Who Is The Main Character In Exciting Times?

2026-03-14 15:26:32
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4 Answers

Mia
Mia
Favorite read: Fun of a Lifetime
Active Reader Lawyer
Ava, hands down, is one of the most relatable millennial characters I've encountered. She teaches English in Hong Kong while sort of drifting through her own life, which honestly? Big mood. Her affair with Julius starts almost by accident, and her later relationship with Edith feels equally precarious. What struck me was how Dolan uses Ava's outsider status to critique expat culture—like when Ava notes how Julius's privilege lets him treat Hong Kong as temporary, while she's scrambling to belong.
2026-03-15 21:59:34
5
Veronica
Veronica
Favorite read: WHO IS HE?
Longtime Reader Journalist
The protagonist of 'Exciting Times' is Ava, a young Irish expat navigating life in Hong Kong. She's this fascinating blend of self-doubt and sharp wit, constantly analyzing her relationships with Julius, a wealthy British banker, and Edith, a charismatic Hong Kong lawyer. What I love about Ava is how her internal monologue feels so authentic—she overthinks every interaction, yet her dry humor keeps it from feeling heavy. The way she oscillates between Julius and Edith isn't just about romance; it's this layered exploration of identity, privilege, and belonging.

Naoise Dolan writes Ava with such precision that her awkwardness becomes endearing. There's a scene where she practices conversations in her head that had me cackling in recognition. The book's brilliance lies in how Ava's passivity gradually gives way to self-awareness, especially in her dynamic with Edith. Their relationship crackles with tension—linguistic, cultural, and emotional—making Ava's journey far more compelling than your typical love triangle.
2026-03-16 17:39:13
3
Piper
Piper
Favorite read: THIS TIME
Careful Explainer Student
Ava's voice in 'Exciting Times' is what hooked me—she's painfully self-aware yet constantly second-guessing. That scene where she Googles 'how to be gay' after meeting Edith? Iconic. Her relationships serve as mirrors: Julius reflects her financial instability, Edith her cultural displacement. Dolan crafts Ava's journey with such dry humor that even her cringe-worthy moments become endearing.
2026-03-18 06:54:02
3
Wyatt
Wyatt
Favorite read: The New Bad Boy
Book Scout Cashier
Reading 'Exciting Times' felt like watching someone poke at their own emotional bruises, in the best way possible. Ava's the kind of character who'd text you 'lol' while having a full existential crisis. Her dynamic with Edith is particularly gripping—they communicate in this deliciously coded way, using language as both weapon and shield. I kept highlighting passages where Ava dissects their power imbalances, like how Edith's Cantonese fluency highlights Ava's own linguistic insecurity. It's rare to find a protagonist who's this observant yet still makes terrible decisions.
2026-03-19 13:27:13
5
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