Books are temporary, dicks are forever

— Gillian Flynn

But it’s tempting to be Cool Girl. For someone like me, who likes to win, it’s tempting to want to be the girl every guy wants. When I met Nick, I knew immediately that was what he wanted, and for him, I guess I was willing to try. I will accept my portion of blame. The thing is, I was crazy about him at first. I found him perversely exotic, a good ole Missouri boy. He was so damn nice to be around. He teased things out in me that I didn’t know existed: a lightness, a humor, an ease. It was as if he hollowed me out and filled me with feathers. He helped me be Cool Girl – I couldn’t have been Cool Girl with anyone else. I wouldn’t have wanted to. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy some of it: I ate a Moon Pie, I walked barefoot, I stopped worrying. Furthermore, I watched dumb movies and ate chemically laced foods. Furthermore, I didn’t think past the first step of anything, that was the key. Furthermore, I drank a Coke and didn’t worry about how to recycle the can or about the acid puddling in my belly, acid so powerful it could strip clean a penny. We went to a dumb movie and I didn’t worry about the offensive sexism or the lack of minorities in meaningful roles. I didn’t even worry whether the movie made sense. I didn’t worry about anything that came next. Nothing had consequence, I was living at the moment, and I could feel myself getting shallower and dumber. But also happy.

— Gillian Flynn

Can you imagine, finally showing your true self to your spouse, your soul mate, and having him not like you?

— Gillian Flynn

Compromise, communicate, and never go to bed angry - the three pieces of advice gifted and regifted to all newlyweds.

— Gillian Flynn

Desi has loved me ever since the lie, I know he pictures making love to me, how gentle and reassuring he would be as he plunged into me, stroking my hair. I know he pictures me crying softly as I give myself to him.

— Gillian Flynn

Don't fret, we'll sort this out: the true and the not true and the might as well be true.

— Gillian Flynn

Ever been in a spelling bee as a kid? That snowy second after the announcement of the word as you sift your brain to see if you can spell it? It was like that, the blank panic.

— Gillian Flynn

Everyone who keeps a secret, itches to tell it.

— Gillian Flynn

He wears his cockiness like an ironic T-shirt, but it fits him better.

— Gillian Flynn

How confusing to live in the shadow of a shadow.

— Gillian Flynn