Freshman Year's Secret Friendship

Anna Eliot starts high school with confidence, but her home life is fractured by her parents' divorce and emotional distance. She finds comfort in her carpool friendship with Finn Westbrook, a nerdy, passionate boy who shares his love of science and photography. Their daily rides become Anna's safe space, a place where she can be herself, away from her father's indifference and her sisters' different interests. Finn's kindness and enthusiasm draw Anna in, and their friendship deepens, even as Anna keeps it separate from her more popular social circle.

The Kiss and the Fallout

Anna and Finn's friendship blossoms into a secret romance, culminating in a sweet, mutual first kiss. But Anna, afraid of her friends' judgment and desperate to fit in, keeps Finn hidden from her social life. When Finn asks her to the school dance, Anna, pressured by her friends' expectations, rejects him in a roundabout, hurtful way. At the dance, Finn is publicly humiliated, and Anna, paralyzed by fear of social exclusion, lets it happen. The fallout is immediate: Finn withdraws, Anna is wracked with guilt, and their friendship is shattered.

Years Apart, Worlds Changed

After the dance, Finn leaves the school, and Anna spends the next few years haunted by regret. She throws herself into art, her friendships, and the rituals of high school, but nothing fills the void left by Finn's absence. Anna's family remains distant and dysfunctional, and she struggles with her own identity, never quite feeling at home in any of her social circles. Meanwhile, Finn's absence becomes a symbol of Anna's lost integrity and the cost of her choices.

Finn Returns, Anna's Regret

At the start of senior year, Finn returns to Sterling Woods High, transformed—taller, more confident, and suddenly attractive to Anna's friends. Anna is stunned by his indifference toward her, and the tables have turned: now she is the outsider, desperate for his attention. Finn integrates into Anna's friend group, charming everyone except Anna, whom he treats with polite distance. Anna's regret deepens as she realizes how much she misses him and how much she hurt him.

New Friends, Old Wounds

Anna's friend group expands to include Finn, the quirky twins Hilary and Lily, and others. As Finn becomes close with Lily, Anna is forced to watch from the sidelines, her jealousy and remorse growing. The group's dynamics are complicated by romantic entanglements, college pressures, and the ever-present undercurrent of Anna and Finn's unresolved history. Anna tries to apologize, but Finn remains guarded, and Anna is left to confront her own failings.

Social Pressures and Missed Chances

Anna's struggle to fit in and her fear of standing out are mirrored in her art and her relationships. She watches as her friends pursue their own paths, some bravely, some recklessly. Anna's inability to speak up for herself or for Finn in the past becomes a recurring theme, and she is forced to reckon with the ways social pressure has shaped her choices. The group's adventures—parties, SATs, and college applications—highlight the tension between individuality and belonging.

Lily and Finn's Spark

Lily, one of the twins, becomes increasingly close to Finn, and their flirtation turns into a romance. Anna is forced to confront her feelings as she watches Finn move on. Lily's impulsive, free-spirited nature is both attractive and dangerous, and Finn is drawn to her boldness—everything Anna wasn't when she had the chance. Anna's jealousy is tempered by her guilt, and she tries to support her friends even as her own heart breaks.

The Music Festival Disaster

The group attends a music festival, where Lily's wild behavior escalates. Under the influence, she dives into a shallow pool and is seriously injured, suffering a concussion and memory loss. The accident is a wake-up call for everyone, especially Finn, who blames himself for not stopping her, and Anna, who steps up in the crisis. The event forces the group to confront the consequences of their actions and the fragility of life.

Guilt, Recovery, and Reflection

In the aftermath of Lily's accident, the group is wracked with guilt and fear. Finn is haunted by what happened, and Anna becomes the voice of reason, helping coordinate care and support. Lily's recovery is slow, and her personality changes—she becomes quieter, more introspective, and forms a new bond with James, a boy she met in the hospital. The crisis brings the group closer, but also exposes old wounds and unresolved feelings.

