There is a constant tension between fantasy and reality in Nora Goes Off Script, and the theme plays a key role in Nora and Leo’s relationship. The characters in the novel inhabit significantly different worlds; Leo leads the life of a Hollywood celebrity while Nora is from rural New York and focused on family life. The differences between these worlds mean that Nora and Leo cannot imagine themselves together. Each idealizes the other’s life as if it were an unattainable fantasy. Throughout the novel, it becomes clear that their worlds are equally real; they are just exceedingly different.

The contradiction between fantasy and reality is first evident in Nora herself. Nora is “in the fantasy business” (173); she writes light-hearted romantic movies with little grounding in reality. When she goes to write, she feels a sense of “magic,” like she’s “about to enter another world” (172), but in general, Nora is an efficient and realistic woman. She lives by her schedule and manages her responsibilities meticulously. What she appreciates most about her work is not the magic of it but instead that it allows her to pay the bills and support her children. Her movies may be fantasy, but they make very real money that fuels Nora’s reality.