The Quick Reveal: What Really Happened at the End of Confess?
If you just finished the rollercoaster that is Confess and your jaw is still on the floor, you aren't alone. The central mystery that kept readers and viewers awake at night wasn't just whether Auburn would get her son back, but why Owen Gentry seemed so haunted by a girl he ostensibly just met.
The short answer? Owen didn't just meet Auburn Reed at his art studio. He has been the silent guardian of her most painful memory for five years. The ending reveals that Owen was the boy in the hospital the day Auburn’s first love, Adam, passed away. He saw her in her rawest moment of grief, and that encounter defined the trajectory of his life and his art.
By the final pages, the legal threats from the insufferable Lydia are neutralized, Auburn secures custody of her son AJ, and the 'anonymous' donor of the painting Auburn cherished is revealed to be Owen himself. It’s a full-circle moment of cosmic fate that Colleen Hoover fans live for, but the path to get there is paved with secrets that almost destroyed them both.
The Hook: Art, Lies, and the High Cost of Secrets
The premise of Confess is a masterclass in emotional hooks. Auburn Reed is a woman on the brink, fighting a losing battle against a mother-in-law who uses her wealth and power as a bludgeon. Desperate for money to fund her legal fight for AJ, she stumbles upon Owen Gentry’s art studio.
Owen’s gimmick—if you can call something so visceral a gimmick—is painting based on anonymous confessions left at his door. It’s a brilliant narrative device that allows Hoover to weave together the internal shames of strangers with the developing romance of the protagonists.
However, the irony is thick. While Owen spends his days cataloging the secrets of others, he is hoarding a confession of his own that could jeopardize Auburn's fragile stability. This tension is what makes the story more than just a standard romance; it’s a study in the weight of what we don’t say.
Breaking Down Owen's Secret: The Hospital Connection
The 'twist' in Confess is what separates it from typical New Adult dramas. For the majority of the story, we assume Owen’s interest in Auburn is the result of instant chemistry. But the truth is much more 'stalker-lite' or 'fate-adjacent,' depending on your romantic threshold.
Years prior, when Auburn was saying goodbye to Adam, Owen was in the same hospital because of his own family tragedy. He witnessed Auburn’s heartbreak and was so moved by her strength that he began to track her life from a distance.
He was the one who bought the painting she loved, and he was the one who eventually ensured she found her way to his studio. While some critics argue this borderlines on obsessive behavior, Hoover frames it as a soul-deep connection. Owen didn't just love Auburn; he loved the version of her that survived the impossible. This reveal recontextualizes every interaction they have in the first half of the book, turning casual glances into weighted moments of recognition.
A Critique of the Conflict: Why the Legal Subplot Polarized Fans
Not everyone is a fan of the legal drama involving Lydia. Many readers on Goodreads have pointed out that Auburn’s initial passivity in the face of Lydia’s manipulation can be frustrating.
Lydia represents a specific trope in romance: the untouchable antagonist who seems to have infinite resources. Her attempt to keep AJ away from Auburn feels needlessly cruel, and at times, the legal logic feels secondary to the emotional angst.
However, from a psychological perspective, Auburn's 'passivity' is actually a trauma response. Having lost her first love and her son in quick succession, she is operating from a place of scarcity. The 'Information Gain' here is understanding that Auburn isn't weak; she is calculated. She knows that one wrong move will give Lydia the excuse she needs to disappear AJ forever. Owen’s entrance into her life provides the spark she needs to finally stop playing defense and start playing offense.
The 'What If': Could Auburn Have Fought Smarter?
There is a significant segment of the fandom that wishes Auburn had taken a page out of Owen’s book—or rather, his confession box. Imagine a version of Confess where Auburn uses the confessions she finds in the studio as leverage against the town's elite, including Lydia’s associates.
While Hoover chose the path of emotional redemption, a 'legal shark' version of Auburn would have been equally satisfying. Using the anonymous shames of the community to dismantle the power structures that kept her from her son would have turned the story into a high-stakes thriller.
Instead, we get a resolution that relies on Owen’s sacrifice and the power of the truth. While less 'vengeful,' this ending aligns better with the themes of the TV series adaptation, which leans heavily into the idea that the truth doesn't just set you free—it rebuilds you.
Final Verdict: Does Confess Live Up to the Hype?
So, is Confess worth the emotional tax? If you are looking for a story that combines the 'Artist ML' trope with a deeply personal stakes-driven plot, the answer is a resounding yes.
It isn't a perfect book; the pacing in the middle can drag, and the legal resolution feels a bit too tidy for the mess that preceded it. But the emotional payoff of Owen’s confession and the image of those slips of paper representing the collective burden of humanity is undeniably powerful.
Whether you're reading the novel or watching the adaptation on IMDb, the story serves as a reminder that our secrets don't define us—it's what we do with them that counts. Auburn and Owen’s journey is a messy, beautiful testament to the fact that sometimes, the person who knows your darkest secret is the only one who can truly see your light.
FAQ
1. Who is the father of Auburn's child in Confess?
The father of Auburn's son, AJ, is her first love, Adam. Adam passed away from cancer shortly after AJ was conceived, which is what led to the contentious custody battle with Adam's mother, Lydia.
2. What is the big secret Owen is hiding?
Owen's secret is that he has known Auburn for years. He saw her at the hospital the day her boyfriend Adam died and has been anonymously supporting her, including being the person who gave her the painting she cherished most.
3. Does Auburn get custody of AJ at the end of Confess?
Yes, after a long and grueling legal and emotional battle, Auburn successfully gains custody of her son, AJ, and is able to start a new life with him and Owen.
4. Is the Confess TV series different from the book?
While the TV series produced for Go90 stays largely faithful to the emotional beats of the book, there are some minor character adjustments and pacing changes to fit the episodic format.
References
goodreads.com — Confess on Goodreads
imdb.com — Confess (TV Series) on IMDb
en.wikipedia.org — Confess Wikipedia Page