Out on a Limb

Bo is the second protagonist and the male romantic lead of the novel. His father and friends also call him Robbie. Bo’s height of 6’5” is the first thing that Win notices about him; she thinks it’s “as if his body was stretched out with a rolling pin before being placed into whatever magical golden boy oven he was baked in” (7). He has tousled dark blond hair and a “rugged nose and soft eyes” (7), and Win notices a “small tilt of arrogance of his chin combined with the naïve sweetness in his smile” (10). To Win, he smells “[l]ike someone who could build a campfire and bake [her] a birthday cake too” (12). Win only learns later about what she calls Bo’s “nerdy” tendencies: he loves the Lord of the Rings movies, reads comic books, and started playing D&D with friends and members of his cancer support group. He also wears reading glasses, which are a turn-on for Win.

Bo is 29 at the time the story begins. He is an only child. His father, Robert, is French and lives outside of Paris. His mother, Joanna, passed away when Bo was 12 weeks old. She was a musician, as is Robert. They fell passionately in love and married after knowing each other for less than two weeks. They were together for 10 years before Joanna became pregnant with Bo. After Bo’s birth, Joanne experienced postpartum depression, which led to her death by suicide. Bo feels lingering guilt about this, as if he were responsible. It takes observing Win’s pregnancy for him to realize that Joanna experienced an illness that was not Bo’s fault.

In his mid-twenties, Bo fell in love with Cora, a strong-willed young woman who didn’t love him the same way in return. Their relationship was rocky for several years, but when Bo was diagnosed with bone cancer, Cora stepped in to take care of him. She decided that they would be married, and Bo, who was fighting his illness, went along with things. His cancer progressed to the point where amputation was recommended, and Bo refers to his surgery and the period after as his “dark times.” His father came from France to be with him, but Cora disappeared. Bo feels lingering hurt over this, but when he meets Win, he realizes that it is time to let Cora go.

After his surgery, Bo wears a prosthesis. Win describes it as “more futuristic than [she] was expecting—metallic, with silver hinges and joints under a gray plastic socket” (31). Throughout the novel, Bo acquires a new prosthesis that is more comfortable for him to wear. He admits his concerns to Win that his cancer could return and claim his life, making him unable to be present for their child. To cope with these fears, Bo keeps a memory box that collects mementos from his and Win’s time together, things he would want to share with August. Having Win come into his life heals Bo in ways he didn’t expect, and falling in love makes him feel optimistic about his future. Though he admits to insecurities about whether he will be able to keep up with an active child, Bo finds that Win offers him the same steady emotional support and acceptance that he offers her. Though he was successful as a financial analyst, Bo, in the Epilogue, has switched careers to being a stay-at-home parent, and he is deeply happy with the life he shares with Win.

Sarah is three months younger than Win and has always felt responsible for her. Sarah’s mother, Marcie, died nine years earlier on August 1. Win’s due date of July 24 feels meaningful to both women when they contemplate that this baby will add to their family in ways that Marcie would have loved; this is one reason why Win likes the name August. Win describes Sarah as “pure. She is outgoing, a touch naïve, and has a tendency to get herself into situations where people take advantage of her kindness” (56). Sarah loves to give gifts, enjoys surprises, and is lavishly generous with people she cares about. She also has a sharp sense of humor, much like Win’s, and she can be merciless in her mockery, which is her way of showing affection.

Sarah does not think of herself as a nurturing sort, and she is uncomfortable around illness or pain, which is one reason why she warns Win that she won’t be in the delivery room with her. Sarah comes through, however, when her friends need help, as shown by her immediate offer for Win to move in with her and her husband, Caleb, when she finds out that Win is pregnant. Sarah speaks her mind without reserve, and she is also determined, creative, and a problem solver. Sarah functions throughout the novel as a mentor, guide, and foil to Win. She is a supporting character who recognizes Win’s strengths and counsels her through rough emotional terrain when Win learns that she is pregnant and later realizes that she is in love with Bo. Sarah’s love of parties is what brings Win and Bo together, and this family tradition continues in the Epilogue.