Identities and Growth

Throughout the novel, the protagonists face obstacles that challenge their preconceived notions of themselves. For Rosie, quitting her job and leaving her apartment forces her to face her fear of failure. In Lucas’ case, his injury obliges him to relinquish the comfort of his womanizing surfer persona. In both instances, the characters' growth comes from circumstance and discipline.

To begin, Rosie’s writer’s block is a metaphor for her fear of inadequacy. One morning, she is so frustrated she cannot write that she must stop herself from screaming. Rosie rationalizes, “Because I was Rosie. Keeping it together was my thing. I planned, rationalized, took a deep breath, and adjusted without losing my shit. I was the reliable friend and daughter” (88). Clearly, Rosie takes comfort in her reputation as a put-together person. She is used to being a reliable “friend and daughter” or, in...