Jessica

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Sherry I got the impression that she was going to keep lying about loving Owen and that she was doing it for Freya. Remember everything she said about not wanting her daughter to go through what she did? She realizes that parents make sacrifices for their children

Courtney Bach I think it is both! Ambiguous for a reason. Her life was a lie and so her love for him was as well. Now that her life can be build on truth, or more of a truthful life (although it is really still a lie too, just a more realistic version), she will be doing better about real life as well. I think her sense of reality that she has now has shattered her love, but I think she can regain it. Owen is worth it. But I applaud her for doing it for her child.

Jennifer I agree with Sherry also. I was very shocked when I read the last two lines, but they were keeping true to the book title. She doesn't love Owen, but will continue playing the lying game for the sake of Freya.

Jessica Oravec At first I thought the lie was about loving Owen. I read that sentence a few times and I think it could also be that she'd keep lying about being fine. Obviously she wasn't fine with everything that happened and that the last 17 years had been built on lies. But at the same time, she knew she would be. And there's so much of that that she couldn't tell anyone, so she had to keep pretending she was fine. So I think it's however you want to take it.

Julie

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Missy

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Robert Mostly she was lying to herself. At first she loved Owen, or at least was content in the marriage, until her lying escalated and drove a wedge between them. Still unable to face her own destruction she put the blame on him for not believing her obvious lies.

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Allegra ONeill Jesse I think the lie is about both her love for Owen and about her being "fine." She does this as she recognizes the sacrifices that parents make for their children and how they put their children first. As she reflects on Ambros's choice not to expose Luke, she juxtaposes this with her father's choice to send her and her brother away while he cared for her dying mother. In truth, Isa proves throughout the entire narrative to be an inherently selfish person, except for when it comes to Frayer. Frayer being physically attached to her throughout the novel showcases that while Frayer is physically dependent on her mother for food, it also symbolizes that attachment of mother and child. Isa's reluctance to stop breastfeeding after six months, even after Owen expresses interest in wanting to be more involved in childrearing, shows that she has never fully relinquished her feeling as Frayer's mother and sole protector. By not giving way on the breastfeeding, she is intentionally (whether she realizes it or not) limiting Owen's involvement in Frayer's development. In the end, she realizes (in my opinion) that she is not fine and that she does not truly love Owen the way she thought (keyword: thought) she loved Luke, but she finally sees that Frayer is deserving of a selfless -- albeit flawed -- but selfless mother, like the man she realizes Ambros was. She truly sees Ambros as a person and a father. This realization of Isa's forces her to recognize that parents must make hard choices when it comes to putting their children first and she makes the choice to do just that -- put Frayer first. By doing that, she accepts that she may not fully love Owen due to their relationship being built on lies, but she is willing to try to give Frayer a home with two people who love her. She also lies about being fine, as she feels that she should not pass her burdens down on her child.

Lisa Caccamo I agree w everyone! - I think she deeply cares for Owen, but doesn't have the passion for him that she realizes she had for Luc. She will stick it out for Freya......

Jerel Isa's entire marriage with Owen seemed like a compromise on her part from the very beginning. Based on her actions and the internal thoughts she has that are expressed in the narrative, it is clear to me that she has never "really" loved Owen; but, she sees him as a wonderful father to their child, and she will continue to hold on to her lying past and hope that she will someday grow to love him. I don't see that happening.

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Teenuh am i the only one who thought isa’s dad was freya’s dad too 😭😭😭

Marilynn Farmer I thought she meant lying about being fine, but then Ruth Ware seems to like semi-ambiguous endings, so...

Kadi Finished reading last night. Well early morning actually.
I feel like I could relate with Isa. She cared for Owen. She really did. Living with someone and having a baby is a big thing. And I remember even too well what these first 6 months with a baby felt like. It was exhausting. My son was constantly glued to me and my husband and I really didn't have time for each other. So I get Isa. Sort of!
If I add a teenage crush to this situation, feeling extremely guilty about hiding a dead man, being emotionally wrecked, BF who is really jelaous and accusing and on top of that the teenage crush making real moves.... I do get her. She doesen't love Owen but she cares for him.

Courtney Bach I think it is both! Ambiguous for a reason. Her life was a lie and so her love for him was as well. Now that her life can be build on truth, or more of a truthful life (although it is really still a lie too, just a more realistic version), she will be doing better about real life as well. I think her sense of reality that she has now has shattered her love, but I think she can regain it. Owen is worth it. But I applaud her for doing it for her child.

Abhinav Ka Does Owen deserve it? I guess not. Anyone in his position would get angry at Isa, but I think he overdid the anger part, a bit. If Isa expected Owen to try and understand everything, she should have told him the truth. But of course, she can't, because of the rules of the game! I guess Isa lies about loving Owen, for the sake of Freya, but then, she hopes that she would come to love him, some day.

Libby I agree that the lie was about loving Owen.

Ceylan (CeyGo) I agree with Sherry.

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by Ruth Ware (Goodreads Author)

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