Word games function as a central motif that mediates Hannah and Toby’s relationship. From the outset, Toby engages Hannah through games like folded-paper challenges, where he asks her to unfold his creation without breaking it. This then evolves into more complex word games that allow Toby to test Hannah and reveal what he knows about her. These games extend to writing palindromes with lemon juice, the circle on Hannah’s hand, and the two-line game, all of which allow Toby to express himself indirectly, thus respecting Hannah’s boundaries while also gently challenging them.

Word games also provide a source of light in a dark and dangerous setting. They are used for play and testing boundaries, and these exchanges develop intimacy. They also show both characters’ perception and insight. They require the participants to notice detail and understand each other’s perspectives, thus mirroring the emotional and psychological attention needed in their interactions.

One kind of wordplay that bears special consideration is the use of palindromes, which Toby draws attention to with his nickname for Hannah: “Hannah the Same Backward As Forward.” The description evokes the book’s structure, which tells the same story from two points of view. It also echoes the novel’s interest in agency and inevitability, raising the question of whether the characters’ efforts to disentangle themselves from their families and build a life together are doomed from the start.