60 pages • 2 hours read
Elle KennedyThe Graham Effect
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 21-29Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 21 Summary: “Ryder”
The janitor interrupts a private moment between Ryder and Gigi in a closed women’s changing room. Ryder then invites Gigi to come over on Sunday.
Chapter 22 Summary: “Gigi”
Gigi spends some relaxing time with her family and recommends Ryder for Garrett’s Hockey Kings camp.
Chapter 23 Summary: “Gigi”
The spartan neatness and emptiness of Ryder’s room shocks Gigi. Ryder confesses that his minimalist living space stems from his time in foster care, where it was safer to have nothing than risk having belongings stolen. The conversation takes an intimate turn until Case sends a text. Despite the interruption, they ignore him and proceed, eventually having sex for the first time.
Chapter 24 Summary: “Ryder”
Ryder breaks the silence with Gigi, expressing concern over her unusual silence. Gigi confides her worries about making the Olympic team and explains her troubles with Emma, Coach Fairlee’s daughter. Despite being friends since second grade, Emma began spreading rumors about the family on social media after Wyatt broke up with her. One day, while Wyatt and the twins’ mom, Hannah, were away, Emma visited to repair their friendship. However, her true intentions emerged when she attempted to seduce Garrett.
The emotional intimacy escalates into physical intimacy, continuing until after 2 am. Gigi attempts to sneak out, but Shane catches them and agrees to keep their secret. The following day, Shane fulfills his promise, explaining to Beckett that the noises from the previous night were because he was watching pornography.
Chapter 25 Summary: “Ryder”
Ryder fails to reach out to Gigi after their night together.
A week later, the hockey season opener turns into a disaster. Case disregards verbal cues from Eastwood players, resulting in a lack of unity within the whole team. They suffer a shutout loss, enraging Coach Jensen. Following the game, the players must run an obstacle course in pairs as part of their team-building activities.
Chapter 26 Summary: “Gigi”
The coaches assign Gigi and two other women’s hockey players to work with Ryder, Shane, Beckett, Case, Will, and David Demaine to plan a December fundraiser. During the meeting, Ryder texts Gigi, and she suggests they meet in a nearby study room. They both make excuses to leave the meeting and engage in intimate activities. Shane discreetly stands guard outside the door, providing them cover. Upon returning to the meeting, the group discusses the sounds heard in the library. Shane reiterates his earlier claim that the noises were from him watching porn.
Leaving the meeting, Ryder presents Gigi with another flower, apologizing for his week-long silence under the guise of celebrating National Dessert Day. They establish boundaries in their relationship, agreeing to stay in touch and remain exclusive.
Interlude 4 Summary: “Hockey Kings Transcript 10/15”
Garrett and Connelly discuss Briar’s poor performance. Connelly praises Ryder’s stick-handling abilities, but Garrett interjects, emphasizing that Ryder’s talents are futile if the team fails to cooperate.
Chapter 27 Summary: “Ryder”
Ryder and Gigi coincidentally meet at the training center for ice baths. They discuss Garrett and Connelly’s remarks from the show, and Gigi persuades Ryder to share the story of a foster family abandoning him in North Carolina. Transitioning to the sauna, they become intimate, realizing afterward that they forgot protection. Fortunately, both are free of STIs. Inspired by spontaneity, Ryder convinces Gigi to let him accompany her to a mystery destination.
Chapter 28 Summary: “Ryder”
During the ride, Ryder receives a text from Owen McKay. Ryder reveals he grew up with Owen but does not disclose their fraternal relationship. Gigi’s preferred mystery destination is the butterfly gardens, where she holds a yearly pass. Ryder expresses surprise that Gigi does not take photos for social media while there, to which Gigi confesses she deactivated most of her social media accounts following her issues with Emma.
Chapter 29 Summary: “Ryder”
Case advises Ryder to offer more praise to the players. Following practice, the team endures a presentation on porn addiction, prompted by concerns over Shane’s behavior.
That night, Gigi spots a message on Ryder’s phone that reads, “I’m aching for you,” leading to a misunderstanding. Ryder clarifies that it is a team superstition, where the entire Eastwood team texts it before every game.
