Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler Summary, Characters and Themes

Adelaide, Genevieve Wheeler’s 2023 debut, is an exploration of mental health, love, and self-discovery. The novel follows Adelaide Williams, a young woman navigating the complexities of romantic relationships and her own emotional landscape from 2009 to 2023. 

Set primarily in London, Adelaide’s journey is both heart-wrenching and hopeful as she confronts personal loss, mental health struggles, and the profound effects of love—both good and bad. Wheeler’s raw portrayal of mental illness, particularly through the lens of romance, creates an emotionally charged story about resilience and finding strength in oneself.

Summary

In 2019, Adelaide Williams finds herself at a low point after the end of her relationship with Rory Hughes. Unable to cope with the overwhelming emotional pain, she attempts suicide and checks herself into a hospital. 

Her close friends Eloise, Madison, and Celeste rally around her during this crisis, supporting her as she starts the difficult process of recovery. Reflecting on her tumultuous romance with Rory, Adelaide tries to understand how their relationship led to her downward spiral.

A year earlier, in 2018, Adelaide and Rory’s romance begins. She’s immediately drawn to Rory, feeling an intense connection that she hopes will last a lifetime. 

They share romantic outings in London and develop a deep intimacy, but soon after they sleep together for the first time, Rory suddenly becomes distant. He cuts off contact with Adelaide for several days, leaving her anxious and questioning her worth. 

Though Adelaide considers walking away, she hesitates when Rory eventually comes back, and they continue their relationship.

As their romance progresses, Adelaide becomes more and more invested, falling deeply in love with Rory. However, she starts to notice his erratic behavior—sometimes affectionate, sometimes cold and absent. 

Despite Rory’s emotional distance and inconsistency, Adelaide clings to the hope that he might feel the same way about her, believing that if she just holds on, things will improve. 

At the same time, Adelaide is building a promising life in London, completing her graduate degree, surrounded by friends, and even landing a job offer. But her fixation on Rory begins to eclipse all other aspects of her life.

Then, during a chance encounter at a bookstore, Adelaide meets Nathalie Alban, an editor at The New York Times. They bond over coffee, and Adelaide is excited about the potential career opportunities. 

When she shares this encounter with Rory, she’s shocked to learn that Nathalie is his ex-girlfriend, a significant figure in his past. Rory reveals that their relationship lasted five years, but he ended it because he couldn’t commit. Soon after, Nathalie dies in a tragic car accident, leaving Rory devastated. 

Adelaide, consumed by worry for him, dedicates herself to supporting Rory through his grief.

Meanwhile, Adelaide notices unsettling changes in her own body and suspects she’s pregnant. She briefly hopes a baby could solve their relationship issues, but an early miscarriage shatters that dream. 

She never shares this with Rory. Not long after, Adelaide discovers that Rory is using a dating app, prompting her to finally end the relationship. Unable to cope with the emotional weight, Adelaide attempts suicide by taking pills.

After her hospitalization, Adelaide is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. With medication and therapy, she slowly begins to heal and rebuild her life. A new chapter begins when she reconnects with Bubs, Rory’s former roommate, through a dating app. 

As they form a stable relationship, Adelaide realizes that while life may never be entirely smooth, she can still find happiness and security within herself.

Characters

Adelaide Williams

Adelaide Williams is the protagonist of Adelaide, and her emotional complexity is at the heart of the novel. Adelaide is a young woman navigating the challenges of romantic love, friendships, and self-identity while living in London.

Her intense relationship with Rory Hughes consumes much of her emotional energy, shaping her sense of self-worth. Adelaide is deeply in love with Rory, and throughout their relationship, she is repeatedly hurt by his aloofness and inconsistency.

Despite these emotional blows, she clings to the hope that their connection will deepen into a more secure, loving relationship. This relentless pursuit of Rory’s affection leads her to neglect other important parts of her life, including her friendships and her own emotional well-being.

Adelaide’s journey also centers on her struggle with mental health, a theme highlighted by her attempt to die by suicide and the subsequent diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Adelaide’s emotional volatility and obsessive focus on Rory are likely compounded by her untreated condition, which she begins to address only after her hospitalization.

Her eventual relationship with Brennan, or “Bubs,” marks a significant turning point, as it signals a healthier romantic connection built on mutual care rather than the one-sided neediness that characterized her relationship with Rory. Through therapy and medication, Adelaide slowly rebuilds her life, finding balance between her relationships and personal well-being.

Her growth as a character is evident as she learns to prioritize herself, confront her mental health, and pursue healthier relationships.

Rory Hughes

Rory Hughes plays a central role in Adelaide’s life, both as her lover and as a source of emotional turmoil. He is initially presented as an enigmatic figure—charming and seemingly perfect in Adelaide’s eyes.

Their immediate connection makes Adelaide believe that she has found the love of her life, but Rory’s behavior soon proves unpredictable and hurtful. After their first sexual encounter, Rory’s week-long silence hints at his emotional distance, an issue that persists throughout their relationship.

