"Confess" Colleen Hoover: Summary (Chapter-by-Chapter)

Welcome, fellow Colleen Hoover fans, to our deep-dive into Colleen Hoover's captivating novel, "Confess." Are you ready to embark on an emotional rollercoaster ride through love, secrets, and the power of confession? Strap in, because we're about to explore this engrossing tale in a chapter-by-chapter summary that will leave you eager to turn the pages yourself.

In this breakdown, we'll unravel the intricacies of the blossoming relationship between Auburn Reed and Owen Gentry as they navigate the complexities of their own turbulent pasts. From heartwarming moments to shocking revelations, we'll be your trusty guide through the labyrinth of "Confess." So, cozy up with your favorite beverage, and let's get started on this literary journey together!

An illustration of Owen's art studio

Synopsis of Confess

Auburn Reed, a 21-year-old striving to rebuild her shattered life after devastating loss, finds herself drawn to the enigmatic artist Owen Gentry upon entering a Dallas art studio in search of employment. Embracing the unexpected deep attraction between them, Auburn takes a chance and surrenders to her feelings, only to learn that Owen harbors a significant secret that could unravel her fragile world and ruin everything that Auburn loves.

The gravity of Owen's concealed past threatens to shatter everything Auburn holds dear, leaving her with no choice but to sever ties with him to regain control of her life. The key to salvaging their relationship lies in Owen's confession, yet revealing the truth might prove to be even more destructive than the sins it conceals.

"Confess" Chapter Summary - What Happens in "Confess" by Colleen Hoover?

SPOILER ALERT!
DO NOT READ AHEAD IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!

Prologue

In the first few pages we meet Auburn and Adam. Auburn's heart weighs heavy as she steps out of the hospital elevator, knowing it'll be her final visit. The familiar sights of the supply room, chapel, and break room all blur together as she gathers her courage before entering his room.

Hope resonates in Adam's voice, even as his time dwindles, and Auburn curls up beside him, intertwining their limbs. As she searches for warmth in his embrace, she's struck by his growing coldness and frailty. Despite praying for a miracle over the past six months, the inevitability of loss looms over them. At only fifteen, Auburn's love for Adam is dismissed by others, including Adam's mother, yet she's certain of its authenticity. Clinging to one another, they're engulfed by a crushing sadness that takes their breath away. Adam's brother finally indicates to Auburn that it's time to leave.

Chapter 1

The first chapter of "Confess" by Colleen Hoover begins with our main character, Auburn Reed, speaking to a lawyer. Struggling with money, Auburn worries she won't have the judge rule in her favor. Worried and stressed, Auburn makes her way back home in the unfamiliar place of Dallas, Texas. She was born and raised in Portland, Boston, and recently moved to Texas. With a small job as a cosmetologist and no clientele, she knows she has to find a second job.

Already penny-pinching, she comes across a strange building with a "Help Wanted, Just knock" sign on the front door. She stares at it and notices the sheets of paper stuck to the windows, dozens of confessions written on them.

A man soon opens the door before she even thinks to knock, and asks if she's interested. Hesitant, she asks questions about everything she has to do, until she's offered $200 for a two-hour shift. Hesitant, though needing the money, Auburn takes the job. She gets to know her new boss, Owen Gentry, and learns a little about why he's so desperate for her to take the job and why he's paying her so much for so little.

Chapter 2

In chapter two, We learn Owen has seen Auburn before and remembers her, even if she doesn't remember him. We dive into his perspective of her as the night leads on, and his focus on what she does. He compares her to his ex, and sees she's definitely different than her, and he likes that. They continue on the night of the showing anonymously selling paintings, the customers receiving a random confession once they pick a number they like.

The night ends around 9 PM and we see the bond of the two grow quickly, Owen invites Auburn to come work for him again at the next showing. Desperate to spend more time with her, he offers to take her to a bar nearby that his friend works at and drink with her. The chapter ends with him excited and also nervous, having just been threatened by Auburn's roommate, Emory.

