In addition to the end of life, the book's title Should We Stay or Should We Go refers to Brexit, Great Britain's decision to leave the European Union in 2020.

After witnessing Kay’s father’s slow demise and death, they make a pact to commit suicide when they reach the age of 80.

As they grow older, they have unusual insight when making future plans and managing their finances because – unlike most people their age – they know when they’re going to die.

The subsequent chapters take us through twelve alternative universes, with different possibilities for the Wilkinsons’ old age and end of life.The scenarios include both Kay and Cyril reneging on their pact; Cyril living but then suffering from locked-in syndrom; both being frozen and waking up to a very different world; and a horrifying scenario in which they are committed to an old-age home against their will.

"[3] In The Times (UK), David Grylls wrote "Through the potent spell of Shriver’s language, horror gets alchemised into amusement."