Point of View

Linda Holmes wrote Evvie Drake Starts Over in past-tense, third person point of view. This perspective is mainly limited to Evvie’s thoughts and observations, although there are a few exceptions where the narrator focuses on other characters. This point of view is significant because it highlights Evvie’s life and inner turmoil as a focal point of the story. Even though Evvie and Dean both go through a lot of identity development throughout the novel, the narration makes it clear that Evvie is the story’s main protagonist.

The past tense allows for the narrator to be more thoughtful about Evvie’s reflection on the past. The prologue, called “First,” highlights a significant moment in Evvie’s life that occurs nearly a year before the rest of the novel’s events. This presentation allows for Holmes to create a sense of suspense and foreshadowing...