Point of View

The novel is written in first person from two limited perspectives. Some chapters are limited to Auburn's perspective and others are limited to Owen's. The Prologue and Chapter 1 are from Auburn's perspective, and Chapter 24 and the final chapter, titled “Five Years Earlier: Owen” are from Owen's perspective. Except for those two situations, the chapters alternate between Auburn and Owen. The alternating lessens the limitations to a degree. There are very few situations that are seen from both Auburn's and Owen's perspectives. Typically, the reader knows very little about what both characters think at exactly the same moment, though one perspective often picks up exactly where the other left off. For example, Chapter 12 ends with Owen rushing to kiss Auburn when she is leaving the studio after what he assumes will be their last meeting. That chapter ends with the line: “and then I press my...