Chapter 3

 In chapter three, we're brought back to Auburn's perspective of the story. She's introduced to Owen's friend, Harrison, who has an extremely strong Irish accent. Being mistaken for Hannah, she learns that she's the first person Owen ever brought to the bar with him. Being under 21, she allows Owen to order her drink and some Cheese Fries - not having cheesesticks.

She spends some time non-verbally flirting with Owen, before he asks if she dances. Refusing to get up, Owen offers to spend ten seconds dancing; if she doesn't like it, she can sit back down. She agrees, and as they move to the dance floor, she feels more relaxed. She spends three songs dancing with Owen, feeling things she hasn't felt in a long time. Awkwardly ending the dance, they finish off the chapter by Owen walking her home.

Chapter 4

As we enter the Fourth chapter, Owen and Auburn have some tension going on. Making small talk on the way back to Auburn's home, Auburn asks what the worst confession Owen has ever read was. Hesitant, he offers her to see it at his studio, and brings her to the most private place he has; his painting room.

She feels all over the art as she reads the confessions for them, and finally asks again about the worst. Hesitant, he let's her read it. They spend some time together in the art space, eventually needing to head home. When they arrive at her apartment, both not ready for the night to end, Auburn decides to let Owen into her apartment and use the bathroom.

Chapter 5

Chapter five aligns with the fourth, as we see Auburn's perspective on allowing Owen into her apartment. She watches as he admires a painting she owns that her previous boyfriend, Alex, painted for her. She offers him a cup of coffee, and they continue on the night subtly flirting with one another in their own ways. Even when it's said it's time to go, Owen sits outside the door and spends as much time as he can holding hands with Auburn through a locked door; watching her. The chapter ends with Auburn hastily calling her strange roommate.

Chapter 6

 In chapter six, we're met with Owen in a tough situation, being under arrest the night he's supposed to be meeting Auburn again. Waiting in a room, Owen is faced with probably the worst lawyer you can get: your own guardian. As he continually brings up his sibling who passed, he notices his father crying. Being bailed out by him no more than twenty-four hours later, we see him at the Bar with Harrison. We can infer he was dealing with Meth or drugs, as he mentions to Harrison he wouldn't tell anyone where he got some pills from. Harrison urges him to quit, and gets angry when Owen won't oblige. Thinking everything is worthless, having just stood up a wonderful girl, the chapter concludes.

Chapter 7

In chapter seven, it's Auburn's twenty-first birthday. No later than three weeks since Owen had stood her up. She had a friend she was meant to meet and drink with, and was yet again, stood up. Leaving, she was texted by said friend that they were too busy to get there, and essentially ruined her birthday. She decides to let her anger out through drinking, heading to the bar where Harrison works. She drinks several margaritas as she makes small talk with Harrison, not eager to stay too long.

Making her way home, on such a shitty day as this, she stops by Owen's art studio and decides to make a confession. She slips it in before she can even think about it, outright saying his name in it. She walks off, and we end the chapter by listening to her feelings of betrayal and pure anger.

Chapter 8

In chapter eight, we're met with Owen getting a call from Harrison to inform him that Auburn is at the Bar, refusing to leave, when there's fifteen minutes before closing. Owen hastily throws a shirt over himself to get to her quickly. When he gets there, he finds Auburn on the floor of the stall. Relieved she's okay, he sits beside her and talks. Being pretty drunk, she's obsessed with how shitty his hair is, and demands she fixes it. She pulls him out to the bar, apologizing to Harrison for losing her purse, until he pulls it out from behind the bar and slides it to her. She goes to pay him for only one drink out of the three, and he doesn't accept it; it's on the house. She pouts, as he was the first to say happy birthday to her that day. She heads to her salon with Owen, soon after crying her eyes out for forgetting to wet his hair before cutting it. When Owen comforts her, he slides in an apology for standing her up, and she suddenly becomes sober. The chapter ends with her quickly leaving, claiming not to feel good.

