Plot Synopsis
The American Roommate Experiment begins with Rosie Graham confronted with a succession of disasters: Her apartment ceiling collapsed owing to flooding, therefore she is living at the apartment of her best friend Catalina “Lina” Martn-Blackford. Lina, the main character from Elena Armas’ previous work, The Spanish Love Deception, is on her honeymoon in Peru. A stranger appears out of nowhere and attempts to enter Lina’s flat, claiming to have a key. Rosie misidentifies him as a burglar, but after some banter, she finds he is Lina’s cousin, Lucas Martn. Rosie had been stalking Lucas on social media in the hopes of meeting him at Lina’s wedding, which he did not attend. Lucas is nice and charming, and when he notices Rosie is uneasy, he insists on her staying in the apartment while he goes to a hotel. She tells herself that they will never meet again.
The next day, Rosie prepares to travel to Philadelphia to see her father, hoping to inform him and her younger brother, Olly, that she has quit her engineering career to pursue writing and has recently been awarded a book contract. She is a romance novel reader-turned-writer, but she is aware that her father is pleased of her secure engineering work. She notices Lucas in a diner and thinks he has been sleeping there. Over breakfast, Rosie expresses her concerns about her career transition, while Lucas remains tight-lipped about why he left Spain for a three-month trip to the United States (explaining his absence from Lina’s wedding). Later, Rosie watches her brother, Olly, avoiding work-related conversations and finds herself hesitant to inform their father about her career move when he is plainly concerned about Olly.
Rosie and Lucas resolve to share Lina’s apartment when she returns to New York—without informing Lina, who is on her honeymoon. They are both attracted to each other, yet they choose to remain friends in private. They make friends with Lina’s next-door neighbor, Adele, an elderly woman suffering from dementia. Lucas’s cooking impresses Rosie. Rosie admits that she has scarcely written any of her book, which is due in eight weeks, after a frustrating day haggling with her landlord about apartment renovations. Lucas overhears Rosie talking on the phone with Lina about resuming dating in the hopes of inspiring Rosie’s manuscript. She feels pessimistic about this because her dating experience has been filled with disappointment. Lucas offers to be her partner in a dating experiment, creating ideal dates for Rosie to avoid having to engage strangers. Rosie agrees because she still has a thing on him.
Lucas arranges for their first date to take place at a record store, where Rosie chooses ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” as the soundtrack. They flirt and dance, but are quickly stopped as a rat emerges from a record player box. Their second date consists of preparing pizza, during which Lucas discloses that his surfing career is gone due to a leg injury. As the two almost kiss, the pizzas burn. Lucas berates himself for not being the perfect boyfriend, but Rosie assures him that he outperforms her ex-boyfriends. Meanwhile, she is concerned about Olly, who works at a nightclub with individuals who appear to be dangerous to his safety.
Lina eventually returns, astonished and saddened to see Rosie and Lucas living together, but she says nothing. She is concerned that Lucas’s casual relationship may harm her closest buddy, but they convince her that they are only friends. She tells Rosie that her family is worried about Lucas, which makes Rosie understand she is the only one who is aware of his accident and subsequent panic attacks. Alexia, Adele’s daughter, comes over for dinner and offers that Lucas train as a cook, but he dismisses the idea.
Lina and her husband, Aaron, join Rosie and Lucas at a Halloween masquerade ball. When Rosie is soaked by a stranger’s drink, Lucas assists her in cleaning up, and the two almost follow their sexual attraction until Lina intervenes. Lucas is visibly envious when he witnesses another man ask Rosie out, and she is conflicted as well. He softens when he discovers she arranged for his sister, Charo, and dog, Taco, to come and aid him with his panic attacks. Rosie’s writing improves as a result of her dates with Lucas.
Rosie reveals her romantic attraction to Lucas on their third date. They embrace but are cut off when Olly begs Rosie for assistance. Rosie and Lucas discover that Olly works at an adult entertainment club. They save him from the club’s harsh proprietors, and Lucas gets injured in the scuffle, which makes Rosie feel guilty. Rosie and Lucas gradually fall in love. She returns to her restored flat, but Lucas is soon summoned. Lucas thinks he does not deserve her as a guy without a career, but he loves her. They have sex and spend Lucas’ final week in New York with each other. Rosie also completes her book and thanks Lucas for his assistance.
