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Symbols & Motifs
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content.
Gifts
Rome is attentive to and appreciative of Janelle’s signature style, which includes waist beads and thigh chains. He considers them part of what makes her unique and attractive, promising her, “I’ll buy you all the dresses and thigh chains you want” (155). This willingness to lavish more accessories on her is part of his overall commitment to her happiness. In one of the epilogues, Rome jokingly packs an entire suitcase full of accessories for their return trip to Tulum, affirming that he sees Janelle’s fashion choices as central to their love story. Rome remains committed to selecting the right material object to communicate his feelings when he designs Janelle’s engagement ring. He seeks Dani’s help, knowing that her friends understand and support her as he does, and chooses a design highlighting amethysts, her favorite stone.
Janelle’s gift of sea turtle statues similarly recognizes Rome’s personality—specifically, the introversion that he shares with Janelle, who identifies with sea turtles’ independent and solitary nature. The gesture is both thanks for the sea turtle outing he arranges for her and a signal that she understands their affinity for each other even as she continues to resist it. It thus signifies their deep compatibility. The gift motif thus supports the theme of Love as the Means of Personal Growth and Self-Discovery, as both Janelle and Rome choose objects that affirm one another’s traits and preferences.
Music and Dancing
For Rome and Janelle, music and dancing are key to their increasing intimacy. They dance together at a nightclub, and when the lights go dark, Rome brings Janelle to orgasm, demonstrating that the passionate abandon they share is mutual, if secret. Janelle performs karaoke with the others during the wedding rehearsal, noticing that Rome is clearly moved by her performance of Brandy’s love ballad, “Have You Ever.” Later, Rome plays music for Janelle during their intense sexual encounter where she periodically experiences sensory deprivation. The headphones block her ability to hear, and Rome is delighted that “her inhibitions melt away, not worried about anything but feeling” (103). These moments are key to establishing that Janelle’s journey with Rome involves embracing instinct and feeling independent of any sense of duty. The motif thus supports the novel’s exploration of Balancing Societal Expectations and Self-Worth. Their choice to dance publicly to a romantic song, “ICU” by Coco Jones, at the wedding reception underscores this, as Janelle no longer feels the need to hide the relationship to satisfy her family.
Food and Meals
The novel’s setting at a luxurious destination wedding ensures that food features prominently, making meals key scenes of social interaction that deepen character dynamics. The wedding party’s first meal together sees Janelle and Rome begin flirting, and they ultimately end the night with their first kiss. Rome ensures that his private yacht outing for Janelle includes a sumptuous meal for them to enjoy, signaling the depth of his care for her. He similarly buys her favorite fruit at a roadside stand, refusing to let her pay. In one epilogue chapter, Rome has his family help with a surprise dinner for Janelle, signaling that their lives have become truly integrated. Food thus becomes a vehicle for the central romantic relationship and, in particular, for Rome’s devotion to Janelle.
Meals also showcase the theme of The Pain of Dysfunctional Family and Sibling Rivalry. Amerie only relaxes around Janelle after eating THC-infused food, which implies that their bond is strained, supported by obligation rather than true bonds of affection. Later, Janelle avoids eating with her mother when she confronts her about preferring Amerie and constantly judging her (Rome sends food to her room afterward, underlining his role as the person who nurtures her when her family refuses). In an epilogue, Janelle has an easy brunch with her father but declines Amerie’s lunch invitation, underlining the association between shared meals and loving relationships.
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