logo

61 pages 2 hours read

Laurie Frankel

This Is How It Always Is

Laurie FrankelFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“He seemed to have fallen in love about an hour and a half earlier on his sofa in the middle of ‘Canto V’ before ever laying eyes on Rosie.” 


(Chapter 2, Page 13)

Penn and Rosie’s early compatibility foreshadows their attunement as parents. Throughout the book, Frankel characterizes Rosie and Penn’s relationship through their physical intuition, depicting them as picking up where the other leaves off. 

Quotation Mark Icon

“My daughter will be named Poppy. Not a decision. A realization.” 


(Chapter 3, Page 15)

Penn’s prediction about Poppy foreshadows Poppy’s eventual transition. It also implies Frankel’s position on gender identification as being a personal truth as opposed to a choice

Quotation Mark Icon

“Crying girls, even ones who were going to be fine and whose parents were on their way, broke Rosie in a way none of her other cases did.” 


(Chapter 3, Page 25)

Rosie’s enduring trauma is her sister’s death. Throughout the novel, we see this formative experience shape Rosie’s decisions and affect the course of her life.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 61 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools