Chapter 39 Summary: Saturday 16th November 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 arrives at Avi and Jane’s house for their son Jackson’s fourth birthday party. He sees Jen almost immediately, noticing her picking at her cuticles at the kitchen table. Avi introduces Andy to the other parents, and Andy finds Jackson upstairs with a group of children showing off his parents’ bedroom. After Jackson gives a possessive introduction, Andy leads the kids downstairs.

The adults sit in the kitchen. Jane, heavily pregnant, complains about maternity leave and the party bags Avi bought (full of sweets and plastic toys). Andy changes into camouflage and runs a Nerf gun battle with Jackson and the children. Later, he steps outside for a cigarette, and Jen joins him. They talk awkwardly: Jen admits she and Seb are no longer dating because it was too soon after the breakup; Andy says he ended things with a woman he was seeing for the same reason. A lizard handler arrives in a van, and they go back inside.

After the party ends and the children leave, Andy, Jen, Avi, and Jane share a toast with the last bottle of prosecco. Jen and Andy say goodbye, and Avi gives Andy an unexpectedly long hug, thanking him for being good with the kids. Jen and Andy walk to the station together, reminiscing about the old days. On impulse, they decide to get tapas, breaking their rule of not seeing each other. Over a meal, they catch up: Andy tells her about Bob and the disastrous houseboat venture; Jen recounts living with Miranda and her newborn, including the story of swallowing a placenta capsule by mistake. They talk about the day Andy bumped into Jen and Seb, and Andy admits he blocked her on Instagram because he was checking her profile too often. When Jen mocks him for dating a twenty-three-year-old who called him out on that behavior, Andy chooses not to argue, recalling how such exchanges used to lead to huge fights. Instead, they order more drinks and share stories about Morris and family reactions to their breakup.

They go to a bar, then Jen suggests going back to her flat. They kiss in the hallway and have sex, falling back into their familiar physical intimacy. Afterwards, lying in bed, Jen mentions she saw a film about a divorcing couple and wrote a list of everything she loved about Andy. She refuses to read it aloud. They fall asleep together.

Key Events

Andy sees Jen at Jackson’s birthday party for the first time since the breakup.
Andy entertains the kids with a Nerf gun battle after changing into camouflage.
Jen and Andy share a cigarette outside and discuss their dating lives.
Avi and Jane bicker about party bags containing sweets and plastic toys.
After the party, Avi gives Andy a heartfelt hug and thanks him.
Jen and Andy spontaneously go for tapas, sharing stories about the houseboat, Miranda, and Morris.
Andy reveals he blocked Jen on Instagram because he was checking her profile compulsively.
Jen criticises Andy for dating a twenty-three-year-old; Andy decides not to argue to avoid a fight.
They end the night at Jen’s flat, where they have sex.
In bed, Jen admits she made a list of things she loved about Andy after seeing a divorce film.

Character Development

Andy shows growth in self-awareness: he acknowledges his compulsive behaviour (checking Jen’s Instagram) and his reason for ending things with Kelly. He also demonstrates restraint by not escalating Jen’s comment about dating a younger woman, a change from the explosive arguments of their relationship. His narration reveals ongoing longing and nostalgia.

Jen appears more vulnerable and honest than earlier chapters. She admits she was not ready to date, that she wrote a love list after watching a divorce film, and that she nearly avoided the mattress trip where she ran into Andy. Her return to Andy’s flat suggests unresolved feelings.

Jane and Avi remain the stable couple, but their bickering over party bags shows the strain of parenting and planning events. Avi’s unusually long hug to Andy suggests he understands Andy’s pain and values their friendship.

Jackson is portrayed as a confident, slightly bossy four-year-old who treats Andy as a prized possession, indicating how much Andy is a part of his life.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Nostalgia and the pull of the past. The entire chapter is saturated with Andy’s memories: the familiar shape of Jen’s body, the cream by her bed, the sound of her door. Their reunion feels like “returning home,” yet both know this is a temporary reprieve.

Communication versus avoidance. The chapter contrasts the easy, humorous catch-up with the decision to avoid a potentially explosive argument. Andy deliberately steers away from conflict, highlighting that this night exists in a bubble outside their old patterns.

The party as a microcosm of adult life. The birthday party brings together children, parents, bickering, exhaustion, and moments of joy. It underscores the ordinary but remarkable nature of friendship and time.

Sex as reunion. The physical intimacy is described as comfortable and familiar, suggesting that for Andy, sex with Jen is the solution to his broken heart. The condom in the bin is the only reminder that they are no longer a couple.

The “We’ve Got Tonight” song. Both Andy and Jen have been listening to Kenny Rogers’ song, using it as a private, bittersweet link. It symbolises their shared history and the plea for one more night together.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point—the first real, extended interaction between Andy and Jen since the breakup. It tests whether they can be friends, but instead their unresolved feelings lead to physical reconnection. The chapter raises questions about whether the night was a healthy step forward or a setback that will complicate their healing. Andy’s choice to avoid conflict and his observation that “the answer always was, and always will be, her” suggests he has not moved on. Jen’s list indicates she still loves him. The chapter sets up the possibility of reconciliation while also highlighting the risks of falling back into old dynamics.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Andy decide not to argue with Jen when she criticises him for dating a twenty-three-year-old? Andy recalls how similar disagreements escalated into nuclear rows when they were together. By staying silent, he avoids an ugly fight and preserves the fragile peace of their night out. This shows his self-awareness and desire to keep the evening positive, even if it means suppressing his feelings.

2. What does Jen’s reaction to the divorce film and her secret list reveal about her state of mind? Jen went to the film alone because others feared it would make them want to break up; she then wrote a list of everything she loved about Andy. This suggests she is still deeply attached and hasn’t moved on. Her reluctance to read the list aloud indicates embarrassment or fear of giving Andy false hope.

3. How does the party setting serve as a backdrop for Andy and Jen’s reunion? The chaotic birthday party—full of children, parental squabbles, and a lizard handler—provides a neutral, public space where Andy and Jen can interact safely. It also forces them to work together, helping Jane and Avi clean up, reinforcing their old role as a couple within the friendship group. The party ends, and they are left alone to make their own choices.