The Night She Disappeared

“She knows she told Tallulah to stay out as late as she likes, but this is madness.”

Tallulah’s mother, Kim, is not yet worried, but the tendrils of panic are there. This moment puts the characters at risk; here, we get the first inkling that something is wrong.

“And now, as the sun shines down through the tops of the towering trees, splashing dapples onto the dark fabric of her dress and the ground beneath her feet, Sophie starts to feel the beginning of happiness, a sense that this decision, borne of pragmatism might, in fact, have been some kind of magical act of destiny unfurling that they were meant to be here, that this will be good for her, good for both of them.”

This long sentence reveals the irony of this moment of joy: Soon, Sophie will realize that her move to the country was a mistake. Here, Sophie reacts happily because the beautiful trees inspire her, but her assessment relies on the idea that something that’s “good” for someone will necessarily make them happy—something that the novel undercuts (for instance, Scarlett’s family thought Liam might be good for her). Coming directly after Sophie lists everything she has given up, this line has the feel of someone trying to convince themselves they’ve done the right thing.

“As she passes Tallulah, she narrows her eyes again, and Tallulah imagines for a split second that she sees a smile pass across her face.”

Tallulah is acutely aware of Scarlett. They dance around each other, staring. Tallulah is taken by Scarlett’s gaze—there’s a dawning tension between the two young women encapsulated in this look. Tallulah feels seen by Scarlett, and this builds her sexual interest in her.