What Happens At The End Of Exciting Times?

Just finished 'Exciting Times' by Naoise Dolan and feeling totally thrown by that final scene. Do you think the ambiguous ending suggests reconciliation or a permanent break?
2026-03-14 21:12:27
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TateJones
TateJones
Reviewer Sales
That's a bit of a spoiler, but the core of the ending revolves around Ava making a final choice between her two lives—the stable but stifling one with Julian or the chaotic, intense one with Edith. It doesn't end with a neat resolution for all three characters, but rather a quiet, personal reckoning for Ava about what she actually wants from her relationships. It reminds me a bit of the tension in 'After the Cheating and Thrill-Seeking', where the protagonist's corporate career and secret, dangerous double life violently collide, forcing a brutal, final confrontation where neither side can be walked back from. The ending there is less about choosing a person and more about the character being permanently changed by the consequences of trying to maintain both worlds.
2026-08-05 04:08:51
18
Parker
Parker
Ending Guesser Electrician
The ending of 'Exciting Times' is this beautifully ambiguous moment where Ava, the protagonist, is caught between Julian and Edith. After all the emotional turbulence—Julian's aloofness, Edith's warmth—Ava finally makes a choice, but it's not spelled out in big letters. She leaves Hong Kong, but the destination feels secondary. What struck me was how Naoise Dolan nails the internal conflict—Ava's growth isn't about grand gestures but tiny, aching realizations. The last scene with the taxi ride is so quiet yet loaded; you almost hold your breath wondering if she's running toward something or away. It's the kind of ending that lingers because it refuses to tie things up neatly, mirroring how messy real decisions are.

I love how Dolan plays with silence in the narrative. Ava's voice is so distinct—wry, self-deprecating, yet deeply vulnerable. The ending doesn't need fireworks because the real drama was always in her head. That final phone call? Perfectly unsettling. It leaves you debating whether Ava's learned anything or just swapped one dependency for another. The book’s strength is in making you root for her while cringing at her choices—it’s like watching a friend you adore make questionable moves.
2026-03-15 01:22:40
3
Kyle
Kyle
Careful Explainer Cashier
'Exciting Times' ends with Ava in a taxi, leaving Hong Kong behind, but the emotional destination is unclear. Dolan’s genius is in the ambiguity—Ava’s choice between Julian and Edith isn’t a triumphant moment but a hesitant, realistic step. The prose stays razor-sharp till the last line, making you itch to reread for clues. It’s a finale that honors the book’s themes of privilege, connection, and self-deception without spoon-feeding answers. That lingering uncertainty? That’s the whole point.
2026-03-17 05:14:49
1
Trisha
Trisha
Helpful Reader Nurse
Oh, the ending of 'Exciting Times' is such a mood! Ava’s arc wraps up in this understated way that feels true to life. She’s spent the whole book oscillating between Julian—this emotionally unavailable banker—and Edith, who’s all tenderness and depth. The finale isn’t about a dramatic confession or a clear-cut resolution. Instead, Ava sort of drifts away from Hong Kong, and you’re left to piece together her emotional state from subtle cues. The way Dolan writes Ava’s internal monologue makes the ending resonate—it’s not about where she goes physically but how she’s finally confronting her own patterns. That last scene with the taxi? So simple but haunting. It’s like the entire book’s tension crystallizes in those final moments.
2026-03-20 06:44:54
6
Declan
Declan
Careful Explainer Engineer
What I adore about the ending of 'Exciting Times' is how it mirrors Ava’s entire journey—full of sharp observations but emotionally elusive. After months of vacillating between Julian’s detached charm and Edith’s genuine affection, Ava makes a decision, but Dolan leaves it deliciously open-ended. The beauty is in the unsaid: Is she choosing independence, or just another form of escape? The writing is so crisp that even a mundane action, like packing a suitcase, feels charged with meaning. Hong Kong almost becomes a character itself, its vibrancy contrasting Ava’s inner stagnation.

The final chapters have this quiet intensity. Ava’s voice—sarcastic yet painfully self-aware—shines as she grapples with her own contradictions. That last phone call with Julian? Brutally telling. It’s not a clean break, and that’s the point. Life isn’t about neat resolutions, and Dolan captures that perfectly. The ending sticks with you because it’s messy, unresolved, and human—like all the best stories are.
2026-03-20 20:29:41
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