Rosie follows Lucas to the airport, proclaiming her love and offering to accompany him to Spain—but he declines. He still considers himself unworthy of her love. Rosie is heartbroken, and Lina apologizes for not being there for her sooner. Lina reads Rosie’s book and contacts Lucas, telling him that, as much as she is upset with him for hurting Rosie, Rosie’s book proves his worth.
On New Year’s Eve, a pessimistic Rosie agrees to join Lina and Aaron to a party. Lucas surprises her at midnight, explaining that he felt unworthy of her but now realizes that he must confront his history. He is receiving therapy and intends to attend culinary school in New York in order to be with her. Rosie accepts his offer with enthusiasm. In the epilogue, Lucas returns to New York a year later, eager to begin his new life with Rosie.
Analysis of Chapters 1-3
Elena Armas uses the first few chapters of The American Roommate Experiment to introduce Rosie’s different romantic and emotional difficulties. Rosie is introduced in The Spanish Love Deception as a fan of the romance genre, and she has started to creating her own romantic novels in this work. Her terror at mistaking Lucas, a longtime crush, for a thief plays with the meet-cute romance stereotype. The concept of Tensions Between Romantic Narratives and Reality is introduced here. Rosie is taken with Lucas, but she feels pushed to hide her feelings because she has been covertly following his Instagram account, unbeknownst to him and Lina, Rosie’s best friend and Lucas’ cousin. Her romantic fantasy of meeting him at a wedding (particularly, Lina’s wedding) differs from their real meeting (in Lina’s apartment). Lucas, being considerate, interprets her attraction and discomfort as a desire to be alone, thereby ending their contact. The promise of the romance genre, on the other hand, guarantees readers that this uneasiness will not last: Rosie and Lucas are guaranteed a love story and a happy ending. Despite their ill-advised initial meeting, Lucas reciprocates Rosie’s desire right away, flirting with her during their first and second meetings. His awkward fall during their first meeting also foreshadows his recent leg ailment, which caused him to miss Lina’s wedding.
In terms of personal difficulties, Rosie is presently sleeping at Lina’s apartment because her own was flooded; she also made a huge professional move, which she has yet to disclose with her father and younger brother, Olly. Both Rosie’s meeting with Lucas and her relationship with her family discreetly introduce the themes of Imposter Syndrome and Authenticity—the former being a phenomena in which someone doubts their talents and feels fraudulent and undeserved, while the latter being a phenomenon in which someone feels fraudulent and undeserving. Rosie’s difficulties to explain to Lucas why she recognizes him and to tell her family the truth about her new job (as a full-time romance novelist) reflect her doubt about her place in the world—her right to occupy space in the world. She can’t even bring herself to tell Lucas about her flooded apartment unless she is coaxed; her own physical space has been taken away from her. Furthermore, she is aware that Olly is concealing his current employment, but she does not want to press him because she has her own secrets. Lucas finally discovers the truth about Rosie’s housing condition, foreshadowing the importance that their future relationship will have in assisting her in understanding her place in the world. In this way, Armas foreshadows the novel’s examination of authenticity and fulfillment on more than just amorous dimensions.
Analysis of Chapters 4-8
As the plot progresses, Armas introduces Lucas’ point of view to emphasize his and Rosie’s mutual affinity and similarities. Their initial attraction is partly rooted in forced proximity at this point, which Armas accentuates in times of tension when they are in pajamas or bump into each other in a tiny space. Lucas immediately disarms Rosie, causing her to reveal her lies to her family and her worries about her new career. The theme of Risk-Taking, Loss, and Recovery is introduced by his unwillingness to relate his own stories and explain his absence from Lina’s wedding. He feels divorced from his own existence, from all he previously knew. Lucas is drawn to Rosie but cautions himself against pursuing her, not just because they are roommates, but also because he feels unworthy of romance in light of his recent setbacks (i.e., his accident and loss of his surfing career). His natural empathy for Lina’s next-door neighbor Adele, who is disoriented by dementia, proves his kindness and the way his personal suffering has made him willing to help others. While he has yet to reveal his own experiences, he is always sympathetic to Rosie’s.
