Robin’s answer to “Anyone finished who wants to discuss the ending? I am still not sure how I feel about it, am rumin…” > Likes and Comments

^This!!

While I wanted Elle to pick Peter, I know she picked Jonas. It is disappointing but expected. It is almost inevitable that she's repeating the patterns she saw in her own upbringing. I was struck by her promises to her children that echoed the promises her father made to her and Anna that he later broke; she despised him for his weakness and is continuing the thread.

What I envision happening is Gina and Peter getting together and finding contentment - love would probably be too much to ask - while Elle and Jonas burn hot and fast, break up, and both are left on the outskirts of what was a family of sorts.

(Elle absolutely did not commit suicide. There was a lot of drowning in the book, yes, but it was all accidental, probably including her step-grandfather's death. She seemed to have zero tendencies of this sort. I'm kind of surprised Anna didn't, though!)

I agree this book is more about the generational trama for the children involced.