I Think We’ve Been Here Before Summary, Characters and Themes
“I Think We’ve Been Here Before” by Suzy Krause is a novel that blends elements of science fiction, existentialism, and human emotion.
Set against the backdrop of an impending gamma-ray burst that threatens to obliterate life on Earth, the story follows Nora, a young woman grappling with heartbreak and the eerie sensation of déjà vu. As Nora navigates life in Berlin, she becomes entangled in a connection with Jacob, a man she feels inexplicably familiar with. Meanwhile, her father, Marlen, faces his own terminal illness, and both personal and global crises unfold in parallel. The novel explores themes of time loops, second chances, love, loss, and the possibility of fate repeating itself.
Summary
“I Think We’ve Been Here Before” unfolds in a world teetering on the edge of destruction, as a mysterious gamma-ray burst is predicted to reach Earth, threatening all life.
The narrative intertwines the lives of several characters, particularly focusing on Nora Hansen, a young woman trying to escape her past. After a painful breakup, Nora leaves her rural Canadian hometown for Berlin, hoping for a fresh start.
She finds a job at a local coffee shop, Begonia, and begins to rebuild her life. However, things take an unexpected turn when she meets Jacob, a man whose presence triggers an unsettling sense of familiarity within her. Nora can’t shake the feeling that she has known him for far longer than she should, and Jacob himself is haunted by similar memories.
This sense of déjà vu becomes more pronounced as the story progresses, leading the characters to question if they have lived through this moment before.
Back in Canada, Nora’s family is dealing with their own crisis. Nora’s father, Marlen, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the prognosis is grim. Marlen, a man with a sharp sense of humor, tries to keep things lighthearted, but his wife, Hilda, is consumed with grief.
Marlen’s diagnosis becomes a focal point for the family, as they try to make the most of their remaining time together. Their family dynamic is complicated further by the news that the world may be ending soon due to the approaching gamma-ray burst.
NASA confirms that the burst is on its way, and the world is thrown into chaos. Some people begin to flee, while others deny the truth, and a sense of apocalyptic dread spreads globally.
In Berlin, Nora’s new life becomes intertwined with the growing global panic.
Her roommates, Sonja and Petra, react differently to the news of the impending apocalypse. Sonja, initially indifferent and preoccupied with her social life, is soon shaken by the emptiness of the streets and the realization that something deeply wrong is happening.
Petra, on the other hand, takes a more rigid and practical approach, preparing for the worst while trying to keep control of her environment. As Nora’s relationship with Jacob deepens, she becomes increasingly aware of the strange connection they share.
Jacob, too, begins to recall memories of their past lives together—memories that span across time, in different eras and circumstances. Both Nora and Jacob come to the unsettling conclusion that they have met and lost each other countless times, leading them to question the nature of time, fate, and memory.
Amidst this, Marlen, in his final days, tries to fulfill his dream of writing a novel. He becomes obsessed with an inexplicable feeling that he has already experienced the end of the world and that the apocalypse is not a new event, but part of a repeating cycle.
This idea is reinforced by the discovery of a hidden manuscript, written decades before, that predicts the exact gamma-ray burst that is now threatening Earth. The manuscript suggests that humanity has faced this kind of extinction event before, and it may be part of a repeating cycle of destruction and rebirth.
As December 27 approaches, the final countdown to the apocalypse begins. Society descends into chaos, with riots, looting, and desperate prayers filling the streets.
In their last moments, Nora and Jacob share a quiet connection, wondering if they will ever find each other again in the next cycle. When the fateful moment arrives, a bright flash of light engulfs the world—but instead of perishing, Nora wakes up back in her small Saskatchewan town, just before she ever left for Berlin.
The story begins again, with the same opening lines, implying that Nora is caught in a time loop. The cycle resets, and the question remains—will Nora and Jacob finally remember enough to break the cycle and change their fate?
The novel ends on a poignant note, leaving readers to ponder the nature of time, love, and the possibility that life is an endless loop, waiting for someone to find a way to escape its repeating pattern.
Characters
Nora Hansen
Nora is a 19-year-old woman who leaves behind a painful breakup in her rural Canadian hometown, seeking a fresh start in Berlin. The transition to a new city is not easy for her, and she struggles to adjust to life in a foreign country, feeling alienated in both her personal and professional life.
She works at a trendy coffee shop, Begonia, where she meets Jacob, a man who seems oddly familiar to her. As the story unfolds, Nora becomes increasingly aware that she and Jacob share an eerie sense of déjà vu, as if they’ve met in other lifetimes.
Throughout the novel, Nora’s emotional journey is one of self-discovery, as she moves from a place of heartache and uncertainty to one of profound realization. Her feelings of déjà vu ultimately lead her to confront the idea that her life might be caught in an endless loop, forever repeating the same events unless she finds a way to break free.
