The Roses of May portrays its protagonist Priya’s struggle with binge eating as a behavior connected to her experience of distress following her sister’s murder. This depiction reflects broader psychological discussions of how individuals respond to overwhelming emotional experiences, with responses differing across individuals. Research summarized by the National Eating Disorders Association indicates that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders can co-occur at higher rates than in the general population, and that some individuals may use disordered eating behaviors to manage distress. Such behaviors are often understood as one of several ways individuals may attempt to regulate or process difficult emotional states, though these responses are neither uniform nor predictable. In the novel, this connection is suggested through Priya’s own reflection that binge eating gives her a way to make her pain feel more tangible. The narrative presents this behavior without framing it as a fixed explanation, instead situating it within a broader pattern of coping that shifts over time. This approach reflects the uneven and ongoing nature of coping with distress, where strategies may provide temporary structure without resolving underlying experiences. By grounding Priya’s experience in broader discussions of possible links between trauma and disordered eating, the novel offers a careful exploration of how psychological distress can be expressed through the body.