Chapter 31 Summary: Monday 7th October 2019

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Andy continues to visit Sophie’s flat after his gigs on Saturday and Sunday. Each night follows the same pattern: they chat in her bedroom, find new physical intimacy, and then order food or a drink before Andy makes the long journey home. On Monday evening, after sharing a joint and watching TV, Andy nearly falls asleep on Sophie’s bed. She wakes him and insists he leave, citing the rules of their casual arrangement. Annoyed by the journey in the rain, Andy argues but complies. Sophie then calls him out for his desire to be someone’s boyfriend, noticing his “monogamy” and pressing him about his last relationship. Andy admits to a breakup in June with Jen, who now has a new boyfriend named Seb, and confesses he still stalks their Instagram accounts. Sophie advises him to block both of them. Andy returns home to find Morris assembling a Christmas tree in the living room, an eccentric October tradition. Morris explains the discounted tree and his unusual Christmas Day routine of washing curtains, eating fish pie, and watching Creature from the Black Lagoon. Later, Andy lies on his bed and obsessively reviews Jen and Seb’s posts before finally blocking them just after 3 a.m., though he feels nothing afterward.

Key Events

Andy spends Saturday and Sunday nights with Sophie; the routine is physically intimate but emotionally noncommittal.
On Monday, Sophie wakes a sleepy Andy and sends him home, reinforcing the boundaries of their casual relationship.
Sophie identifies Andy as a monogamous person and questions him about his last relationship.
Andy reveals his breakup with Jen months ago and his ongoing Instagram stalking of Jen and her new boyfriend Seb.
Sophie recommends blocking both exes; Andy initially hesitates but later acts on the advice.
At home, Morris is setting up a Christmas tree in early October and explains his unusual nonreligious Christmas traditions.
Morris makes an effort to ask about Andy’s “funny bits and bobs,” a sign of his attempt to be more sociable.
After hours of obsessive scrolling, Andy blocks Jen and Seb on Instagram, expecting a cathartic release that never comes.

Character Development

Andy: This chapter shows Andy still deeply stuck in the aftermath of his breakup. He admits to stalking Jen and Seb’s social media, and his confusion about the casual arrangement with Sophie reveals his longing for a committed relationship. Taking Sophie’s advice to block his exes marks a small step toward moving on, yet his emotional numbness suggests the healing process is far from complete.

Sophie: Sophie is perceptive and blunt about emotional dynamics. She enforces strict rules to keep the relationship casual and accurately diagnoses Andy’s monogamous tendencies. Her advice to block Jen and Seb comes from personal experience, positioning her as someone who understands heartbreak despite her detached exterior.

Morris: Morris’s eccentricities are on full display as he sets up a Christmas tree in October and describes his solitary Christmas routine. His attempt to ask about Andy’s life, though awkward, shows a growing awareness of social connection, contrasting his usual self-absorption.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Casual vs. committed relationships: Sophie’s rules and Andy’s desire to stay over highlight the tension between wanting intimacy and avoiding a real relationship.
The “chase”: Sophie believes in the value of pursuit, while Andy prefers knowing he is wanted, illustrating different approaches to dating.
Social media stalking as obsession: Andy’s compulsive checking of Jen and Seb’s Instagram feeds mirrors his inability to let go; blocking them becomes a symbolic but incomplete act of closure.
Morris’s Christmas tree in October: The out-of-season tree represents Morris’s comfort in rigid routines and avoidance of conventional holidays, underscoring his isolation.
Emotional numbness: Andy’s lack of feeling after blocking points to the messy, nonlinear nature of grief and moving on.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens Andy’s post-breakup arc by introducing a new romantic situation that forces him to confront his lingering attachment. Sophie’s candid observations give Andy direct advice, and his eventual decision to block Jen and Seb on Instagram is a tangible, though emotionally flat, step toward recovery. Meanwhile, Morris’s oddball subplot provides comic relief while reinforcing the novel’s themes of loneliness and the eccentric ways people cope with solitude. The chapter sets up possible growth for Andy as he navigates the gap between his actions and his feelings.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Sophie send Andy home even though it is raining on a Monday night?
Sophie is maintaining the boundaries of their casual arrangement. She tells Andy “those are the rules,” refusing to let him stay over because that would blur the line between a fling and a relationship.
What does Sophie mean when she says Andy “reeks of monogamy”?
Sophie observes that Andy’s desire to spend the night, his eagerness to please, and his attachment to his ex-girlfriend all indicate he is seeking a committed, exclusive relationship rather than a purely casual one.
What is significant about Andy finally blocking Jen and Seb on Instagram?
Blocking is a practical step toward cutting off his obsessive checking and moving on. Yet Andy feels nothing afterward, suggesting that emotional closure does not happen with a single action; the healing process remains incomplete and messy.