handle.
Pages 235-274
Pages 235-274 Charlie knows her relationship with Riley (Her Boyfriend) Is toxic but she can't stop herself from loving him even though he is filled with red flags. When Charlie i on her way to Riley's house, it starts raining until she arrives at his house. When Riley lets her borrow a clean and dry pair of clothes they have a conversation about the rainy weather. Riley explains how much he loves being outdoors with the rain and Charlie doesn't. A few minutes later Charlie explains to Riley how she used to be homeless hoping he would understand, Riley understands and wraps her in a blanket and makes her some tea.
Pages 274-313
Pages 274-313 Charlie is drawing when Riley starts knocking on her door. He shows up with presents, some short-sleeved shirts, and an art postcard. He tells her that he has seen her looking at art books at the libraby that he goes to read once in a while. The next day they end up waking up together and they go to a coffe shop where everyone starts staring at them really weird. When Charlie becomes aware that the people from the coffeshop and the staff start looking at them she becomes unconfortable. Riley knew that she was feeling unconfortable and so he started to make jokes and talk with her and the staff so she felt a little less unconfortable.
Pages 313-352
Pages 313-352 Blue comes to visit Charlie in Tucson to stay with her. On her first night in Tucson Blue and Charlie go out for some drinks, Blue talks about how she isn't doing drugs anymore and she has been self-harm-free for a long time. At work, the staff starts talking about The Day of The Dead and Blue tells Charlie because she thinks it would remind her of her father and would make Charlie feel better but Charlie disagrees and continues with the meeting Riley's plan. Charlie and Blue find Riley at his house playing some music, when Blue meets Riley, Charlie instantly becomes Jealous because of how comfortable Blue is around Riley. When Riley starts asking questions and asking how Blue and Charlie met, Blue gives more information than what Charlie wants Riley to know.
Pages 352-391
Pages 352-391, we start to get close to the end, Charlie takes 6 weeks to heal from her past and she finds peace around everything, she is now self-harm-free and she goes to her friends to hang out and they all congratulate her. Felix talks to Charlie about how it's okay to feel your feelings even if you need time to understand them, he tells her that she is 100% skilled in the art but not working in the right area for it, he then tells her that Devvie will set up a studio for her and her artwork and for her to experiment. Charlie listens to Felix and remembers Ariel telling her that she has to examine herself and be her own person. Charlie missed Riley but she knew it was wrong, she forced herself to count her scars and see all of the damage she had done to her body while she was going through her bad moments.