Armas reveals Lucas’s fondness for eating early on, suggesting that he has interests other than surfing. Rosie’s admiration for his cuisine and his encouragement of her writing highlight their common inventiveness and positive energy—even as they struggle with their own challenges. As a result, sharing meals becomes a symbol of their blossoming friendship. Furthermore, their mutual love of vampire dramas, as well as Rosie’s advocacy of the romance genre (despite her reluctance to describe herself as a writer), highlight the emotional and social power of stories to connect people. These references to the romance genre are metaliterary, as if Armas is defending her chosen genre to potentially suspicious readers and a larger society that often reduces romance to self-indulgent, shallow stories devoted to women and women only.
In the story, Lucas’ chivalry, desire to protect Rosie from her worries (most recently, her flooded apartment and the frightening guys in it), and assurance that she is secure with him (in the same flat, although being strangers) read as his “audition” to be her love interest. She requires less physical protection and more of a safe space (or person) to talk about her feelings: Lucas’ readiness to be her confidant is more valuable than his desire to face scary men. As a result, Armas hints that Lucas may need to reconsider his self-worth in order to be the spouse Rosie desires and deserves. Rosie, for her part, is more open about her writing, hinting that her vulnerability with Lucas may be exactly what she needs to completely embrace the risks and rewards of a creative life.
Analysis of Chapters 9-12
Armas concentrates on Rosie’s creative predicament in this section to increase the emotional tension between her and Lucas, and she expands on the concept of Imposter Syndrome and Authenticity through Rosie’s interaction with Lina. Lina tells her friend that her recent marriage has not affected their friendship and expresses confidence in her writing ability. The girls’ talk is reminiscent of Rosie’s role in Lina’s relationship with coworker-turned-husband Aaron in The Spanish Love Deception. Their roles have now been flipped, with Rosie feeling awkward about expressing her own vulnerability. Like Rosie’s concealment of her professional change from her family, her concealment of Lucas’s presence (as part of their shared living) exacerbates her imposter syndrome, as she pretends to cherish Lina’s friendship but finds it difficult to confide in her.
However, Lucas’ promise to act as a confidant to Rosie in Lina’s absence is more than just a friendly gesture. His horror at Rosie’s dating past, along with his enthusiasm to be her partner in a dating experiment, indicate that he will not maintain his commitment to avoid romantic entanglement. Rosie agrees to the experiment because she loves Lucas and wants to solve her creative problem. To overcome her writer’s block, she convinces herself that she can stage a love tale without taking any risks. Lucas persuades her further by mentioning his recent injury, implying that simulated romance is a way for him to relieve his solitude while avoiding long-term attachment. Rosie has now revealed much of her life to Lucas, with the exception of her long-held interest in him as a potential partner. Despite his banter and flirting, Lucas stays secretive about his own life, preferring to portray himself as Rosie’s fictional boyfriend, the hero of their experimental story.
However, as stated in the Tensions Between Romantic Narratives and Reality, Lucas finds this heroic role at variance with reality, not owing to a lack of dedication, but due to random chance. Rosie chooses a song she enjoys for their first date at a record store, but it is not ideal for romance. Lucas’ management of the song selection results in a disaster, as a rat enters the flat and disrupts the pair’s dance. Despite her desire for belonging and order, Rosie embraces the hazards of the dating experiment, while Lucas exhibits a similar perfectionism to her; he has difficulty managing Rosie and trapping the rat. Any reminder of his physical limits (due to his injury) irritates him, emphasizing that he is, to some part, caught in the notion that males must physically protect and support women—and that doing less is somehow emasculating. Despite these blunders, Rosie is drawn to Lucas, but his own inability to embrace vulnerability will define much of their efforts to genuinely understand each other.
Analysis of Chapters 13-16
Rosie discovers that she is not the only one with secrets as her dating experiment with Lucas continues: Olly’s new profession as an adult entertainer heightens her concerns for his safety, while her father is discreetly embarking on his own romantic journey. Both occurrences bring Rosie closer to Lucas, who is one of only two people who knows about the secrets she maintains from her family (the other being Lina). Rosie and Lucas’ second date deepens their chemistry, a “spark” so literal that it almost sets the pizza on fire. This close call is accompanied by dramatic confessions from Lucas, who finally admits that his leg injury has changed the trajectory of his life. Rosie now knows one of his secrets, and he knows one of hers, emphasizing their unusual link.