During another intimate moment, Gigi confides in Ryder about her childhood disappointment upon realizing she could never win a Stanley Cup and how she shifted her focus to winning Olympic gold.
Believing the house to be empty, Ryder and Gigi decide to shower together, only to discover Will hiding in the bathroom. Will confesses to secretly being friends with Beckett. Shane, relieved to no longer have to keep their secrets, discloses that his “porn addiction” was an attempt to cover for Gigi and Ryder. Will agrees to keep Gigi and Ryder’s relationship confidential.
Chapters 21-29 Analysis
This section explores themes of The Power of Love and Acceptance in Fostering Emotional Growth and Gender Roles, Gendered Expectations, and Gender Stereotypes through the characters of Gigi and Ryder. Gigi hails from a robust, tight-knit family, while Ryder spent years in foster care. Despite Ryder’s envy of Gigi’s familial bonds, he fails to recognize that he has forged his own supportive family among his friends.
Ryder’s familial backstory parallels that of Garrett Graham. Both endured abusive upbringings, excelled as elite hockey players, and shared a passion for history. Despite these similarities, Garrett harbors a dislike for Ryder. Gigi explains to Ryder, “He has a thing about fighting […] [O]ne of the reasons his foundation works with so many domestic abuse charities is because he was a victim of it” (268). Garrett, having severed ties with his biological family, forged his own supportive network, the “uncles” Gigi affectionately refers to. While none of these family members are blood-related to Gigi, they are a cohesive family that cares about each other and spends time together. When Gigi mentions seeing Jake Connelly for Christmas, Ryder feels a strong sense of jealousy, reflecting, “It’s the family part that activates something painful deep inside of me. I didn’t have any of that shit growing up. Always wondered what it’d be like to have a real family. It sounds nice” (268). Garrett’s chosen family illustrates the importance of support, love, and solidarity beyond biological ties, offering Ryder a glimpse into an alternative familial bond.
Though Ryder does not explicitly recognize it, the narrative suggests that he too has a family of choice, much like Garrett. While Ryder may not have regular contact with his half-brother, Owen McKay, they maintain frequent communication, and Owen is always ready to offer support. Ryder’s challenge lies in accepting assistance from others, which often impedes his ability to embrace the support offered by Owen and others fully. Moreover, Ryder’s circle of friends deeply supports him and views him as family. Shane and Beckett, in particular, demonstrate unwavering loyalty and care for Ryder, even if he may not fully recognize it. This section delves deeper into Shane Lindley’s unwavering loyalty. His support transcends friendship, venturing into familial territory. Not only does he vow to keep Ryder and Gigi’s relationship under wraps, but he also endures public humiliation to safeguard their secret. This dedication goes so far that Beckett, worried about Shane’s potential porn addiction, reports him to the coach. This triggers a school-wide assembly on the topic, with the coach singling out Shane. Despite the immense pressure, Shane remains tight-lipped, prioritizing Ryder’s privacy over his own comfort.
Similarly, Ryder unknowingly fosters an emotional bond with Gigi. He actively seeks physical closeness with her, ranging from simple gestures like handholding to more intimate moments. At one juncture, Ryder becomes concerned by Gigi’s uncharacteristic silence, prompting him to ask her what she’s thinking about. After, he reflects, “I initiated a conversation. Willingly. What is happening and how do I stop this?” (229). Ryder’s recognition that his closeness with Gigi is changing how he communicates with others underscores The Power of Love and Acceptance in Fostering Emotional Growth. Despite his reluctance to acknowledge it, Ryder’s feelings for Gigi extend far beyond sexual attraction.
In addition to exploring familial dynamics, Kennedy delves into Gender Roles, Gendered Expectations, and Gender Stereotypes in sports, challenging stereotypes through Gigi’s character. As a formidable female athlete in a male-dominated sport, Gigi defies the “one of the boys” trope by embracing both her athletic prowess and her affinity for traditionally feminine interests. Ryder points this out, “You’re just … not how I figured you’d be […] You know, this super serious hockey player with a one-track mind” (282). Gigi replies, “I can be serious about hockey and still have other interests […] Why not butterflies?” (282). Her assertion that she can be serious about hockey while still enjoying other activities highlights the multidimensional nature of her character, offering a nuanced portrayal of femininity in sports.
