56 pages 1 hour read

Judy Blume

Summer Sisters

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Part 5-EpilogueChapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5 Summary: “Steal the Night (1990-1995)”

Part 5, Chapter 42 Summary

Vix realizes she shouldn’t move on from Caitlin but make peace with her—similar to how people must grapple with their family even if they cause pain. She tells Abby she’s experienced “worse,” so she’ll be fine at the wedding. Still, she’s unsure if Caitlin knows what she’s getting into. Caitlin admits she doesn’t know if she wants to marry Bru.

Phoebe is with a French man, and he thinks the commemorative wedding shirt is tacky. Dorset refuses to wear it. Von wasn’t sure Vix would come. He reminds her of the Chappaquiddick birthday party and touches her neck. Vix squirms away.

Von is married to a woman named Patti. Vix first saw Patti at the fair when she was around 16 and dressed like a punk. Patti is deeply unhappy and feels trapped. She admires Vix for getting away and creating a separate life.

Sharkey carefully hugs Vix—he’s part of a postdoc artificial-intelligence program at MIT. Gus hugs Vix and tells her she was his first love. Daniel gets depressed; he, Gus, and Vix go to the beach. The Chicago Boys discuss Caitlin’s continual sexual appeal as if Vix isn’t there. Gus claims Caitlin once asked him to use his “whole package” while she watched.