Adelaide: A Novel

Five years into their relationship, Rory takes Nathalie to Galway, Ireland. In a park, he ties a daisy stem around her finger and promises to marry her. Over the years, Rory and Nathalie’s relationship goes through phases. Sometimes Rory is attentive, and other times he’s distant. In 2016, Rory temporarily relocates to the United States. While he’s away, he and Nathalie take a break, but they get back together when he returns. Shortly thereafter, Nathalie suggests that they move in together. On the day of the move, however, Rory feigns a work emergency and disappears to his brother’s flat. They meet up a few days later. Rory blames himself, telling Nathalie that he doesn’t know how to be with her and can’t keep up their relationship.

In 2018, Adelaide and Rory meet in Palma for their trip. They spend the weekend at the boutique hotel that Adelaide is reviewing. They visit art museums, watch movies, and go to restaurants, having intimate conversations throughout. After Rory leaves, he texts Adelaide thanking her for everything. Adelaide is overcome with emotion.

Adelaide, Madison, and Celeste spend their days working on their dissertations. A week passes before Adelaide hears from Rory, who texts to say that he’s been in the hospital for a stomach ulcer. Her friends agree that Rory needs space and that Adelaide shouldn’t visit. She makes a care package and brings it to the hospital, planning to drop it off without seeing him. She runs into Rory, and they chat in the hall. He says that he’s doing better but needs solitude; however, Adelaide notices Bubs around the corner.

Two weeks later, Adelaide finishes her dissertation. She and her friends go out to celebrate and discuss their five-year plans. Adelaide’s friends are more certain about what they want than she is. She attends a reading at a bookstore and tells herself afterward that people come into each other’s lives at the perfect times. Distracted, she bumps into an attractive woman, Nathalie, and finds the woman’s card on the ground after she leaves. Adelaide learns that Nathalie is the senior book editor at The New York Times.

Adelaide is drawn to Nathalie in the same way she was drawn to Eloise in high school. After conferring with her friends, she emails Nathalie. Nathalie responds, agreeing to meet for coffee. The women share a pleasant outing. They have surprising commonalities and talk easily. They don’t discuss college or dating, however, so they don’t discover that they have Rory in common.

Adelaide introduces Rory to her friends for the first time. While they’re out together, Adelaide mentions meeting Nathalie. Rory drops the drinks he’s holding and explains that Nathalie is his ex. Adelaide can’t contain her shock. She discusses it with her friends, but Rory doesn’t mention it again over the following weeks. He travels to California for work, and their communication improves. Meanwhile, Adelaide secretly wonders how she compares to Nathalie, but she doesn’t bring it up with Rory.

Adelaide spends Christmas in London with Madison and Celeste, while Rory spends the holiday in Galway. He and Adelaide exchange presents when he returns. They have sex, but afterward, Adelaide is upset and tells Rory that his aggressive behavior reminded her of her Emory. He reads a poem to distract her. At the new year, Eloise calls to tell Adelaide that she and Nico got engaged. Adelaide bursts into tears. She’s happy for Eloise but fears that Eloise will change once she gets married. A few days later, Eloise sends Adelaide an elaborate invitation to be her maid of honor.

Adelaide and Rory’s birthdays are a week apart. Adelaide bakes a cake and prepares gifts for Rory’s birthday. She plans to give him her copy of Call Me by Your Name and writes an inscription partway into the book, revealing that she’s in love with him. She hopes that he’ll realize he loves her when he finds it. She feels bad about herself, wondering why Rory hasn’t told her he loves her yet. She takes a Xanax, washes her face to feel better, and then goes to Rory’s with the gifts. That night, Adelaide and Rory go out with his friends for his birthday. Adelaide expects to spend the night with him, but he doesn’t invite her over.

Adelaide hopes that Rory has something special planned for her own upcoming birthday. They spend time with Adelaide’s friends at a rented cottage, and Rory presents Adelaide with a card. She hopes that the card will reveal an extravagant surprise, but it’s a note promising massages at a spa. Rory forgets to book the massages, however, and ultimately ends up giving her a massage himself. They chat about the past and dating, and Rory reveals that he doesn’t want to get married. Upset, Adelaide confesses that she’s in love with Rory. Rory apologizes for being insensitive but doesn’t say that he loves her. He tells her that she’s special and that he’s considered her his girlfriend for months. Adelaide is confused but has sex with Rory afterward anyway.

Madison and Celeste are both out of the country, and Rory is supposed to come over. Adelaide prepares an elaborate dinner for the two of them, but Rory cancels at the last minute. She offers to bring some food over to him, but he declines. Frustrated, Adelaide considers ending the relationship. A few days later, however, Rory reveals that Nathalie has died in an accident. Adelaide is shocked because Nathalie was young, beautiful, and successful. Adelaide stays with Rory, trying to comfort him.

Adelaide and Rory watch movies and eat together. One day, Adelaide and Bubs discuss the situation. Adelaide is upset, and Bubs reassures her. Later, Adelaide gets mad at herself for sobbing in public over Nathalie. She still can’t understand Nathalie’s death or imagine the complexity of Rory’s grief. However, she stays by his side as he mourns. One day, Adelaide thinks she hears Rory say that he loves her. He clarifies that he only thanked her for being there.