Second Chances and New Love

As Lily moves on with James, Finn and Anna find themselves drawn back together. Both are hesitant, burdened by the past, but a series of honest conversations and mutual apologies pave the way for reconciliation. Anna finally learns to speak up for herself and for what she wants, and Finn admits he never truly stopped caring for her. Their renewed relationship is built on honesty, vulnerability, and a shared understanding of their mistakes.

Family, Forgiveness, and Growth

Anna's family life remains complicated—her father's awkward romance with her former teacher, her sisters' secrets, and her mother's absence all shape her journey. Through these challenges, Anna learns to accept her family's flaws and to forgive herself for her own. The group's friendships evolve as they prepare for graduation and college, each member facing their own fears and hopes for the future.

Prom Night and Moving Forward

Prom night serves as a culmination of the group's journey. Anna and Finn attend together, surrounded by friends who have all grown and changed. The night is filled with laughter, nostalgia, and the bittersweet knowledge that high school is ending. Anna reflects on how far she has come—from a girl afraid to stand out to someone who can embrace love, friendship, and her own unique voice.

Art, Identity, and Acceptance

Anna's art becomes a metaphor for her journey—her landscapes, once barren and lonely, now teem with hidden life and meaning. Encouraged by Finn and her friends, Anna learns to trust her instincts and to value her own perspective. Her acceptance into art school is both a personal victory and a symbol of her newfound confidence. Anna's story is ultimately one of self-acceptance and the courage to be seen.

The Power of Apology

Central to Anna and Finn's story is the act of apology—both giving and receiving. Anna's willingness to confront her past, to admit her mistakes, and to seek forgiveness is what allows her to move forward. Finn's ability to forgive, and to be honest about his own feelings, is equally important. Their reconciliation is a testament to the healing power of vulnerability and the importance of second chances.

Letting Go, Starting Over

As graduation approaches, Anna and her friends prepare to leave for college, each embarking on their own path. The lessons of high school—the pain of regret, the joy of love, the strength of friendship—become the foundation for their futures. Anna and Finn, now together and heading to colleges in the same city, look forward with hope and excitement, ready to write the next chapter of their lives.

The Last Best Kiss

Anna and Finn's story comes full circle as they share a kiss that is both a reunion and a new beginning. Their journey—from secret friends to estranged lovers to partners who have learned from their mistakes—is a celebration of growth, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love. Surrounded by friends and family, Anna finally feels at home in her own skin, ready to face whatever comes next with Finn by her side.

Characters

Anna Eliot

Anna is the protagonist, a sensitive and creative girl who struggles with insecurity and the desire to fit in. Her parents' divorce and emotional neglect leave her craving connection, which she finds in her friendship with Finn. Anna's greatest flaw is her fear of standing out, which leads her to betray Finn and herself. Over the course of the novel, Anna learns to own her mistakes, to speak up for what she wants, and to value her own voice. Her journey is one of self-forgiveness, growth, and the courage to love openly.

Finn Westbrook

Finn is Anna's freshman-year friend and secret crush, a science-loving, awkward boy who becomes the victim of Anna's social fears. After being rejected and humiliated, Finn leaves, only to return years later as a confident, attractive young man. His transformation is both physical and emotional—he learns to guard his heart, but remains fundamentally kind and loyal. Finn's journey is about learning to forgive, to trust again, and to recognize his own worth. His relationship with Anna is the emotional core of the story.

Lily Diamond

Lily is one half of the Diamond twins, known for her boldness, creativity, and disregard for convention. Her flirtation and romance with Finn force Anna to confront her feelings and regrets. Lily's reckless behavior leads to her accident at the music festival, which becomes a turning point for the entire group. After her injury, Lily becomes more introspective and forms a new bond with James, signaling her own growth and the shifting dynamics of the group.

Hilary Diamond

Hilary is Lily's sister, more conventional and cautious. She often plays the role of mediator and organizer within the group. Hilary's relationship with Lily is complex—marked by rivalry, love, and frustration. She is deeply affected by Lily's accident and recovery, and her own journey is about finding her identity apart from her twin and learning to let go.

