Every Vow You Break: A Novel

The opening chapters begin with a non-linear structure that mirrors Abigail’s fractured psychological state. Rather than a chronological account of Abigail’s courtship, the narrative interweaves the protagonist’s present-day anxieties with flashbacks of pivotal moments in her past, and each one of these moments reveals important information about Abigail as a character: Her first sexual encounter establishes the beginning of her history of unfaithfulness, her volatile relationship with Ben Perez depicts a lack of sustained emotional attachment, and her parents’ financial and marital collapse creates a foundation for anxiety surrounding finances and commitment. These recollections collectively reveal the complex motivations behind her decision to marry Bruce. Abigail’s history of emotional and financial instability informs her attraction to Bruce’s predictable stability, as he is initially presented as successful, generous, and kind—exactly the kind of person she should want to be with, given her past. The fragmented structure of the opening underscores Abigail’s internal conflict as she tries to determine her own wants and needs. 

Frequent cinematic and theatrical allusions explore The Unraveling of Performed Identities as the novel progresses. Abigail’s upbringing in a theater family has conditioned her to view life through the lens of performance, a perspective that becomes dangerously literal during her encounter with Scottie. Their adoption of aliases from Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo is a critical piece of foreshadowing, as it frames their affair not as an authentic connection but as a self-conscious, scripted act. Scottie reinforces this idea by suggesting they are in a “pocket of time” that “exist[s] outside of the rest of our lives […] without names and without consequences (38). This agreement to suspend reality allows Abigail to rationalize her infidelity, but Scottie’s appearance in New York City shatters the artifice, demonstrating that performances have consequences that bleed into reality.

Abigail’s characterization is defined by a conflict between her desire for security and a suppressed need for personal agency. Early flashbacks establish her as a fiercely independent adolescent, which contrasts sharply with her adult self, who feels she is being carried along by Bruce’s ambitions. She reflects that Bruce has invited her “onto his boat, and now that boat was careening down a river, and she was just a passenger” (56). Her relationship with Bruce is a conscious retreat from the chaos of her past; she chooses him precisely because he offers stability. In this context, her one-night stand with Scottie functions as a last act of self-determination, an assertion of impulsive desire before she submits to the structured life of marriage. The act is less about her feelings for Scottie and more about a rebellion against the role she is about to assume.

These chapters lay the groundwork for the novel’s critique of The Corrupting Influence of Wealth and Male Entitlement, primarily through the characterization of Bruce Lamb. While ostensibly a kind partner, Bruce’s generosity functions as a form of control that gradually erodes Abigail’s autonomy. His willingness to pay off her student loans on their third date is not merely a grand gesture but the promise of a transaction that creates a power imbalance. He orchestrates her bachelorette party, plans their honeymoon in secret, and envisions a future where he will single-handedly resurrect her parents’ theater, all without meaningful input from her. His vision of their success is entirely self-determined, as he explains that picturing himself as successful is “how [he] make[s] it happen” (46). This statement reveals a worldview in which his desires manifest as reality, a privilege afforded by his wealth. His declarations of love subtly reframe her as an object essential to his own narrative rather than as an independent partner.

The initial exploration of The Weaponization of Trust as Psychological Manipulation emerges subtly through the interactions between Abigail and Bruce following her infidelity. Bruce’s probing questions about her bachelorette weekend are laced with suspicion. When he asks, “Are you sure nothing happened in California?” his shift from a joking to a serious tone is abrupt and unnerving, forcing Abigail into a defensive lie (44). This exchange establishes a dynamic where Abigail’s reality is subject to his validation. His lecture on loyalty, delivered immediately after she lies, is not a simple statement of values but a veiled warning that reinforces his moral authority and her transgression. This moment is an early form of psychological manipulation, positioning Bruce as the arbiter of truth. Abigail’s guilt and fear make her vulnerable to this dynamic as she becomes preoccupied with managing his perceptions, laying the foundation for the more extreme psychological manipulation to come.