In the end, Nora wakes up in her old life, suggesting that her journey is far from over, and that the cycle of time may continue indefinitely unless someone can change it.
Jacob Meyer
Jacob begins the story as a stranger to Nora, but their connection is immediate, as if their meeting was predestined. His relationship with Nora grows over the course of the novel, but it is more than just a typical romance.
Jacob slowly reveals to Nora that he has vivid memories of past lives, memories in which he and Nora have met and lost each other repeatedly over time. This unsettling realization not only deepens their bond but also ties them to the central theme of the novel: time loops and the cyclical nature of life.
Jacob’s internal struggle is one of confusion and curiosity as he tries to make sense of the fact that he has lived through the same events over and over again. Despite the impending doom of the gamma-ray burst, Jacob remains steadfast in his belief that he and Nora have always found each other, no matter the circumstances or time period.
His arc leaves readers with an open-ended question: will Jacob and Nora be able to break the cycle of their repeated lives, or are they doomed to relive their fates forever?
Marlen Hansen
Marlen, Nora’s father, is a witty and loving figure who finds himself facing the terminal diagnosis of cancer. Throughout his illness, Marlen approaches his deteriorating health with humor and an acceptance of his fate, though his wife Hilda struggles with denial and grief.
However, Marlen’s emotional arc takes a twist when he begins to experience an overwhelming sense of déjà vu related to the impending apocalypse. The news of the gamma-ray burst intensifies this feeling, and he starts to believe that he has already lived through this event before.
His attempts to write a novel—a dream he never pursued in his lifetime—become an expression of his desire to leave something behind, an unfinished work to reflect on his existence and his family.
As the novel progresses, Marlen becomes more introspective, driven by the thought that this apocalypse might not be the first of its kind. Ultimately, he dies in peace, having come to terms with his life, his impending death, and the eerie cyclical nature of existence, though his fate, much like Nora’s, resets when time starts over again.
Hilda Hansen
Hilda, Nora’s mother, is a pragmatic and stoic woman who has always been the anchor of her family. However, the revelation of Marlen’s illness and the impending apocalypse forces Hilda to confront her own mortality and the fragility of life.
She initially tries to remain strong for her family, but the weight of the situation becomes overwhelming. Hilda’s emotional journey is one of deep grief, as she watches her husband deteriorate and begins to grapple with the reality of the world’s possible end.
Her arc reflects the intense emotional turmoil that many experience when faced with a loved one’s death and the end of the world. Hilda’s attempts to hold on to some semblance of normalcy break down as the crisis intensifies, and by the end of the novel, she is left devastated, holding her husband’s hand as the world around them collapses.
Iver
Iver, Nora’s grandfather, represents the older generation’s apathy toward the impending crisis. Throughout the novel, Iver seems indifferent to the world’s unraveling, offering a stark contrast to the panic and fear exhibited by other characters.
He is largely disconnected from the emotional struggles of his family, remaining unaffected by Marlen’s diagnosis or the looming threat of the gamma-ray burst. His apathy culminates in his response to the end of the world, when he simply asks if dinner is ready, displaying a sense of detachment from the gravity of the situation.
Iver’s character is symbolic of people who choose to avoid facing reality, either due to age or a sense of resignation, representing a coping mechanism in the face of inevitable change.
Petra & Sonja
Petra and Sonja, Nora’s roommates in Berlin, offer contrasting responses to the apocalyptic news, highlighting different attitudes toward crisis. Petra, with her rigid and controlling nature, takes charge as the world falls apart, organizing preparations for the end and trying to impose order on the chaos around her.
Her arc reflects a desire for control in a world that seems to be spiraling out of it. In contrast, Sonja is initially oblivious to the seriousness of the situation, more concerned with her social life and dating. However, as the streets empty and panic ensues, Sonja’s carefree attitude gives way to a deeper understanding of the severity of the situation.
Together, Petra and Sonja provide a microcosm of the broader societal responses to impending disaster, from denial and avoidance to acceptance and preparation.
Themes
The Interplay Between Time Loops, Déjà Vu, and Human Consciousness
In I Think We’ve Been Here Before, the concept of time loops and déjà vu serves as a core thematic exploration. The novel continuously raises the question of whether the characters are trapped in an eternal cycle, doomed to repeat their lives and experiences indefinitely.
This theme is woven through the experiences of the protagonist, Nora, and her interactions with Jacob, as well as the mysterious events surrounding the gamma-ray burst. The sense of déjà vu that both Nora and Jacob experience hints that their connection may span across multiple lifetimes, as if their paths are fated to converge and diverge in an unchanging loop.
The idea that time itself may be cyclical questions human consciousness and memory—are we merely living out a scripted existence, or do we have the capacity to alter our fate? Through Nora’s eventual realization that she might have relived the same moments repeatedly, the novel probes at the tension between the inevitability of fate and the desire to break free from its constraints.