In this section, Lucas’ romantic setbacks—the Tensions Between Romantic Narratives and Reality—allow Armas to highlight essential features of his character. Lucas, like Rosie, is a self-assured perfectionist who has recently dedicated himself to his job as a romantic hero and the answer to Rosie’s writer’s block. His inability to live up to his own ideals, and, he believes, to exemplify the kind of love union that Rosie deserves, demonstrates that he has not yet dealt with his trauma. Furthermore, he overlooks the possibility of reinvention, which is part of the process of Risk-Taking, Loss, and Recovery. Rosie’s faith in Lucas and Alexia’s interest in his food (as a famous chef, no less) provide opportunities for connection, promising that he would discover that he is less alone, and more deserved, than he currently believes. Whenever Lucas struggles with his confidence, which is linked to his understanding of masculinity, Rosie reassures him that his vulnerability in no way makes him less than—their relationship becomes the one comforting Lucas after his struggles, challenging the traditional gender role of men as the default protectors.
Lina’s homecoming complicates matters for both Rosie and Lucas, who find themselves defending their relationship while remaining unwilling to acknowledge its true nature, particularly their dating experiment. Rosie understands Lucas better than Lina does at this moment, despite her own secrecy. Though she no longer feels like a fraud as a writer, she finds it difficult to fill her regular role as Lina’s best friend, in part because Lina perceives Lucas as a womanizer. Lina’s husband, Aaron (her love interest in The Spanish Love Deception), looks more sensitive to Lucas’ situation, as if recognising another person secretly longing over their beloved, as he himself did. Lina’s invitation to the Halloween masquerade event demonstrates Armas’ dedication to her genre. Masquerades are a popular story element in both historical and modern romance, often serving to bring people closer together as they explore their identities and social roles (under masks). Armas employs the trope to suggest that, despite Rosie’s protests, she and Lucas are on the verge of establishing a pair outside of their experiment.
Analysis of Chapters 17-20
In this segment, Armas used the masquerade ball cliché to highlight Rosie’s fears as well as the degree of Lucas’s increasing feelings for her. Though Rosie is feeling more like a real writer as a result of her dates with Lucas, she does not feel like a “real” partner to him, despite her desire. Lina and Aaron are presented as the genuine, married couple in contrast to her and Lucas’s experimental relationship, with the ball and its usage of masks increasing her feelings of being a “fake” partner. This struggle is linked to the themes of Imposter Syndrome and Authenticity. Rosie expresses her insecurities while literally nude in a restroom, demonstrating her willingness to be vulnerable around Lucas. Lucas, for his part, finally admits the extent of his own attraction, though he is unable to overcome his sense of unworthiness; once again, his insecurities are linked to his conflation of masculinity (being able to perform physical tasks and control his emotions) and self-worth (previously defined by his physical strength and surfing career). This particular battle reinforces the concept of Risk-Taking, Loss, and Recovery.
Armas used interruptions to heighten and prolong the novel’s sexual tension, a popular tactic for inviting readers to sympathize with the frustrated protagonists. Lucas’ attitude to each interruption shows the fundamental impediment to his relationship with Rosie. He doesn’t consider himself a worthy love interest in their dating experiment, never alone in real life, which is why he feels threatened when friendly contractor Aiden Castillo asks Rosie out on a date. He can act and admit to physical desire, but he can’t hide his emotional commitment to Rosie. This is due, in part, to Lucas’s ongoing sadness for his past: he does not want to risk further anguish or completely embrace recuperation, as both involve acknowledging that the life he knew is over. Rosie, on the other hand, admits, at least to herself, that she is sexually and romantically attracted to Lucas—and has been since she started following him on Instagram. Her main challenge is admitting that the dating experiment was never a simulation and that she may not have wanted it to be. The masquerade ball demonstrates that a romantic evening’s heated atmosphere is no replacement for communication. Armas therefore argues that Lucas and Rosie are approaching a tipping point—in the absence of the experiment or their position as roommates, they will have to rely on more than proximity to fully be together.
Analysis of Chapters 21-24
Lucas and Rosie’s fourth and last date leads them to a new level of closeness, as their initial ruse to spend time together (i.e., their dating experiment for Rosie’s book) has given way to actual connection. Lucas imagines a first meeting for them drenched in effortless chemistry and longing, generated as much out of fantasy as his current sentiments; like Rosie, he wonders what life might have been like if he had met her sooner. Tensions between romantic narratives and reality are reconciled by the wedding-like setting. Rosie urges Lucas to confide in her as she has, putting them on a more level playing field. She requests parity, emphasizing that she, too, want to be a source of support for him. This is a subtle challenge to Lucas’ previous, rather gendered ideas that it is his responsibility as a man to protect her; Rosie’s rescue of Olly also contributes to this gender reversal. Rosie was wet by a spilled drink during the masquerade ball, and now, during the final date, a rainstorm—both scenarios fuelling Rosie and Lucas’s intense passion.