Chapter 9

Chapter nine shows us Auburn waking up in Owen's home, and not recalling why. We can infer she must've fallen asleep, because why else could she be there? She heads down the stairs to leave, being fully dressed, and hears Owen talking to his father. After she's caught, Owen reveals the night before she cut two huge chunks of hair out of his head and she needs to fix it. They head over to her salon, where Emory is, and she cuts his hair as he admits he's moving Monday. Emory, being weird, recommends they spend the weekend together. Hesitant, she finishes his haircut and they head back to his place. Without food, the chapter ends with them heading to Target for groceries.

Chapter 10

In chapter ten, we get to see Owen's perspective as he goes shopping with Auburn. Buying at least two weeks worth of food for two days, he offers to buy her a birthday gift just as his father used to buy his. Picking an aisle and a shelf number, they end up in the tents aisle. She ends up purchasing a children's tent, mentioning blue was someone's favorite color. Worried, they go back to her house and enjoy the time they have, when suddenly there's a knock. clearly scared, it reveals Auburn has a four-year-old son named AJ, who lives with her aunt Lydia. His favorite color is blue, and she was hoping for AJ to stay with her that night, until Lydia saw Owen was there. Taking her son away, again, we end the chapter with Auburn's broken heart and Owen learning the truth of her past.

Owen's art studio

Chapter 11

In Chapter eleven, they decide to cook some food after some confessions, because Auburn is starving. Cooking a pizza, she feels Owen sneak closer, until eventually he's holding her hips. They have a small makeout session, eventually burning the pizza. Kissing again, the uncle of AJ, Trey, who is a cop, barges in to see them. Clearly, Owen and Trey have tension and Trey forces Owen out. Although, not until he outs Owen for being arrested for Possession. Not only was he not moving, he was going to jail. Trey is beyond pissed off, Auburn trusts him into her life, and manipulates her by using her situation with AJ to make her feel bad. She allows him to leave and goes back to her room, finding a note Owen wrote for her to meet him at his ART studio. The chapter ends with her heading off to his studio, confused with emotions.

Chapter 12

Chapter twelve is met with Owen pacing nervously for Auburn to arrive, afraid she's given up on him. When she arrives, clearly not happy, he explains everything. It's clear she doesn't trust him anymore, at all. She jeopardized her mission to get custody of her son being with Owen, and makes it clear that they cannot be seen together if she wants a chance at having him back. Hurt, Auburn quickly makes it for the door, Owen pulls her back and kisses her. With such a sad turn of events, this is a goodbye for them.

Chapter 13

Chapter thirteen shows us Auburn leaving Owen's art studio, when Trey quickly pulls up to her and tells her to get in. Questioning her, he asks if she ever thinks about them together as a couple. Shocked, she denies it, as Trey is her past lover's brother. While she doesn't like the thought of it, Trey is right about being the only father figure AJ has, and she'd be closer to him dating Trey. Conflicted, we're met with her at Lydia's home, AJ asleep in her arms. She finally gains the courage to talk to Lydia about custody, and is met with the same response about strangers in her home. Snapping, she yells at Lydia saying it isn't fair and it's her son. Trey drives her home, and the end of the chapter ends with Owen having left Owen's cat with Emory and Auburn.

Chapter 14

Chapter fourteen switches back to Owen, who has just been sentenced to ninety days in prison. Angry, disgusted with his father, he's brought to his cell and Trey is watching over him. Suddenly, we're brought back to three weeks earlier, where he had to take a call a few chapters back, but in his perspective. Speaking to his father and Trey, he's angry and pissed off about what his father has to say about Rehab, but we notice Owen's care for Auburn thinking he's leaving for a girl. He reassures her he isn't, and he speaks quickly to end the call faster. That's exactly how the chapter ends, and we disperse into part two.

Chapter 15

Chapter fifteen starts with Auburn tucking in AJ, kissing him goodnight, saddened it isn't a home they're sharing. She leaves the room and finds herself staring at a photo of Adam, worrying if her son will grow to look like Trey. We find out, in the twenty-eight days since Owen was imprisoned, Trey and Auburn began dating. While Lydia is now much more lenient on letting Auburn see her son, she worries what could happen if they didn't work out. She's led home by Trey, who has walked her home every night for awhile. When Sue gets into the house, she receives a text from Owen, who's supposed to be in jail; Meat dress. The code word they had on the first time they went out. She flings the door back open, and there standing, quickly coming in, is Owen. Is he a runaway? We aren't sure.

