You Deserve Each Other

Naomi is the protagonist and point-of-view character of You Deserve Each Other. In appearance, Naomi is a white woman with light-brown hair. Internally, she loves pretty things and artistic visions of magical settings. In addition, fall is her favorite season because of the colors and pumpkin flavors, which makes her conclude that her “aesthetic is aggressively, unapologetically basic” (8). Naomi’s character arc centers on The Importance of Living Authentically—she grows from trying and failing to embody the expectations of others and embraces her true self. She enjoys decorating, and her simple but fun design preferences are an extension of her simple but fun nature. At her core, Naomi wants to feel appreciated for who she is and not judged because she enjoys being simple. These wants are at the center of her deteriorating relationship with Nicholas. Compared with his college education and job as a dentist, Naomi feels like her high school diploma and part-time job at the Junk Yard make her look like a failure. Much of her anger toward Nicholas is a preemptive defense of who she is, even though she knows she doesn’t need to defend herself to anyone, least of all him.