His reluctance to fully commit to Adelaide, combined with his periodic disappearances, leaves her confused and anxious, constantly questioning her own worth. Rory’s behavior can be interpreted as emotionally neglectful, though it is likely not malicious.

He appears to be emotionally unavailable and unable to offer the type of commitment that Adelaide desires, either because of his own fears or unresolved issues from his past relationship with Nathalie. The reappearance of Nathalie in Rory’s life—albeit posthumously—adds another layer of complexity to his character.

His grief over Nathalie’s death suggests that he is still emotionally entangled with his past, which may explain his inability to fully commit to Adelaide. His reliance on Adelaide for emotional support during this time emphasizes his pattern of taking without reciprocating emotionally.

Rory’s actions ultimately lead to Adelaide’s breaking point when she finds him on a dating app, confirming her fears about his commitment to their relationship. Rory is portrayed as a deeply flawed character, whose emotional unavailability is a major catalyst for Adelaide’s struggles.

Nathalie Alban

Nathalie Alban, though deceased for much of the novel, has a significant impact on both Rory and Adelaide. She represents Rory’s past and the love he once shared with someone else, which looms large over his relationship with Adelaide.

Nathalie is introduced as an accomplished book editor, which initially sparks Adelaide’s admiration and interest. However, Nathalie’s importance shifts when Rory reveals that she was his long-term girlfriend and that their relationship ended because he couldn’t fulfill the promises he made to her.

Nathalie’s tragic death in a car accident deepens Rory’s grief, and Adelaide becomes a caretaker for him during this difficult period. Nathalie serves as a reminder of Rory’s emotional baggage and unresolved feelings, complicating his relationship with Adelaide.

For Adelaide, Nathalie is both an idol and a specter; her death forces Adelaide to confront the reality that she will never be able to fully replace Nathalie in Rory’s heart, no matter how hard she tries.

Brennan “Bubs” Uralla-Burke

Brennan, or “Bubs,” is a significant figure in the latter part of Adelaide’s life. Introduced as Rory’s former flatmate, he eventually becomes Adelaide’s new romantic partner.

Unlike Rory, Brennan represents stability and emotional support, offering Adelaide a healthier, more balanced relationship. Their connection begins through a dating app, which is ironic given that Adelaide had discovered Rory’s infidelity on a similar platform.

Brennan’s presence in Adelaide’s life is a counterpoint to the instability and heartbreak she experienced with Rory. He is a patient and understanding figure, helping Adelaide navigate her emotional recovery after her mental health crisis.

Brennan’s character, while not explored in as much depth as Rory’s, serves as a symbol of a more positive, mature relationship dynamic. His role in Adelaide’s life signifies her growth and ability to form a partnership that is nurturing rather than draining.

Eloise, Madison, and Celeste

Adelaide’s friends—Eloise, Madison, and Celeste—play crucial roles in supporting her through her darkest moments. These friendships are a vital part of Adelaide’s recovery and offer her emotional grounding outside of her romantic entanglements.

Eloise, Madison, and Celeste provide a sense of community and stability that contrasts with the chaos of Adelaide’s relationship with Rory. While their individual personalities are not explored in great detail, they function as a collective support system that helps Adelaide navigate the tumult of her life in London.

After her hospitalization, they are by her side, demonstrating the importance of female friendship in helping Adelaide recover and rebuild her life. Their unwavering support highlights the novel’s broader themes of love, care, and belonging that go beyond romantic relationships.

Meg (Therapist)

Meg, Adelaide’s therapist, becomes a pivotal character in her journey toward healing. After her hospitalization, Meg helps Adelaide come to terms with her bipolar diagnosis and guides her through the process of recovery.

Meg is portrayed as empathetic and patient, providing Adelaide with a space to unpack her emotional trauma and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Through her sessions with Meg, Adelaide begins to see her life and relationships more clearly, gaining the tools to navigate her mental health struggles.

Meg’s role is crucial in Adelaide’s transformation, representing the novel’s emphasis on the importance of professional help in mental health recovery. With Meg’s guidance, Adelaide learns to prioritize her well-being and slowly rebuild her sense of self-worth, leading her to a more stable and fulfilling life.

Themes

The Intersection of Mental Health and Romantic Disillusionment as a Site of Identity Crisis

In Adelaide, Genevieve Wheeler explores how the confluence of mental health struggles and romantic disillusionment can deeply impact one’s sense of self. Adelaide’s journey unfolds in the context of a relationship with Rory that initially appears to offer stability and meaning but instead triggers an unraveling of her mental health.

The emotional highs and lows she experiences with Rory mirror her internal struggle with undiagnosed bipolar disorder. The novel delves into how Adelaide’s romantic idealism, her belief in love as a solution to her personal crises, intensifies her emotional turmoil when Rory withdraws or fails to meet her expectations.

