Audre & Bash are Just Friends

Although this romance novel focuses on the relationship between Audre and Bash, it also tells a story about finding self-love. Bash is Audre’s first love, and his bold, genuine approach to life helps the anxious, overachieving protagonist strengthen her confidence and stop demanding perfection from herself. Her bond with Bash marks a major shift in the teenager’s life, not only because she’s never had a serious romantic relationship before but also because she’s accustomed to prioritizing others’ desires over her happiness in her relationships. When the story begins, Audre is “everyone’s rock” but feels that she cannot confide her trauma and pain to anyone. In contrast, Bash doesn’t “want anything from her” except for her to “have a good time and to feel safe” (163). By listening to Audre and physically defending her from Ellison, Bash teaches her that she deserves to be appreciated and to pursue the things that bring her joy. In the prologue to her self-help book, Audre writes that her relationship with Bash “changed [her] life in immeasurable ways” (349), emphasizing the powerful discoveries that she gained because of her first love.

Likewise, Bash undergoes a dynamic change due to his love for Audre.