---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Penny sets down her book. “You don’t want…"
description: "\"“Penny sets down her book. “You don’t want to know why your girlfriend was snogging your sworn enemy?” “I don’t know about ‘sworn,’ ” I say. “I’ve neve..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/rainbow-rowell-135_books_penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want_484739.jpg"
---

#  Penny sets down her book. “You don’t want to know why your…

![“Penny sets down her book. “You don’t want to know why your girlfriend was snogging your sworn enemy?” “I don’t know about ‘sworn,’ ” I say. “I’ve never taken an oath.” “I’m pretty sure Baz has.” “Anyway, they weren’t snogging.” Penny shakes her head. “If I caught Micah holding hands with Baz, I’d…” quote by Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/rainbow-rowell-135_books_penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want_484739.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/rainbow-rowell-135_books_penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want_484739.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/rainbow-rowell-135_books_penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want_484739.jpg)

> ““Penny sets down her book. “You don’t want to know why your girlfriend was snogging your sworn enemy?” “I don’t know about ‘sworn,’ ” I say. “I’ve never taken an oath.” “I’m pretty sure Baz has.” “Anyway, they weren’t snogging.” Penny shakes her head. “If I caught Micah holding hands with Baz, I’d want an explanation.” “So would I.” “ Simon. ””

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A character questions another about loyalty and secrets, revealing themes of trust, betrayal, and the complexity of relationships.

**In simple terms:** Friends discuss loyalty and secrets.

Key Takeaway

Consider honesty and boundaries in friendships.

Themes

trust friendship communication loyalty betrayal

Mood

conversational introspective

Type

dialogue relationship

When to use this quote

- college life
- friend groups
- romantic triangles
- team building
- counseling sessions

Key Concepts

interpersonal dynamics conflict resolution

Questions to Reflect On

- What does loyalty mean to you?
- How do you handle secrets among friends?

A Different Perspective

The dialogue may oversimplify nuanced emotional issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Holding hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-hands/) [Rainbow-rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rainbow-rowell/)

## Related quotes

> [“You need to cool down first.” “I’m cool.” “Simon. You’re never cool.” “That hurts, Penny.” “It shouldn’t. It’s one of the reasons I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-need-to-cool-down-first-i-m-cool-simon-you-re-never-cool-that/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Right. So I didn’t tell her. Now, where do we start?” His face falls into a pout. “I was counting on Bunce to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/right-so-i-didn-t-tell-her-now-where-do-we-start-his-face-falls-into/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Penny grabs my arm when I walk past Baz’s bed on the way to the bathroom. “It’s good to see you,” she whispers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/penny-grabs-my-arm-when-i-walk-past-baz-s-bed-on-the-way-to-the/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“When I open the door, Baz is wheeling an old-fashioned chalkboard in front of our beds. “Where did that come from?” I ask. “A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/when-i-open-the-door-baz-is-wheeling-an-old-fashioned-chalkboard-in/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“The first time I came back to Watford, my second year, I climbed right into my bed and cried like a baby. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/the-first-time-i-came-back-to-watford-my-second-year-i-climbed-right/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“It’s impolite to stare, you know, even at your friends.” “ Are we friends?” I asked her. More surprised than anything else. “I’m helping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/it-s-impolite-to-stare-you-know-even-at-your-friends-are-we-friends-i/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Agatha’s mum gives me nice clothes for Christmas, and her dad talks to me about my future like I’m not going to die in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/agatha-s-mum-gives-me-nice-clothes-for-christmas-and-her-dad-talks-to/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“He also says I tried to throw him down a flight of stairs that year. Really, we were fighting at the top of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-also-says-i-tried-to-throw-him-down-a-flight-of-stairs-that-year/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“And her mother says I’m handsome. That’s really all her mum ever says to me. “ Don’t you look handsome, Simon. ” What would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/and-her-mother-says-i-m-handsome-that-s-really-all-her-mum-ever-says/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“It's always fire with Baz. I can't believe he hasn't incinerated me yet. Or burned me at the stake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/it-s-always-fire-with-baz-i-can-t-believe-he-hasn-t-incinerated-me/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“So . . . ,” she says, following him to the chalkboard. “You got a Visiting. An actual Visiting—Natasha Grimm-Pitch was here. ” Baz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/so-she-says-following-him-to-the-chalkboard-you-got-a-visiting-an/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“You can’t sit on my bed,” I say as he sits on my bed. “And neither can Bunce. My bed reeks of intensity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-can-t-sit-on-my-bed-i-say-as-he-sits-on-my-bed-and-neither-can/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“We've assembled a small team to assist you, starting with Mr. Kobayashi. He will be your personal security. His family has worked for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiko-jean/we-ve-assembled-a-small-team-to-assist-you-starting-with-mr-kobayashi/)

