Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Brooklyn. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Eilis Lacey, home in Ireland after her sister's death, nearly settles into a new life with Jim Farrell. When the gossiping shop owner Miss Kelly reveals she knows Eilis secretly married Tony in Brooklyn, Eilis books her passage back to America and returns to her husband.
Quick facts
– Book: Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
– First published: 2009
– Type: A literary novel about emigration
– Tone of the ending: Bittersweet
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
In 1950s Enniscorthy, Eilis has few prospects, so she emigrates to Brooklyn, where she works in a department store, studies bookkeeping and falls in love with Tony, an Italian American plumber. When her sister Rose dies suddenly, Eilis marries Tony quietly before sailing home to see her grieving mother.
What Happens at the End of Brooklyn
In Ireland, Eilis takes Rose's old job and grows close to Jim, a wealthy young man, and the town expects them to marry. She avoids Tony's letters. Then Miss Kelly calls her in and makes it clear she knows about the marriage. Realizing she cannot hide, Eilis tells her mother she is married and leaves the next morning. On the train, she imagines Jim learning the news and his mother saying she has gone.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Eilis's secret marriage is the hidden key to the ending.
- Miss Kelly's threat forces her to choose.
- Eilis decides on the life she built herself.
- The final image shows her picturing the life she is leaving.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Eilis Lacey | Returns to Tony in Brooklyn |
| Tony Fiorello | Waits for his wife in America |
| Jim Farrell | Left behind in Ireland |
| Mrs. Lacey | Alone after both daughters leave |
What the Ending Means
The ending is about choosing a self rather than drifting into one. Home has changed, and Eilis must accept that leaving has made her a different person.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers feel Eilis is pushed rather than choosing, since she only leaves when exposed. Others see her decision as the first truly independent act of her life.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Home. Eilis belongs fully to neither country by the end.
Choice. The novel asks whether she acts or is acted upon.
Family duty. Leaving her mother alone is the price of her freedom.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Brooklyn as bittersweet. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Colm Tóibín to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are bittersweet will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Colm Tóibín closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 2015 film adds a closing scene of Eilis reuniting with Tony on a Brooklyn street, and the sequel novel Long Island picks up her story years later.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Brooklyn 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 home, and do you agree with Colm Tóibín'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?
- Would you describe the ending as bittersweet, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces home 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 Colm Tóibín 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 Brooklyn often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Brooklyn 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?
Check price of Brooklyn on Amazon
Books to Read After Brooklyn
- Long Island by Colm Tóibín
- The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Related: Brooklyn by Colm Toibin: Summary and Key Takeaways · Brooklyn Book Club Discussion Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Brooklyn?
Eilis Lacey, home in Ireland after her sister's death, nearly settles into a new life with Jim Farrell. When the gossiping shop owner Miss Kelly reveals she knows Eilis secretly married Tony in Brooklyn, Eilis books her passage back to America and returns to her husband.
Is the ending of Brooklyn happy or sad?
Most readers call it bittersweet.
What does the ending of Brooklyn mean?
The ending is about choosing a self rather than drifting into one.
Is the ending of Brooklyn the same in the adaptation?
The 2015 film adds a closing scene of Eilis reuniting with Tony on a Brooklyn street, and the sequel novel Long Island picks up her story years later.
Who wrote Brooklyn and when was it published?
Brooklyn was written by Colm Tóibín and first published in 2009.
Is Brooklyn worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy literary novel about emigrations. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Colm Tóibín prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Brooklyn before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.