Comment on theme

A main element of Cassie’s character arc is the exploration of love as a virtue and a necessity. Due to the trauma that Cassie experienced when she was 16 years old, she has been averse to all forms of romantic and sexual intimacy, and thus she has structured her own life and identity around a deleterious form of self-isolation. Moreover, she has formed a belief system that positions love as a form of weakness, as she is afraid of being hurt again if she makes herself emotionally vulnerable. Fortunately for Cassie, her time in Massachusetts shows her the true power and value of love. Her mother, Diana, is one of her main guides in this exploration. For example, when Cassie says, “Love is for the weak” (58), Diana responds, “Choosing to love—despite all the ways that people let you down…That’s not weak. That’s courage” (59). After Cassie falls in love with Owen, Cassie becomes directly acquainted with the inherent courage and strength of love.