Lucy

Lucy is Anna's closest friend, driven by academic success and a need for control. She provides comic relief and emotional support, but also struggles with her own insecurities and the pressure to succeed. Lucy's loyalty to Anna is unwavering, and her own romantic misadventures mirror Anna's journey toward self-acceptance.

Phoebe

Phoebe is a practical, athletic member of the group, known for her no-nonsense attitude. Her relationship with Eric is a subplot that explores the challenges of young love and the fear of vulnerability. Phoebe's growth is seen in her willingness to open up and to support her friends through crisis.

Oscar

Oscar is the group's openly gay friend, providing humor, insight, and a unique perspective on the group's dramas. His loneliness and desire for connection are recurring themes, and his eventual relationship with Matthew is a quiet triumph. Oscar's role is to challenge assumptions and to remind the group of the importance of authenticity.

Eric

Eric is Phoebe's boyfriend, known for his kindness and unwavering support. He is often the butt of jokes but remains good-natured and loyal. Eric's relationship with Phoebe is a model of healthy, if sometimes unbalanced, young love.

Wade Porter

Wade is Anna's distant cousin and a potential love interest, but his interest in Anna is revealed to be self-serving—he hopes to use her family connections to get into Stanford. Wade's presence in the story highlights Anna's growth and her realization of what real love looks like.

Ginny Clay

Ginny is Lizzie's friend and Anna's former teacher, who becomes entangled with Anna's father. Her attempts to mentor Anna are often misguided, and her romance with Anna's father provides both humor and a mirror for Anna's own journey toward self-acceptance and forgiveness.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Flashbacks

The novel uses flashbacks to Anna's freshman year to reveal the origins of her relationship with Finn and the pivotal moment of betrayal. This structure allows readers to understand Anna's guilt and Finn's pain, and to see how the past continues to influence the present. The interplay between past and present is essential to the story's emotional impact.

Social Hierarchy and Peer Pressure

Anna's fear of social rejection and her desire to fit in drive much of the plot. The pressures of high school—cliques, popularity, and conformity—are depicted as both stifling and formative. The novel explores the cost of silence and the courage required to stand out, using Anna's journey as a lens for broader themes of identity and integrity.

The Power of Apology and Forgiveness

Central to the narrative is the act of apology—Anna's attempts to make amends and Finn's struggle to forgive. The story demonstrates that true reconciliation requires honesty, vulnerability, and a willingness to confront pain. The process of seeking and granting forgiveness is depicted as transformative for both characters.

Symbolism of Art and Photography

Anna's art and Finn's photography serve as metaphors for their inner lives and their relationship. Art becomes a way for Anna to process her emotions and to communicate what she cannot say aloud. Finn's photos are a bridge between them, a way to share wonder and curiosity. The creative process mirrors the journey toward self-acceptance and love.

Coming-of-Age and Second Chances

The novel is a coming-of-age story, charting Anna's journey from insecurity and regret to confidence and hope. The theme of second chances—both in love and in life—is woven throughout, suggesting that mistakes do not have to define us and that growth is always possible.

Analysis

Claire LaZebnik's The Last Best Kiss is a contemporary retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, reimagined for the modern high school landscape. At its heart, the novel is about the cost of silence and the courage it takes to own one's mistakes. Through Anna's journey, LaZebnik explores the pressures of conformity, the pain of regret, and the redemptive power of vulnerability and forgiveness. The story is both a nuanced portrait of adolescent friendship and romance, and a meditation on the ways we hurt and heal each other. By centering art and photography as vehicles for self-discovery, the novel encourages readers to embrace their own voices and to believe in the possibility of second chances. In a world obsessed with appearances and social approval, The Last Best Kiss is a reminder that true happiness comes from authenticity, connection, and the willingness to be seen—flaws and all.

Last updated: May 12, 2025