Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Before I Fall. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Sam relives the day of her death seven times and chooses to sacrifice herself to save Juliet. She dies, but dies knowing she made a difference.
Quick facts
– Book: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
– First published: 2010
– Type: A young adult novel
– Tone of the ending: Sad but hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Sam, a popular high school senior, dies in a car crash. She wakes up to the same day over and over. She discovers the cruelty of her friends.
What Happens at the End of Before I Fall
On the seventh day, Sam realizes that Juliet will die by suicide if she doesn't act. Sam runs in front of the car to save her. She dies. The story ends with her giving up her life.
The Ending in Five Quick Points
- On the seventh day, Sam realizes that Juliet will die by suicide if she doesn't act.
- Sam runs in front of the car to save her.
- She dies.
- The story ends with her giving up her life.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Sam Kingston | Dies saving Juliet |
| Juliet Sykes | Survives |
| Sam's friends | Learn of her sacrifice |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows that redemption is possible even at the end. It suggests that small kindnesses matter.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers find the ending sad. Others find it uplifting.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Redemption. The final pages are where this idea lands hardest, and rereading the last chapters with redemption in mind changes how the ending reads.
Cruelty and kindness. Lauren Oliver uses the closing events to show what cruelty and kindness costs or achieves, rather than simply stating it.
Time. The ending gives time a final shape, which is why readers often point to it when they explain what the book is really about.
Friendship. Even in the last scenes, friendship keeps shaping the choices the characters make.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Before I Fall as Sad but hopeful. That reaction usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Lauren Oliver to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 2017 film shows the ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Before I Fall with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about redemption, and do you agree with Lauren Oliver's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- After finishing, would you describe the book as sad but hopeful, or would you choose a different word?
Discussion Prompts by Theme
- Redemption: Which moment in the last chapters made redemption feel most real to you, and did it change how you saw earlier scenes?
- Cruelty and kindness: How does Lauren Oliver use the closing events to say something about cruelty and kindness, and do you agree with that view?
- Time: If you could ask a character about time at the very end, who would you ask, and what would you say?
- Friendship: Does the ending leave friendship resolved, or is it something that stays unsettled after the last page?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces redemption and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Lauren Oliver leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Before I Fall often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Before I Fall earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
- Would you recommend Before I Fall to a friend who dislikes spoilers, or to one who loves a discussion?
Check price of Before I Fall on Amazon
Books to Read After Before I Fall
- If I Stay by Gayle Forman
- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Related: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like Before I Fall You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Before I Fall?
Sam relives the day of her death seven times and chooses to sacrifice herself to save Juliet. She dies, but dies knowing she made a difference.
Is the ending of Before I Fall happy or sad?
Most readers call it Sad but hopeful.
What does the ending of Before I Fall mean?
The ending shows that redemption is possible even at the end.
Is the ending of Before I Fall the same in the adaptation?
The 2017 film shows the ending.
Who should read Before I Fall before reading the ending explained?
Anyone who plans to read the book, because this post gives away the whole ending.
Can I find Before I Fall as an ebook or audiobook?
Most editions of Before I Fall can be found in print and as an ebook, and many are also available as audiobooks. Public libraries often lend all three formats, so you can revisit the final chapters in whichever way suits you best.
What should I do after reading this guide to the ending of Before I Fall?
If the ending stayed with you, reread the last few chapters with this guide in mind and look for the clues you missed the first time. You can also try one of the books suggested above, or talk the ending over with a friend or book club.