Chapter 16

Chapter sixteen shows us Owen and Auburn enclosed in one another's arms, happy to have each other again. When Auburn shows Owen to her room, he sees the same blue, kid tent set up. She hasn't taken it down. She takes pillows from her bed and throws them in, crawling into it and laying down in it. Owen does the same, but soon ruins the mood asking about her and Trey. Auburn admits she only does it for AJ, and doesn't love him at all, but is unsure about her feelings completely because of how good he is for her son. He argues back, and once she begins crying, he comforts her and leaves after, heading to his father's home. While waking his father at midnight, he speaks angrily about Auburns sacrifices for her son, throwing away the pills his father is addicted to and supposedly needs. He wants his father to be an actual father, and the chapter ends with Owen walking away finally.

Chapter 17

Chapter seventeen meets us with Auburn and Trey shopping with AJ, in the same target Auburn was in awhile ago with Owen. As Trey and AJ go to get toys, Owen shows up in the exact aisle they were in before. They stare at each other nervously, as Trey and AJ come back. Trey, becoming possessive and angry, pulls her away, and gives her the silent treatment until checkout. Auburn being in so much stress, sees Owen once again in the parking lot, making a secret hand signal to her; his hand up to his chest, clenching it. She does the same, subtly, as Trey pulls out the parking lot and drives off. Later that day she's in his art studio after just having given him three confessions inviting him to be with her while Trey is out of town, and getting a haircut from her soon after. Nervous to be unfaithful, Owen opens her eyes and reassures her as their kisses lead to something much more intimate.

Chapter 18

Chapter eighteen has us in a place with Owen, waking up to Auburn unfortunately having left before he awoke. Getting up, he goes downstairs, and paints her. He spends days painting her, stopping only three times to eat. He finally finishes, and it shows us a gorgeous painting with a gorgeous amount of love behind it. Now, Owen is at the Bar with Harrison, whos asking if the same reason Hannah left is the reason Auburn did. When he says no, Harrison seems surprised, and they spend some time at the bar. This chapter is short, so it really ends there.

Chapter 19

In chapter nineteen, Trey arrives frantically as Auburn's apartment. He quickly makes his way to the bathroom, and as he does, Auburn checks her phone. Owen is texting her frantically, as the art studio was destroyed and broken into. Assuming the police did it themselves, he tells Auburn 'he' took her confession, inferring Trey did. When trey comes back, he happily tells Auburn about the house he found, in a good neighborhood, where she can live with AJ in one home. Happy, he pulls her in expecting a more intimate moment. When she denies it and tells him to get off, he tries to force himself onto her. Emory, being a great roommate, barges it and holds the gun Trey had on his cop belt to him. He slowly gets up, and is forced out the apartment with all his stuff thrown down the hall. Begging for forgiveness, Auburn cries and tells him she needs space.

Chapter 20

In chapter twenty, Owen arrives and comforts Auburn after the assault. Knowing it isn't safe for either of them at either homes, he gets a hotel room for the night. He gets them comfortable and makes sure the doors lock, and essentially hops in the shower. While Auburn waits, Owen asks if she's still there. Messing with him and turning off the lights. Pulling Auburn into the bath, they talk as he kisses down her body, and reveals what seems to be a c-section scar. Owen kisses it, and it feels to become a truly romantic moment. A loving moment, as Auburn finally feels loved again.

Chapter 21

In chapter twenty-one, Auburn is caught with someone wrapping their arms around her. She leans back, happily thinking it's Owen, until she realizes it's not with his firmness. It's Trey. the lights flick on, and Owen is there, staring. Auburn tells him to let go, and we discover Trey broke into the art studio, not to take anything, but to plant things. drugs. He planted drugs and contraband everywhere, and sets this entire thing up as assault on an officer. He forces Auburn go oblige, knowing she could lose her son entirely if she were to disobey. Instead, she doesn't say a thing. She goes to Owen's father.