However, Rosie and Lucas’ shared desire remains sporadic and unfulfilled—at least sexually. Real reality intrudes once more, emphasizing that huge love gestures frequently exist only in fictional universes where other concerns can be neglected or ignored by writers. Armas chooses not to do so, bringing back Rosie’s familial concerns, notably her concern for her brother, Olly. Olly, like his sister, finally opens out about what he needs (work safety) and who he loves (a girl he safeguarded while on the job). Lucas tries to play the role of protector once more (like he did at Rosie’s place), but is struck with the reality of his injury. Rosie, on the other hand, steps in to protect Olly and Lucas, pushing Lucas to not only accept her help, but also to face his past with courage. Because of his injury and unresolved trauma, Lucas still sees himself as a broken man, lost and unworthy. Rosie assures him that he is still whole, that his suffering has changed but not harmed him, and that reinvention is possible (as per the subject of Risk-Taking, Loss, and Recovery). Regardless of romance, Rosie thinks Lucas is endearing as he is and as he will be after reinventing himself. In contrast to her earlier hesitancy, she is becoming more willing to risk heartbreak, and Lucas’s increased candor hints that he, too, is nearing a similar reckoning.
Analysis of Chapters 25-28
As Rosie and Lucas finally admit and act on their feelings (which culminates in sex), Armas emphasizes that Lucas’s self-doubt will continue to be an impediment to both him and his romantic connection. He continues to focus on the ways he cannot physically and financially support Rosie, such as assisting her in returning to her apartment and finding a new professional path, as well as the ways he believes a relationship with him is insufficient in comparison to what she actually deserves. This perspective, once again, originates from his fairly gendered sense of masculinity. While not quite the same as imposter syndrome (as discussed in Imposter Syndrome and Authenticity), this perspective inhibits Lucas from internalizing both Rosie and Alexia’s encouragement; he hears their compliments about his generosity and cooking but finds it difficult to trust them. His freedom to travel and surf has been taken away, but rather than finding answers to his current challenges, he stagnates—in part owing to denial of his current condition (as per the theme of Risk-Taking, Loss, and Recovery). Lucas is more vulnerable than he was before meeting Rosie, yet his stagnation lasts until his last day in the United States. Before the narrative concludes, he must want change for himself, not merely for the benefit of others (though Rosie’s influence helps).
Rosie, for her part, is frank with Lucas, emphasizing that his emotional support and proximity are more than enough for her. This suggests that, in tandem with her rediscovered capacity to create, she has found a new confidence with which to articulate her demands and preferences. Lucas has reminded Rosie of her best self and believe in love, which she tries to express to him via her anguish over his departure and certainty that he is the appropriate spouse for her. Even though their time together is limited, she decides Lucas is worth the risk of heartbreak. Armas thinks that Rosie has succeeded in resolving the Tensions Between Romantic Narratives and Reality at times: Lucas is present for Rosie after her days of writing, more honestly supporting her in her work than he was during their dating experiment. However, he clearly does not consider himself a true partner, but rather a pale substitute for whom Rosie is temporarily settling. This chasm between Rosie’s newfound assurance and Lucas’s lingering concerns foreshadows the novel’s final act, in which tension gives way to a happy conclusion.
