Man Hands Girlfriend Favorite Novel and Says 'Turn to Page 136' — Inside Was a Proposal that Left Her 'Sobbing' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Book proposal.Photo:Ella McGivern

Ella McGivern

A man popped the question using his girlfriend’s favorite book quote.

He eventually reached a portion of the fantasy book that seemed to echo his feelings toward McGivern, so he highlighted the lines in pink with plans to use it in his proposal.

Courtesy of Ella McGivern

“He somehow found my favorite quote in my favorite book,” McGivern tells PEOPLE.

“Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you’ll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet,” theSix of Crowsquote reads. “And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won’t matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.”

McGivern “wasn’t suspicious” of a proposal because she and Keenan had planned a trip to Banff, Canada, as a late Valentine’s Day getaway. But behind the Fairmont Banff Springs on Feb. 20, Keenan surprised McGivern with “the most beautiful moment of [her] entire life.”

Man Proposes to Girlfriend with Her Favorite Book Quote.Courtesy of Ella McGivern

After a romantic dinner together, Keenan took McGivern on a walk to look at the stars. It was a full circle moment because the pair went on an eight-hour walk for their first date.

Suddenly, Keenan pulled McGivern off trail.

McGivern saw her highlighted “favorite quote of all time.” As she began reading it out loud, “tears started to pour down” her face. Written beside the quote was a heart and a single question: “Marry Me?”

“When I put the book down, he was on one knee, holding out the most beautiful ring in the world. I was in complete shock, I did not think for one second that this was going to happen today and I was shaking with all the emotions,” McGivern says. “My brain wasn’t even working as he started to ask the question, but I dove down and hugged him before he even got a word out. I was shocked, sobbing and saying ‘yes’ a million times as I held him.”

She continues: “He was laughing so hard but pulled us both up and kissed me the way every girl wants to be kissed. Then I proceeded to stop every couple seconds as we walked back to the car, I would sob uncontrollably and exclaim, ‘I can’t believe I am engaged to my best friend.’ "

Ella McGivern and Christian Keenan.The night sky.Ella McGivern and Christian Keenan.PHOTO:Courtesy of Ella McGivernThe night sky.PHOTO:Courtesy of Ella McGivern

Ella McGivern and Christian Keenan.The night sky.

Ella McGivern and Christian Keenan.

The night sky.

Ella McGivern and Christian Keenan.PHOTO:Courtesy of Ella McGivernThe night sky.PHOTO:Courtesy of Ella McGivern

The book quote is especially meaningful to McGivern because it is representative of what Keenan means to her.

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“Whenever I really start to doubt myself, he is right there, reminding me that I can do anything I set my mind to,” McGivern says of Keenan, who is currently in his PhD of Space Physics. " He means everything to me, and he is truly the boy that has earned my heart.”

source: people.com