Chapter 22

In chapter twenty-two, Auburn meets up with Owen's father, and Cal, who we can assume is her lawyer. They call Trey and Lydia up to the station, and ask for custody of AJ. Amused, Lydia goes to leave, but Auburn plays a recording of the night before. Shocked, Trey becomes frustrated knowing he lost. Lydia, shocked herself that her son did such a thing, agrees to Auburn's request of seeing him on weekends as long as she no longer lives with Trey. She says she'll go pick him up from daycare and collect his things, and the chapter ends hopeful with Auburn finally gaining custody of her sweet baby boy.

Chapter 23

In chapter twenty-three, Auburn meets up with Owen's father, and Cal, who we can assume is her lawyer, again at the station. They call Trey and Lydia up there, and ask for custody of AJ. Amused, Lydia goes to leave, but Auburn plays a recording of the night before. Shocked, Trey becomes frustrated knowing he lost. Lydia, shocked herself that her son did such a thing, agrees to Auburn's request of seeing him on weekends as long as she no longer lives with Trey. She says she'll go pick him up from daycare and collect his things, and the chapter ends hopeful with Auburn finally gaining custody of her sweet babyboy.

Chapter 24

In chapter twenty-four, the finale chapter, Owen visits Auburn's home, with AJ opening the door for him. He invites him in, and is quite happy to see him, saying his muscles became big keeping the secret of the tent. Now having a happy ending. AJ happily living with his mother, Owen no longer with charges from Trey, Auburn safe from Trey, and with her son, and become what they always hoped for, no drama, no issues, but a big, happy family. Auburn has her son, Owen has Auburn, AJ has a good father figure. The book comes to an end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was "Confess" Made into a TV Show?

Absolutely! Colleen Hoover's captivating romance novel "Confess" made the leap from the written word to the small screen in 2017. This enchanting story of love, secrets, and confessions found its way into the hearts of viewers, as they eagerly tuned in to witness the emotional journey of Auburn Reed and Owen Gentry brought to life.

The TV adaptation, much like its literary counterpart, was met with enthusiasm by fans who delighted in seeing the intricacies of Auburn and Owen's relationship unfold before their eyes. With a skilled cast and a dedication to preserving the essence of Hoover's masterful storytelling, the "Confess" series offered an enthralling visual experience that stayed true to the book while providing fresh insights into the characters' lives. So, if you're a fan of the novel, be sure to check out the TV show for a whole new perspective on this compelling tale.

Who Starred in the TV Adaptation of Confess?

The TV adaptation of "Confess" brought together a dynamic ensemble of talented actors who breathed life into Colleen Hoover's memorable characters. Taking center stage as the enigmatic Owen Gentry was the dashing Ryan Cooper, while the role of our resilient protagonist Auburn Reed was masterfully portrayed by the captivating Katie Leclerc. Adding to the mix, Rocky Myers skillfully embodied the character of Trey Taylor, and the versatile Amy Pham graced our screens as the lively Emory. This stellar cast came together in perfect harmony, making the "Confess" TV show an enthralling experience that left fans wanting more.

Which Artist Provided the Real-Life Art for the Book and TV Show?

Hailing from London, the artistic virtuoso Danny O'Connor is the mastermind behind the captivating artwork in both Colleen Hoover's book "Confess" and its television adaptation. His enchanting creations breathe life into the story, forging a harmonious connection with Hoover's emotionally charged narrative. O'Connor's unparalleled artistic flair adds a touch of brilliance to the universe of "Confess," elevating the experience for both readers and viewers. So, the next time you find yourself utterly absorbed by the stunning visuals within the novel or on your screen, take a moment to appreciate the imaginative finesse of the remarkable artist, Danny O'Connor.

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If you enjoyed this article, you'll want to check out our comprehensive list of Colleen Hoover books in order!

Author
Penny Somerset

I'm an avid reader and bibliophile. With an unquenchable thirst for stories, I love nothing more than burying my nose in a good book - whether it's curled up on the sofa or out in nature. My deep curiosity and appreciation of diverse writing means that there's no one genre that I prefer, but I'm especially keen on books full of adventure and vivid imagination.
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