Sammie

Sammie is the main character of the novel. At the novel’s start, Sammie is married to Monika and has a son named Samson. Because Monika travels “a lot for work,” Sammie shoulders “most of the mom duties on her own” (14). After Samson’s birth, Sammie never went “back to work full-time” (17). She does part time work “copyediting” and “client emailing” that she feels she could do “in her sleep” (17). After she finishes these responsibilities each morning, she spends the rest of the day caring for Samson and the home. Over the years, Sammie becomes increasingly frustrated with her maternal and domestic role. She loves Monika and Sammie, but feels as if she has lost her true sense of self.

When Sammie was young, she was not only easygoing, but adventurous and fun. As an adolescent, she thrived on rebellion. She grew up with conservative Christian parents who...