Duncan Forgets He Agreed to Dog Sit (Situational Irony)
In the opening chapter of the novel, Helen arrives at her brother Duncan's apartment to drop off Pickle so he can look after her for the three weeks she will be away. However, in an instance of situational irony, it appears Duncan has forgotten that he agreed to dog sit; rather than receive the high-maintenance dog as planned, he can't be found amidst the chaos of the party he is hosting. While Helen is not surprised that her irresponsible brother has failed to keep his promise, her expectations are nonetheless undermined, and she will now have to board her dog with the vet.
Oddly Disappointed (Situational Irony)
When Helen loses a game of Scrabble to Jake, she agrees to uphold the bet they made and teach him how to kiss properly. However, the moment before they begin, Grandma GiGi arrives home and greets them. In the car the next morning, Jake addresses what happened, telling Helen he won't hold her to the bet, which he is calling off. Helen pretends she is pleased to hear him say it, but in fact she feels "oddly disappointed." In this instance of situational irony, Helen's emotional reaction tells her that she did in fact want Jake to kiss her, even though she resisted going through with it when they had the chance just before bed.
We Helicopter You Back (Verbal Irony)
Before they set off on their three-week hike, the BCSC instructor, Beckett, tells the group that they will have to get used to living without the amenities they take for granted, including toilets. One of the women in the group asks with incredulity if they are really expected to dig a hole and poop in the forest. Beckett replies: "No. We helicopter you back to base camp every time you need to go." In this instance of verbal irony, Beckett mocks the woman's question by telling a lie as though he is being serious. By saying she will be helicoptered back to base every time she needs to go, he points out the logistical impossibility of avoiding defecating in the woods.
Plane Ticket to Wyoming (Situational Irony)
At the end of the novel, Jake confesses several important things he has been meaning to tell Helen. Among those things is the fact he lied about needing a ride to Wyoming. As it turns out, Jake is not anywhere close to as broke as he let Helen believe, and he had a plane ticket to Wyoming already booked. However, he told Helen he needed a ride from her so he could spend time with her in the car. In this instance of situational irony, the revelation prompts both Helen and the reader to look back on the novel's opening scene and realize there was subterfuge at play.
