In the Likely Event Summary, Characters and Themes

In the Likely Event is a romance novel by Rebecca Yarros. It follows Izzy and Nate, strangers seated together on a plane that crashes. They survive, but the event alters their lives. 

Nate joins the military, while Izzy pursues a career in politics. Despite years of chance encounters and undeniable chemistry, the timing is never right. Finally, fate reunites them in war-torn Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy, forcing them to confront their feelings and fight for a future together.

Summary

The novel intertwines the past and present love story of Izzy and Nate.

2011: College freshman Izzy meets Nate on a plane. They bond over literature and dreams for the future, but their connection is tragically cut short when the plane crashes into the Missouri River. Nate helps rescue Izzy and poses as her husband to ensure she receives proper care. After the crash, they lose touch.

2014: Fate reunites them at a bar in Georgia. The spark reignites, but Nate’s upcoming deployment to Afghanistan forces him to distance himself. They stay connected through letters until his return.

2017: Now a law graduate, Izzy desires a life close to Nate’s military base. However, his secretive nature and unpredictable schedule due to Special Forces training create friction. A violent outburst during a nightmare pushes Izzy further away, and Nate cancels their planned trip to Fiji, insisting a relationship won’t work.

Present Day (2021): Izzy, now a congressional aide, travels to war-torn Afghanistan to find her missing sister, Serena, a photojournalist. To her shock, Nate is assigned to protect her. Their reunion is tense, especially with Izzy now engaged to another man.

Flashback: We learn that in 2018, after a planned trip to Palau falls through due to a friend’s death during training, Nate proposes to Izzy in an emotionally unstable state. Izzy, hesitant about his erratic behavior, declines.

Present Day (2021): The story shifts back to the present. Despite past hurts, their undeniable connection remains. They locate Serena, who refuses to leave without her interpreter, Taj. Izzy’s fiance, Jeremy, arrives in Afghanistan, only to worsen the situation by cheating and begging for forgiveness. Izzy ends the engagement.

Meanwhile, the Taliban threatens to take control of Kandahar, where Izzy is stationed. A rocket attack cripples the airport, forcing her and Nate to take refuge until reinforcements arrive. Back at the embassy, she discovers Jeremy and most of her team have abandoned her following an evacuation order.

Flashback: We revisit 2018, where a heartbroken Izzy returns from Palau after Nate’s missed trip. He eventually reappears, explaining his friend’s death, but Izzy hesitates to commit due to his emotional instability.

Present Day (2021): Back in the present, tensions ease as Izzy and Nate confess their love. The embassy is evacuated, and Nate secures a private plane for Izzy’s escape. Serena and Taj miraculously arrive in time to join them.

Epilogue (Five Years Later): Nate, a former soldier turned English teacher, and Izzy are happily married in Maine. Their love story, forged through tragedy, distance, and misunderstandings, has finally found its happy ending.

Characters

Nathaniel “Nate” Phelan

Nate Phelan is the male protagonist of the novel, characterized by his resilience and dedication. As a soldier in the US Army’s Special Forces, Nate’s life is marked by discipline, danger, and a strong sense of duty. 

His military career shapes much of his personality, making him both a protector and a man haunted by his experiences. The trauma and emotional burden of his deployments, particularly his nightmares and PTSD, create significant barriers in his personal relationships. 

Despite his stoic exterior, Nate harbors deep feelings for Izzy, which are complicated by his belief that his life’s dangers make a committed relationship impossible. 

His character development is marked by his struggle to balance his professional responsibilities and personal desires, culminating in his eventual decision to leave the army and pursue a more stable life as an English teacher.

Isabeau “Izzy” Astor

Izzy Astor is the female protagonist whose journey from a college student to a professional in a high-stakes environment is central to the novel. 

Intelligent and ambitious, Izzy’s character is defined by her determination and compassion. Her career path leads her from college to law school and eventually to working as a congressional aide, showcasing her commitment to making a difference in the world. 

Her relationship with Nate is tumultuous, filled with love, misunderstandings, and the challenges of long-distance romance. 

Izzy’s experiences, including the traumatic plane crash and her mission to find her sister in Afghanistan, highlight her bravery and resilience. 

