As a young woman, Marion struggled with manic depression and was hospitalized. During her session, she has a breakthrough, and confesses her darkest secrets to her therapist. Marion rushes out for her therapy session. Though he knows he is only being kind so Becky does not narc him out to their parents, Becky interprets the gesture as evidence of Perry's selflessness. When he hears Becky crying in her room, he tries comforting her. He decides to sell his stash of drugs and use the money to buy presents for his family. When he joins Crossroads and discovers that the leader, Rick Ambrose, and Becky think he is an egotistical troublemaker, Perry feels convicted. Perry Hildebrandt decides to become a better person. When they meet up, however, Tanner still has not ended his relationship. She decides that in order to resolve what happened between them, she must see him that night. The next morning, Becky's spirits are buoyant. After some weeks of chasing Tanner, they finally kiss.

Despite the fact that Tanner is already dating someone, Becky thinks it is time to take a risk. She did not expect Crossroads to give her a transformative experience, and believes her newfound religiosity will bring Tanner closer to her. She has been interested in Tanner Evans ever since he encouraged her to join First Reformed's youth program, Crossroads. While Russ savors his six hours alone with Frances, Becky Hildebrandt is basking in the lingering thrill of her first kiss.

He tells himself that his wife, Marion, is to blame for his unhappiness.

Though he knows that inviting her to drive the toy donations to their sister church in the inner-city is inherently wrong, he rationalizes his actions. He invites her to the church groups he directs, and does everything in his power to get her alone with him. Ever since she joined the congregation, Russ has been eager to get close to her. Russ Hildebrandt is the associate minister at the local church, First Reformed, and is distracted by his recent attraction to his parishioner, Frances Cottrell. It is December of 1971, and the Hildebrandt family is anticipating Christmas at their home in New Prospect, Illinois. Although the author employs unconventional approaches to point of view, structure, and form, the following summary relies upon the present tense and a linear model. Jonathan Franzen's novel Crossroads is written from the third person point of view and in the past tense. The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Franzen, Jonathan.

Franzen crossroads