This continuous cycle of hope and rejection becomes a profound existential crisis for Adelaide. She is forced to confront not only her unrealistic perceptions of love but also the underlying instability within her own mental health.

The culmination of her breakdown, following Rory’s detachment and her miscarriage, reveals how fragile her sense of identity has become. Romantic disillusionment exacerbates her internal conflict. Wheeler uses Adelaide’s emotional journey to depict how romantic relationships, when interwoven with untreated mental health conditions, can create a perfect storm of self-doubt, instability, and eventual breakdown.

The Fragility of Self-Worth in the Context of Unrequited Emotional Investment

Adelaide’s sense of self-worth is constantly challenged throughout the novel. Wheeler places particular emphasis on the tension between Adelaide’s emotional investment in her relationship with Rory and the unreciprocated nature of his affection.

Adelaide’s commitment to Rory becomes a reflection of her own insecurities and desire for validation, especially in moments where Rory’s indifference or aloofness deeply wounds her. The novel poignantly explores the psychology of unrequited love—how Adelaide’s desperation for affirmation from Rory undermines her self-esteem, leading her to neglect other aspects of her life.

Wheeler portrays Adelaide’s emotional labor as a method of seeking approval, hoping that her love and care will compel Rory to reciprocate her feelings. The imbalance in their relationship, where Adelaide’s self-worth becomes tied to Rory’s erratic responses, unveils the fragility of human identity when it hinges on external validation.

The novel demonstrates the emotional cost of investing in a relationship that perpetuates insecurity rather than fostering mutual support. It sheds light on the nuanced ways in which romantic rejection erodes the sense of self.

The Disconnect Between Idealized Relationships and Emotional Reality

Another central theme in Adelaide is the disconnect between idealized perceptions of love and the stark emotional realities that relationships often embody. Adelaide’s relationship with Rory is marked by an initial whirlwind of passion and connection, which fuels her fantasies of a perfect romance.

As the relationship progresses, Rory’s repeated emotional withdrawal forces Adelaide to confront the gap between her expectations of what their love could be and the reality of what it is. Wheeler explores this tension, suggesting that Adelaide’s inability to reconcile her romantic dreams with the painful truth of Rory’s detachment drives her into a deeper emotional spiral.

The novel intricately examines how the process of idealizing a partner can lead to emotional blindness. Adelaide refuses to acknowledge Rory’s flaws or the toxicity of their dynamic. Her subsequent heartbreak, then, is not just the result of Rory’s actions but the shattering of the idealized version of love she has constructed.

In this way, Wheeler critiques the common romantic narrative that positions love as the ultimate fulfillment. She portrays love as a complex, sometimes damaging force when built on illusion rather than reality.

The Role of Trauma and Grief in Reinforcing Emotional Dependency

Wheeler’s novel also delves into how trauma and grief serve as reinforcing mechanisms for emotional dependency. Adelaide’s emotional world is further complicated by her miscarriage and Rory’s loss of his ex-girlfriend Nathalie.

These traumas bind Adelaide and Rory together, not through shared strength but through Adelaide’s increasing need to nurture Rory. She has a misguided hope that she can fix their relationship through emotional caregiving.

The intertwining of personal grief and relational dependency becomes a central focus of the novel. Adelaide finds herself sacrificing her own mental well-being in an attempt to hold together the fragile pieces of their relationship.

Wheeler portrays how trauma, instead of empowering growth or resilience in Adelaide, exacerbates her emotional neediness. This deepens her psychological reliance on Rory. The miscarried child, an event she keeps secret, symbolizes the loss of not only her physical connection to Rory but also her fantasy of using a child to repair their fractured bond.

Through this narrative arc, Wheeler critiques the ways in which personal tragedies can become misdirected attempts to salvage broken relationships. The novel shows how this reinforces the emotional toxicity between partners.

The Complex Interplay Between Diagnosis and Personal Responsibility in Recovery

Wheeler’s portrayal of Adelaide’s journey toward mental health recovery after her bipolar disorder diagnosis raises significant questions about the interplay between diagnosis and personal responsibility. The novel does not simply depict Adelaide’s diagnosis as a moment of relief or clarity.

Instead, it demonstrates the complex and ongoing process of taking responsibility for one’s mental health within the broader context of relational and emotional recovery. Adelaide’s diagnosis marks the beginning of her struggle to disentangle her identity from her illness and take agency over her own healing.

Wheeler emphasizes that the diagnosis is not a cure but a tool Adelaide must learn to navigate. Therapy, medication, and self-reflection play crucial roles in her recovery.

This theme underscores the novel’s nuanced exploration of mental health. Recovery is portrayed not as a linear path but as a multifaceted process requiring both internal resilience and external support.

Adelaide’s journey highlights the tension between acknowledging the influence of her disorder on her past actions and taking responsibility for her choices moving forward. The novel emphasizes that recovery is as much about personal growth as it is about managing an illness.