[Emiko Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiko-jean/)

> [“We were soul mates. Bound through time with a love stronger than steel. He was mine. And I was his. Unquestionably. Forever. Yet here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-cole/we-were-soul-mates-bound-through-time-with-a-love-stronger-than-steel/)

[Courtney Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-cole/)

> [“A trifling friend is worst than a sworn enemy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-celestin/a-trifling-friend-is-worst-than-a-sworn-enemy/)

Jonathan Celestin

## More by Rainbow Rowell

> [Reagan was sitting up at Cath's desk when Cath woke up. "Are you awake?" "Have you been watching me sleep?" "Yes, Bella. Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/reagan-was-sitting-up-at-cath-s-desk-when-cath-woke-up-are-you-awake/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Are you awake?” “Have you been watching me sleep?” “Yes, Bella. Are you awake?” “No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/are-you-awake-have-you-been-watching-me-sleep-yes-bella-are-you-awake/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Someone was knocking on her windshield. Georgie lifted her head off the steering wheel. It was Kendrick. She couldn’t really hear what he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/someone-was-knocking-on-her-windshield-georgie-lifted-her-head-off/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [Maybe Park had paralyzed her with his ninja magic, his Vulcan handhold, and now he was going to eat her. That would be awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/maybe-park-had-paralyzed-her-with-his-ninja-magic-his-vulcan-handhold/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“She wouldn't pick up a fight him just because she was bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-wouldn-t-pick-up-a-fight-him-just-because-she-was-bored/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“That person thought that wearing an ugly dress on the happiest day of someone else's life was just the beginning-the line you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/that-person-thought-that-wearing-an-ugly-dress-on-the-happiest-day-of/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Is this where you tell me that I'm a scoundrel, and I say that I think you like me because I'm a scoundrel? Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/is-this-where-you-tell-me-that-i-m-a-scoundrel-and-i-say-that-i-think/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Te informo de que mi respuesta a tus próximas doce afirmaciones va a ser: «¿Cómo dices?»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/te-informo-de-que-mi-respuesta-a-tus-pr-ximas-doce-afirmaciones-va-a/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Dude. Let it go. Good riddance to bad rubbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/dude-let-it-go-good-riddance-to-bad-rubbers/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [He looked exactly like a rat. Like the human being version of a rat. Like the villain in a Don Bluth movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-looked-exactly-like-a-rat-like-the-human-being-version-of-a-rat/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Tell me more about the mountains, Georgie said, because she wasn't really sure what to ask. Because ' tell me where I went wrong'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/tell-me-more-about-the-mountains-georgie-said-because-she-wasn-t/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [God, his chin. She wanted to make an honest woman of his chin. She wanted to lock it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/god-his-chin-she-wanted-to-make-an-honest-woman-of-his-chin-she/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Wait, I really do need your help with this." He turned his computer monitor toward her and pointed. "Is this funny? It's a Snoopy/Snoop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/wait-i-really-do-need-your-help-with-this-he-turned-his-computer/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“You need to cool down first.” “I’m cool.” “Simon. You’re never cool.” “That hurts, Penny.” “It shouldn’t. It’s one of the reasons I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-need-to-cool-down-first-i-m-cool-simon-you-re-never-cool-that/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“She'd get out of the shower the next morning, and it would be written in the steam on the mirror. Dance. Dress. Try a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-d-get-out-of-the-shower-the-next-morning-and-it-would-be-written/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

[Explore all 1,108 Rainbow Rowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

## More Books quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/)

[Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/)

[Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/)

> [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/)

[Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/)

> [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/)

Christopher K. Krebs

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/)

Markus Herz

> [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/)

[Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/)

[Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Penny sets down her book. “You don’t want to know why your girlfriend was snogging your sworn enemy?” “I don’t know about ‘sworn,’ ” I say. “I’ve never taken an oath.” “I’m pretty sure Baz has.” “Anyway, they weren’t snogging.” Penny shakes her head. “If I caught Micah holding hands with Baz, I’d want an explanation.” “So would I.” “ Simon. ”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rainbow Rowell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want-to-know-why-your-girlfriend/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Books"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want-to-know-why-your-girlfriend/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/rainbow-rowell-135_books_penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want_484739.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/rainbow-rowell-135_books_penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want_484739.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/rainbow-rowell-135_books_penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want_484739.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Penny sets down her book. “You don’t want to know why your girlfriend was snogging your sworn enemy?” “I…” — Rainbow Rowell",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Rainbow Rowell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Penny sets down her book. “You...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want-to-know-why-your-girlfriend/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/penny-sets-down-her-book-you-don-t-want-to-know-why-your-girlfriend/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
