Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Sun Is Also a Star. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Natasha Kingsley, whose family is deported to Jamaica, and Daniel Bae, who falls in love with her during one day in New York, are separated when she leaves. In the epilogue, years later, they meet by chance on a plane, suggesting that fate brought them back together.
Quick facts
– Book: The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
– First published: 2016
– Type: A young adult romance
– Tone of the ending: Bittersweet and hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Natasha, a science-minded teenager, spends her last day in New York trying to stop her family's deportation. Daniel, the son of Korean immigrants, is on his way to an interview for Yale, though he wants to be a poet. They meet and spend the day together.
What Happens at the End of The Sun Is Also a Star
Natasha meets a lawyer who seems to offer hope, but the deportation cannot be stopped because of her father's earlier choices. During the day, Daniel tries to prove that love can be scientific by asking her a famous set of questions meant to make people fall in love. They argue, kiss, get caught in a fight with Daniel's brother and share a karaoke song. Natasha boards the plane to Jamaica with her family that night, and Daniel goes on to his Yale interview, then decides to follow his own path. Short chapters from minor characters show how the day changed other lives too. In the epilogue, years later, Natasha and Daniel find themselves on the same flight, recognize each other and begin to talk again.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Natasha is deported.
- Daniel is heartbroken.
- They meet again.
- Fate is a theme.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Natasha Kingsley | Deported, later meets Daniel |
| Daniel Bae | Meets Natasha again |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows the power of chance and connection.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers love the short chapters from minor characters, like the security guard and the waitress, which show how one day ripples outward. Some find the chance reunion too neat, while others love its romance.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Fate. Chance shapes lives.
Immigration. Natasha's family is deported.
Love. Love in one day.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Sun Is Also a Star as bittersweet and hopeful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Nicola Yoon 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 hopeful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Nicola Yoon 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 2019 film follows the ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Sun Is Also a Star 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 fate, and do you agree with Nicola Yoon'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 hopeful, 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 fate 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 Nicola Yoon 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 Sun Is Also a Star often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Sun Is Also a Star 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 Sun Is Also a Star on Amazon
Books to Read After The Sun Is Also a Star
- Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
- Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Related: The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon: Summary and Key Takeaways · What Age Is The Sun Is Also a Star Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Sun Is Also a Star?
Natasha Kingsley, whose family is deported to Jamaica, and Daniel Bae, who falls in love with her during one day in New York, are separated when she leaves. In the epilogue, years later, they meet by chance on a plane, suggesting that fate brought them back together.
Is the ending of The Sun Is Also a Star happy or sad?
Most readers call it bittersweet and hopeful.
What does the ending of The Sun Is Also a Star mean?
The ending shows the power of chance and connection.
Is the ending of The Sun Is Also a Star the same in the adaptation?
The 2019 film follows the ending.
Who wrote The Sun Is Also a Star and when was it published?
The Sun Is Also a Star was written by Nicola Yoon and first published in 2016.
Is The Sun Is Also a Star worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy young adult romances. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Nicola Yoon prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Sun Is Also a Star before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.