The Unfinished Nature of Human Ambitions in the Face of Mortality and Cosmic Destruction
Another profound theme in the story is the reflection on unfinished dreams and the human struggle to create meaning before death. Marlen, Nora’s father, embodies this theme through his attempt to write a novel as a final act of defiance against the looming end.
The novel itself becomes a metaphor for the larger human condition: the desire to leave a mark or create something lasting, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Marlen’s illness, coupled with the impending global apocalypse, forces him to confront his own mortality and the lack of time to fulfill all his desires.
This sense of incompleteness resonates throughout the narrative, particularly when the world faces the prospect of an unpreventable extinction. As the gamma-ray burst draws near, the characters are forced to consider what is truly important—family, love, or personal legacies.
However, the idea of an unfinished life is mirrored by the recurring loops, suggesting that while humans may never fully complete their dreams, they are nonetheless given another chance to try, or perhaps to come to terms with the idea that some things are inherently unfinished.
The Existential Crisis Brought About by an Imminent Apocalypse and the Shattering of Social Order
The announcement of a gamma-ray burst heading toward Earth triggers a collective existential crisis that propels the characters and society into a state of utter chaos. The novel’s depiction of humanity’s response to the impending apocalypse offers a rich exploration of the diverse ways people confront the knowledge of their inevitable demise.
Some characters, like Petra, embrace the crisis with intense control and preparation, while others, like Sonja, continue to deny or ignore the seriousness of the situation until the streets are empty. This difference in responses speaks to a broader question of human nature—how do we react when the certainty of our existence is threatened?
This theme also delves into the fracturing of social order, as governments and institutions struggle to maintain control, and society devolves into lawlessness and desperation. In moments like these, the distinction between survival and surrender becomes blurred, and characters must decide whether to embrace their fate or desperately attempt to escape it.
Through the breakdown of norms, the novel underscores how fragile human constructs are when faced with the overwhelming force of nature or cosmic fate.
The Search for Meaning in Love and Connection Amid the Impending End of the World
Love, particularly the connection between Nora and Jacob, emerges as a profound theme that contrasts the impending end of the world with the human desire for connection and intimacy. As the characters grapple with the potential obliteration of life as they know it, their shared moments and deepening relationship become an anchor in the midst of chaos.
The love between Nora and Jacob symbolizes the eternal longing for union and understanding, transcending time and even death itself. What is particularly poignant in this relationship is the sense that their love is not confined to the present moment but spans across multiple lifetimes, hinting at the possibility that they have been drawn together in each iteration of the time loop.
As they face the apocalypse, they begin to understand that their bond might be the one constant in a world of uncertainty, and their connection might offer the only meaningful solace. This theme speaks to the human desire for belonging and love, even when the world around us is unraveling, suggesting that love, in its many forms, might be the only thing that endures across time and space.
The Role of Science and the Supernatural in Explaining Cosmic Events and Human Fate
“I Think We’ve Been Here Before” balances the tension between scientific explanations and supernatural phenomena to explore how humanity seeks to understand and interpret cosmic events. The novel introduces the scientific concept of a gamma-ray burst and its potential to end human civilization, grounding the apocalyptic event in scientific realism.
However, alongside this, there are mystical elements at play, such as the sense of déjà vu experienced by the characters, the appearance of a manuscript that predicted the current apocalypse, and the underlying suggestion that the world may be caught in a cyclical pattern of destruction and rebirth. The blending of science and the supernatural raises philosophical questions about the nature of reality, fate, and free will.
Are the events that unfold simply the result of natural forces, or is there a deeper, more mystical force at play? The characters’ experiences with déjà vu and the apparent recurrence of history imply that perhaps the answers lie beyond what science can explain.
In this way, the novel weaves together rationality and mysticism to explore humanity’s search for meaning in a universe that may be both inexplicable and yet oddly familiar.
The Ethical Dilemmas and Emotional Weight of Accepting or Resisting a Predetermined Fate
As the impending end of the world looms closer, the characters are forced to confront profound ethical dilemmas surrounding the acceptance or resistance of their fate. Marlen, for instance, is torn between maintaining his sense of humor and control in the face of his terminal illness and the knowledge that his time is running out.
His eventual surrender to the idea of death reflects the emotional weight of accepting an inevitable conclusion. Meanwhile, Nora and Jacob are caught in a similar struggle, torn between the desire to live fully in the present moment and the realization that they may have already lived this moment before.
The question of whether one should resist or accept fate is not easily answered. Nora’s eventual decision to stay with Jacob, despite the knowledge of the world’s imminent destruction, points to a significant theme in the novel: the ethical weight of choosing to live authentically in the face of the knowledge that life may be fleeting.
This theme explores the tension between passivity and action, offering a nuanced perspective on the moral and emotional complexities of confronting fate.