Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses emotional abuse.

Ariane (the book’s first-person narrator, whose identity is revealed only at the very end) is in her beautiful kitchen on a peaceful Sunday morning. As her children join her for breakfast, Ariane’s husband (not named in the text) turns on soft music. 

Ariane’s mood of well-being is upended when her husband turns to her and tells her softly that they need to talk soon about something important. Ariane freezes, assuming her husband wants to tell her their marriage is over.

The action shifts to the previous Monday. Ariane tells the reader that she is still as much in love with her husband as when they first met. She knows this is unusual, as passion ordinarily gives way to affection in a long-term relationship. She wishes she had a fictional role model to teach her how to behave. However, in books and movies, lovers despair because of rejection or parting. Ariane, on the other hand, continues to pine for her husband even though she lives with him. She feels empty, despite the fact that her life is full with her career, her husband, and their two children.