Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Devil Wears Prada. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Andrea Sachs, the overworked assistant to the tyrannical fashion editor Miranda Priestly, finally snaps during Paris Fashion Week and tells Miranda off in public after learning her best friend Lily has been in a car crash. Andrea quits, sells her designer clothes, and starts a writing career, eventually publishing in a magazine.
Quick facts
– Book: The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
– First published: 2003
– Type: A comic novel
– Tone of the ending: Satisfying
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Andrea wants to be a writer. She takes a job at Runway, hoping to get a reference for The New Yorker. Miranda's demands are impossible. Andrea neglects her boyfriend Alex and her friend Lily.
What Happens at the End of The Devil Wears Prada
Andrea, chosen over her senior colleague Emily to go with Miranda to Paris Fashion Week, is pulled deeper into Miranda's world. Her relationship with Alex has fallen apart, and Lily, who has been drinking heavily, crashes her car and is in a coma. In Paris, Miranda orders Andrea to stay or lose her career. Andrea, in front of other fashion staff, tells Miranda exactly what she thinks of her, swearing loudly, and walks out. Back in New York, she cares for Lily, who recovers. She sells many of her free designer clothes to pay for her new life and starts writing short stories. One is published in Seventeen magazine. In the final scene, she visits the publishing company and feels at peace with the choice she made.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Andrea quits.
- Lily recovers.
- Andrea becomes a writer.
- Miranda continues.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Andrea Sachs | Becomes a writer |
| Miranda Priestly | Keeps her power |
| Lily | Recovers |
| Alex Fineman | Breaks up with Andrea |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows choosing yourself over a toxic job.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers compare the book with the film, where Andrea's exit is quieter and Miranda is more sympathetic. Weisberger once worked as an assistant to Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Ambition. Success's cost.
Identity. Andrea's identity.
Friendship. Lily.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Devil Wears Prada as satisfying. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Lauren Weisberger 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 satisfying will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Lauren Weisberger 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 2006 film with Meryl Streep ends with Andrea walking away in Paris and a nod from Miranda.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Devil Wears Prada 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 ambition, and do you agree with Lauren Weisberger'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 satisfying, 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 ambition 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 Weisberger 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 The Devil Wears Prada often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Devil Wears Prada 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 The Devil Wears Prada on Amazon
Books to Read After The Devil Wears Prada
- Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Devil Wears Prada?
Andrea Sachs, the overworked assistant to the tyrannical fashion editor Miranda Priestly, finally snaps during Paris Fashion Week and tells Miranda off in public after learning her best friend Lily has been in a car crash. Andrea quits, sells her designer clothes, and starts a writing career, eventually publishing in a magazine.
Is the ending of The Devil Wears Prada happy or sad?
Most readers call it satisfying.
What does the ending of The Devil Wears Prada mean?
The ending shows choosing yourself over a toxic job.
Is the ending of The Devil Wears Prada the same in the adaptation?
The 2006 film with Meryl Streep ends with Andrea walking away in Paris and a nod from Miranda.
Who wrote The Devil Wears Prada and when was it published?
The Devil Wears Prada was written by Lauren Weisberger and first published in 2003.
Is The Devil Wears Prada worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy comic novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Lauren Weisberger prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Devil Wears Prada before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.