The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Hoover, Colleen. Confess: A Novel. Simon and Schuster, New York, NY, 10020, 2015. Kindle AZW file.

Auburn was only 15 years old when she fell in love with Adam. They were devastated when he received a diagnosis that cut his life tragically short. As they discussed all the things they were going to miss out on, they realized that they could still have sex. They continued that practice with little thought for the future until Adam became so sick that his parents moved him from Portland back to Dallas, Texas, to be nearer family. They allowed Auburn to remain with him for a time, then forced her to return home to Portland. A couple of weeks after Adam's death, Auburn discovered she was pregnant. Her parents could not stand the strain of another mouth to feed, but Adam's mother Lydia allowed Auburn to move in. Lydia convinced Auburn to sign over custody of her son AJ, and they lived as a family until Lydia's husband died. Lydia moved back to Dallas to be close to her surviving son, Trey. She took AJ with her, leaving Auburn in Portland.

The moment Auburn finishes cosmetology school, she gets a job in Dallas with Lydia's assurance that Auburn can continue seeing AJ as often as she wants. That does not turn out to be the reality. Just as Auburn realizes she is going to need more money to afford an attorney to contest the custody, she sees a help wanted sign on a store called Confessions. She quickly learns that Owen is a successful artist who draws inspiration from the anonymous confessions people drop through his mail slot. Owen hires Auburn for his regular Thursday-night gallery opening. Auburn relishes the chance to earn the money, loves Owen's art, and discovers she is attracted to Owen – something that has not happened since Adam. What Owen does not tell Auburn is that he was at the hospital with his father while Auburn was visiting Adam. When Trey was about to deny Auburn the chance to say one final good-bye to Adam, Owen intervened, hitting Trey in the face. When Lydia wanted to throw away Adam's art supplies, Owen took them and began painting, starting with Adam's confession that he would always love Auburn. When Owen gave Adam the painting, Adam asked that he send it to Auburn. Auburn still has it, but she believes Adam painted it.

Owen is amazed that fate brought Auburn to his door, and he asks to see her again. Meanwhile, Owen has been dealing with his father's growing addiction to pain killers and alcohol. When Owen drives his father home one night, Trey conducts a traffic stop and is thrilled fate brought him and Owen together. Knowing that an arrest will end his father's career as a lawyer, Owen accepts responsibility for the pills Trey finds in the car. Trey arrests Owen who winds up spending a month in jail.

Trey is meanwhile trying to convince Auburn that it “makes sense” for them to be together. Auburn initially tries to make that work, seeing it as the closest option to regain custody of AJ. When Trey becomes violent toward Auburn and Owen, Auburn records him admitting to wrongdoing. Faced with that information, Lydia hands over custody as Auburn is reunited with AJ and then with Owen.