Chapter 7 Summary and Key Takeaways
⚠️ 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
After the death café meeting ends, Clover descends the library steps into a misty rain. She is surprised to hear her name called from behind, since she rarely meets anyone who knows her. Sebastian jogs toward her, grinning, and she immediately begins planning an escape. She pretends not to remember his name, but he reintroduces himself and offers condolences for her grandmother, assuming she has recently lost one. Clover lies, saying her grandmother was a wonderful woman, even though both her grandmothers died before she was born. Sebastian admits that death genuinely frightens him and explains he came to the death café to try to conquer that fear. Clover responds that death is natural and inevitable, the only thing in life one can truly count on.
Sebastian presses for more about her life, asking what her story is. Clover deflects, saying she is just a girl who grew up in the city. She tries to leave, but Sebastian falls into step beside her, asking which way she is going and whether she takes the subway. Clover lies again, saying she is taking a cab, and hails one with relief. As the cab pulls away, Sebastian calls out asking if she would like to get coffee sometime. Clover mutters “No way” under her breath, and the driver frowns at her.
She decides not to risk taking the subway home, fearing she might run into Sebastian again, and instead splurges on the cab. She mentally removes that particular death café from her rotation, noting that the concept is catching on and she can find another. At home, her pets—George, Lola, and Lionel—greet her enthusiastically, and she feels missed. She microwaves a pot pie and settles on the sofa with the remote, but she cannot focus on Netflix. She keeps thinking about Sebastian’s persistence, wondering why he singled her out. She briefly entertains the idea that it might be a meet-cute from a romantic comedy, but quickly dismisses it, feeling embarrassed. She then suspects he might be a con artist who preys on vulnerable people at death cafés, perhaps a real estate broker, insurance salesman, or funeral services vendor. She feels justified in her lie.
Her thoughts are interrupted by aggressive honking outside. She looks out the window and sees a mover’s truck blocking the narrow street. Movers are carrying boxes into her building, and she realizes her new neighbor has arrived.
Key Events
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Clover leaves the death café and is pursued by Sebastian.
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Sebastian offers condolences for her grandmother; Clover lies about her grandmother’s death.
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Sebastian admits his fear of death; Clover counters that death is natural and inevitable.
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Sebastian asks about Clover’s background; she deflects and tries to leave.
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Clover lies about taking a cab, hails one, and escapes as Sebastian asks for coffee.
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Clover takes the cab home instead of the subway to avoid running into Sebastian.
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She removes that death café from her rotation.
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At home, she feeds her pets, eats a pot pie, and scrolls Netflix while ruminating on Sebastian.
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She briefly considers a romantic possibility, then suspects he might be a con artist.
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A mover’s truck blocks the street, and Clover realizes her new neighbor has arrived.
Character Development
This chapter deepens our understanding of Clover’s personality and habits. She is deeply uncomfortable with social interaction, especially with strangers who show unexpected interest. Her immediate instinct is to escape, and she employs elaborate strategies to avoid prolonged conversation, such as lying about her mode of transportation and pretending not to remember Sebastian’s name. This behavior reflects her broader isolation: she spends most of her time with the dying and her pets, and she is unaccustomed to being singled out.
Clover’s lie about her grandmother reveals her discomfort with vulnerability and her tendency to avoid sharing personal truths. She even feels guilt about lying about someone she never knew, but she quickly rationalizes it when she suspects Sebastian might have ulterior motives. Her suspicion that he is a con artist preying on the grieving shows her protective instincts, likely honed from her work helping families with funeral arrangements. She is vigilant against exploitation, but this vigilance also feeds her mistrust of genuine connection.
The chapter also hints at a longing for connection beneath her defenses. She feels a brief flutter when she considers the meet-cute possibility, and she feels embarrassed for even thinking it. Her pets’ enthusiastic welcome makes her feel missed, underscoring her loneliness. The arrival of the new neighbor at the end suggests that change is coming, and Clover’s reaction—self-pity—indicates her resistance to disruption.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Death café: The setting itself is a motif for confronting mortality. Sebastian’s presence there and his admission of fear highlight the universal anxiety around death, while Clover’s comfort with the topic sets her apart.
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Fear of death: Sebastian’s fear contrasts with Clover’s acceptance. His desire to conquer his fear by attending the café shows a proactive approach, while Clover’s avoidance of social interaction mirrors a different kind of fear—fear of living.
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Social avoidance and isolation: Clover’s elaborate escape strategies, her decision to take a cab instead of the subway, and her removal of the death café from her rotation all reinforce her pattern of avoiding people and situations that might disrupt her solitude.
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Mistrust of strangers: Clover’s suspicion that Sebastian is a con artist reflects her protective worldview, shaped by her experience with grieving families being exploited. This mistrust prevents her from considering genuine connection.
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Exploitation of the grieving: Clover’s internal monologue about real estate brokers, insurance salesmen, and funeral services vendors highlights a real-world concern and explains her defensive stance.
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Meet-cute trope: Clover’s brief consideration of the romantic comedy scenario, followed by her dismissal, plays with the trope and underscores her self-deprecating view of herself as unremarkable.
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Blending in: Clover prides herself on blending into the background, and Sebastian’s attention disrupts that anonymity.
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New neighbor arrival: The mover’s truck and the boxes symbolize impending change and the intrusion of the outside world into Clover’s carefully controlled life.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal for several reasons. It introduces a potential romantic interest in Sebastian, though Clover’s immediate rejection and suspicion create tension. It also establishes a recurring pattern of Clover’s avoidance and mistrust, which will likely be challenged as the story progresses. The arrival of the new neighbor at the end sets up a new plot thread that could disrupt Clover’s routine and force her to engage with someone new. Additionally, the chapter deepens our understanding of Clover’s internal world—her loneliness, her fear of vulnerability, and her protective instincts—making her a more sympathetic and complex character. The themes of mortality and connection are woven throughout, and Clover’s interactions with Sebastian highlight her discomfort with both.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Clover lie about her grandmother, and what does this reveal about her character?
Clover lies because she is uncomfortable with the assumption that she has recently lost a grandmother, and she does not want to correct Sebastian or explain her family history. This reveals her tendency to avoid personal disclosure and her willingness to say whatever will end the conversation quickly. It also shows her guilt about lying, as she reflects on the sacrilege of misrepresenting someone she never knew.
2. How does Clover’s reaction to Sebastian’s invitation for coffee reflect her broader approach to relationships?
Clover immediately declines, muttering “No way” and taking a cab to avoid any chance of running into him again. This reflects her broader pattern of avoiding intimacy and connection. She is suspicious of his motives, assuming he might be a con artist, and she is not open to the possibility of a genuine relationship. Her reaction is consistent with her isolated lifestyle and her fear of vulnerability.
3. What does the arrival of the new neighbor signify for Clover’s future?
The new neighbor’s arrival represents an external force that will likely disrupt Clover’s routine and force her to interact with someone new. It could be a catalyst for change, challenging her isolation and perhaps leading to new relationships or conflicts. The chapter ends with Clover’s self-pity, suggesting she is not ready for this disruption, but it sets up potential plot developments that will test her ability to connect with others.
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