Her struggle with Nate’s emotional unavailability and her eventual decision to break off her engagement with Jeremy demonstrate her growth towards self-assertiveness and clarity about what she wants in life.

Jeremy Covington

Jeremy Covington is Izzy’s fiancé, whose role in the story serves as a catalyst for Izzy’s emotional journey. He is portrayed as a character who initially seems like a stable partner but ultimately reveals himself to be untrustworthy due to his infidelity. 

Jeremy’s attempt to reconcile with Izzy by flying to Afghanistan underscores his lack of understanding of her needs and his selfishness. 

His abandonment of Izzy during the embassy evacuation cements his character as unreliable and self-serving, contrasting sharply with Nate’s consistent dedication to her.

Serena Astor

Serena Astor, Izzy’s sister, is a photojournalist whose presence in Afghanistan adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. 

Her commitment to documenting the realities of war-torn regions illustrates her bravery and dedication to her profession. Serena’s refusal to leave Afghanistan without ensuring her interpreter’s safety underscores her loyalty and sense of justice. 

Her character not only drives the plot by necessitating Izzy’s journey to Afghanistan but also represents the personal costs and moral dilemmas faced by those who work in conflict zones.

Taj Barech

Taj Barech, Serena’s interpreter, embodies the struggles and risks faced by locals who assist foreign journalists and military personnel. 

His character adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the human element of the Afghan conflict and the perilous circumstances for those seeking visas to escape the violence.

Taj’s loyalty and his critical role in Serena’s safety emphasize the themes of camaraderie and sacrifice.

Secondary Characters

The secondary characters, including Nate’s fellow soldiers and the congressional delegation, contribute to the novel’s setting and thematic depth.

They represent the broader military and political context within which Nate and Izzy’s personal story unfolds. 

These characters also highlight the various perspectives and challenges of those involved in the Afghanistan conflict, enriching the narrative with diverse viewpoints and experiences.

Themes

1. The Complexity of Love and Relationships

The novel delves deeply into the intricate nature of love, exploring how it can be both a source of immense joy and profound pain. 

The relationship between Izzy and Nate is emblematic of this complexity. From their initial meeting and budding romance in 2011 to their strained reunion in Afghanistan a decade later, their love story is marked by a series of challenges and misunderstandings. 

Despite their deep connection, external factors such as Nate’s military duties and the trauma he endures create significant barriers. The dual timelines highlight how their love evolves over time, showing that love alone is sometimes not enough to overcome personal demons and external pressures. 

Ultimately, the resolution of their story suggests that enduring love requires patience, forgiveness, and the willingness to confront and heal past wounds.

2. The Impact of War on Personal Lives

War and its far-reaching consequences are central to the narrative, particularly how it affects those in military service and their loved ones. 

Nate’s experiences in the Special Forces and the psychological toll it takes on him are a recurring theme. His deployments, the dangers he faces, and the loss of comrades are starkly depicted, influencing his ability to maintain a stable relationship with Izzy. The novel also portrays the broader impact of war on civilians, exemplified by Izzy’s presence in Afghanistan and her efforts to rescue her sister and others affected by the conflict. 

Through these experiences, Yarros underscores the pervasive and often devastating effects of war, not just on those who serve but also on their families and communities. 

This theme is further enriched by Yarros’s personal connection to military life, adding authenticity to the depiction of these challenges.

3. The Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing

Both Izzy and Nate undergo significant personal growth throughout the novel, embarking on journeys of self-discovery and healing. 

For Izzy, this involves confronting her past, including her unresolved feelings for Nate and her engagement to another man. Her experiences in Afghanistan force her to reassess her priorities and relationships, ultimately leading to her breaking off her engagement and rekindling her relationship with Nate. 

Nate’s journey is more internal, dealing with the trauma and emotional scars from his military service. His interactions with Izzy and the rediscovery of their love help him begin to heal and find a new purpose in life. 

By the novel’s end, both characters have evolved, with Nate transitioning from a soldier to a teacher and Izzy finding clarity in her love for Nate. 

Their journeys highlight the themes of resilience and the transformative power of love and self-awareness.