Love

Throughout her novel, Ghosts, Alderton thematically examines love. Toward the outset of the narrative, the protagonist, Nina, meets up with her friend and ex-boyfriend, Joe. When she recalls the latter part of their romantic relationship, she remembers that “incrementally […] he was no longer the person with whom [she] wanted to live life” rather she “wanted him to be the post-match commentary, […] the photo frame, rather than the photo” (87). The author utilizes their relationship to explore the manner in which love changes over time. While Joe is still the person that Nina wants to confide in, she no longer loves him romantically. Maturity, career shifts, and time all contribute to the shift in the dynamic of their love but do not diminish the fortitude of their connection.

Later on, Alderton utilizes Nina’s relationship with her ailing father, Bill, to expand her definition of love. As his...