Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: A.J. Fikry, a grumpy widowed bookseller on Alice Island whose life was transformed when a toddler named Maya was left in his bookshop, dies of a brain tumour after years of happiness with Maya and his wife Amelia. His bookshop, Island Books, is bought by Police Chief Lambiase and A.J.'s sister-in-law Ismay, who keep it going.
Quick facts
– Book: The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
– First published: 2014
– Type: A literary novel
– Tone of the ending: Bittersweet and warm
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
A.J. is bitter after his wife Nic's death. His valuable copy of Edgar Allan Poe's Tamerlane is stolen. Two-year-old Maya is abandoned in the shop by her mother, who then dies. A.J. adopts her and finds new joy.
What Happens at the End of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
A.J. falls in love with Amelia, the cheerful publisher's sales rep he was once rude to, and they marry. Maya grows into a talented young writer who wins a short story contest. The bookshop becomes the heart of the island, with book clubs led by Chief Lambiase, who has become a passionate reader. A.J. is diagnosed with a brain tumour. Surgery fails to cure it, and as his speech fades, he writes Maya notes about the books he loves. He dies. Afterwards, Ismay, Nic's sister, confesses to Lambiase that she stole Tamerlane years ago and that her husband, the writer Daniel Parish, was Maya's father. Lambiase and Ismay, now together, buy Island Books to keep it alive.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- A.J. adopts Maya.
- A.J. dies.
- The shop survives.
- The Tamerlane mystery is solved.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| A.J. Fikry | Dies |
| Maya | A young writer |
| Amelia Loman | A.J.'s wife |
| Chief Lambiase | Buys the shop |
| Ismay | Confesses |
What the Ending Means
The ending celebrates books and community.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers love the short-story recommendations that open each chapter, written by A.J. to Maya. Many say the book is a love letter to independent bookstores.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Books. Books connect people.
Family. Chosen family.
Grief. Healing from grief.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry as bittersweet and warm. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Gabrielle Zevin 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 and warm will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Gabrielle Zevin 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 2022 film follows the ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry 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 books, and do you agree with Gabrielle Zevin'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 and warm, 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 books 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 Gabrielle Zevin 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 Storied Life of A. J. Fikry often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry 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 Storied Life of A. J. Fikry on Amazon
Books to Read After The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
- Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Related: The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry Book Club Discussion Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry?
A.J. Fikry, a grumpy widowed bookseller on Alice Island whose life was transformed when a toddler named Maya was left in his bookshop, dies of a brain tumour after years of happiness with Maya and his wife Amelia. His bookshop, Island Books, is bought by Police Chief Lambiase and A.J.'s sister-in-law Ismay, who keep it going.
Is the ending of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry happy or sad?
Most readers call it bittersweet and warm.
What does the ending of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry mean?
The ending celebrates books and community.
Is the ending of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry the same in the adaptation?
The 2022 film follows the ending.
Who wrote The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry and when was it published?
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry was written by Gabrielle Zevin and first published in 2014.
Is The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy literary novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Gabrielle Zevin prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.