By a Thread

Dominic Russo is the second of the novel’s protagonists and narrators. The chapters titled with his first name are written from his first-person perspective and depict episodes from his storyline. In the narrative present, he is 44 years old. He lives in New York City and has recently taken over his father Paul’s position as creative director at the fashion magazine Label. Dominic is glad to be helping his mother Dalessandra recover from Paul’s scandals, but he resents his father for putting him in this position. Joining Label has meant sacrificing his dream job and independence. It has also meant compromising Dominic’s true identity to atone for Paul’s sins. Immobilized by his father’s misdeeds, Dominic is terrified of acting on his feelings, speaking his mind, or behaving in ways that could be misinterpreted. Dominic’s fraught relationship with his ex, Elena, also complicates Dominic’s inner life. Elena used Dominic to get media attention and then cheated on him with his father. These wounds threaten Dominic’s chances at healthy intimacy—particularly with Ally.

Despite Dominic’s complex internal world, he is a dynamic character capable of change. Over the course of the novel, Dominic vacillates between his desire to pursue happiness by being with Ally, and his competing desire to maintain a stoic, controlled facade for the sake of his mother and their company. For a time, Dominic convinces himself that having sex and temporarily living with Ally has solved all of his problems. With Ally, he’s happier and more engaged with life. However, he lets his personal demons compromise their dynamic, accusing Ally of cheating on and using him like Elena did. Ally’s refusal to accept Dominic’s accusations challenges Dominic to self-evaluate. With the help of his mother and best friend Harry, he realizes that he has wronged Ally as much as Elena and Paul wronged him.

Dominic’s icy exterior melts, revealing a big-hearted, caring man beneath. Dominic atones for his sins with extravagant displays of affection, particularly in his relationship with Ally. He pays for the renovations on her dad’s house, buys the house and gives it to her, creates a grant to pay for her dad’s care, investigates the people who’ve wronged Ally and brings them to justice, and buys Ally her dream house. By helping Ally in these overt ways, Dominic is able to express his love.

Dominic’s mother and Paul’s ex-wife Dalessandra is the “current editor in chief of Label, a fashion magazine that […] not only survived the onset of the digital age but spearheaded the transition” (7). She has a passion for the business and a deep affection for her son. Dominic consistently describes their bond as authentic and loving: He sees his mom as “the picture of confidence,” not just because she’s “a beautiful woman,” but because she has a “sharp mind and tongue” (6). Dalessandra is indeed confident, capable, and striking. She engenders trust, respect, and affection from everyone around her. Ally is immediately taken by her and the two develop a connection after Dalessandra hires Ally at Label.

Dalessandra acts as a voice of reason for Dominic. Because Dominic loves Dalessandra, he also trusts her. When she gives him advice or reprimands his childish behavior, Dominic listens. He appreciates her opinions on both his work in the fashion world and on his relationship with Ally.

Dalessandra is also a stabilizing figure in Ally’s world. Ally isn’t as intimate with her as Dominic is, but she respects her. As a strong, single woman in the workforce, Dalessandra gives Ally someone to look up to. (This is particularly significant for Ally because her mom has been absent from her life since she was 11 years old.) Dalessandra never patronizes Ally and treats all of her employees with care. For these reasons, Ally feels comfortable being vulnerable with her, both about her job and her relationships.

Faith is Ally’s best friend; they’ve been close “since fifth grade” (216). At the start of the novel, Ally feels sorry for failing to spend time with Faith in light of her work, financial, and familial responsibilities. The two reconnect and rekindle their relationship over the course of the novel. Faith reminds Ally “of a tall, Black Gwen Stefani who [can’t] sing. But Faith [doesn’t] need to sing” because she was “born with a genius business acumen” (216). In the narrative present, Faith runs Club Ladies and Gentlemen, a successful strip club. Despite negative stereotypes about the industry, “Faith has no intentions of settling down and no tolerance for sweeping judgments on her lifestyle” (438). She is a self-possessed character who cares about what she does and refuses to let others’ opinions of her make her feel ashamed. Her strength helps stabilize Ally throughout the novel, as Faith is often a voice of reason and a support system when Ally feels most alone. In the novel’s latter chapters, Faith becomes involved with Christian James—a relationship Ally instigates because she recognizes Faith and Christian’s compatibility and hopes this connection will let Faith have some fun.