Analysis of Chapter 29’s Epilogue
As the novel comes to a close, Armas lays the setting for resolving her characters’ difficulties and tensions. Lucas’ departure for Spain forces Rosie to communicate with both her father and Lina, who are now aware of her profession change and emotional state. Armas informs readers that Rosie’s family remains intact, as her father is supportive, and Olly, too, is moving on from his personal setbacks; this is a vital addition so that the novel’s focus is not solely on romantic love. In contrast to her earlier doubts, Lina recognizes that Lucas and Rosie’s dating experience resulted in true love and lends her support. This is a role reversal from Rosie’s in The Spanish Love Deception, allowing readers of both books to understand Lina’s loyalty from a different perspective. Lina also informs Lucas that he is the hero of Rosie’s new book and that their love story is powerful enough to have salvaged her career. This forces Lucas to recognize that there are no Tensions Between Romantic Narratives and Reality for Rosie—Lucas is literally a man out of a romance novel (particularly from a metaliterary standpoint). Armas thus contends that romance fiction has genuine influence in the lives of her characters and, by extension, her readers, in addition to sentimental value. Rosie is a romantic at heart, and as she grows confidence in her craft and feelings for Lucas, she begins to live by her own romance tropes (for example, pretending to date, attending a masquerade ball, dashing to an airport to profess her love, and so on). Lucas also follows Rosie’s advice for meeting the four major stages of romance and learns to embody a love interest’s confidence while simultaneously subverting his own view of this confidence. In this regard, romantic fiction can boost those who are interested in love tales, whether through pleasure (such as romance novels and romantic comedies) or in their dreams of a real-life connection (or pursuit of a relationship, possibly motivated by a protagonist’s bravery).
When Lucas sees Rosie on New Year’s Eve, his apology includes a promise to continue healing (after Risk-Taking, Loss, and Recovery), as well as a full admission of his remorse and self-loathing. He now recognizes his cooking ability as a gift, just as Rosie and Alexia tried to persuade him, overcoming his borderline imposter syndrome (as discussed under the theme of Imposter Syndrome and Authenticity). He finally views himself as deserving of love, yet he allows Rosie decide whether or not his dedication will result in her forgiveness. Armas proves in the epilogue that Lucas has fully committed to his own physical and emotional restoration. This tells readers that his happiness with his genuine love will last: Lucas returns to New York for good, making a huge gesture by surprising Rosie with an early arrival to her apartment. They promise to live their new lives as their best selves as a result of this.
Discussion Questions
1. Investigate the subject of risk-taking in Rosie and Lucas’s relationship. How do their personal uncertainties, challenges with transition, and trauma affect the dynamic of their experimental relationship?
2. Talk about Rosie’s journey of embracing emotional risks as a result of her love for Lucas. How does her initial uneasiness with loss of control and worry change as she accepts the challenges of the experimental dates?
3. Examine Lucas’ reluctance to discuss his recent past and his struggle to grasp his own worth. How do his panic attacks, career loss, and aimlessness impact his perspective of himself and his place in Rosie’s life?
4. Consider the significance of shared fictions and significant gestures in Rosie and Lucas’ relationship. Rosie’s huge gesture at the airport and her commitment to self-expression reflect the transformational power of love in what way?
5. Consider the concept of imposter syndrome and its manifestation in Rosie’s life. Rosie’s worry of disappointing her father and her trouble with a job shift mirror imposter syndrome in what way?
6. Look into how Lucas deals with imposter syndrome and a lack of self-worth. How do his unwillingness to accept Rosie’s confidence in him and his uncertainty about going culinary school relate to imposter syndrome?
7. Talk about how important honesty and integrity are in Rosie and Lucas’s relationship. How does a lack of openness affect their personal life and relationships, and how does opening up contribute to personal growth?
8. Examine the novel’s usage of the phony dating motif. How does Rosie and Lucas’ experimental relationship progress from a notion to genuine emotions?
9. Consider how familial and romantic love assisted Rosie and Lucas in overcoming their doubts and living as their best selves. What role does acceptance of love play in their personal development and self-realization?
10. Talk about the overarching themes of authenticity and self-discovery in “The American Roommate Experiment.” How do Rosie and Lucas stay loyal to themselves while being honest about their goals?
Reflection Essays
1. How does Rosie become more relaxed and confident throughout The American Roommate Experiment? Include two textual examples.
2. What role did family and friends have in bringing Lucas and Rosie together? Include two textual examples.
3. Consider Lina’s reservations regarding Rosie and Lucas’ relationship. As a reader, do you think this reaction is justified? What is your reasoning?
4. How does Lucas convey his affection for Rosie through food? Include three textual examples.
5. How does Rosie find out about Lucas’s accident-related trauma, and how does it affect their relationship?
6. Rosie’s ambivalence about her place in the world reflects her overall connection with love storylines. How does she gain confidence in her authorial identity?
7. How does Lucas’ existential dilemma relate to his allegiance to traditional masculinity, particularly physical strength?
8. How does Lucas’ growing friendship with Rosie relate to his readiness to confront his past? Include two textual examples.
9. How does Rosie’s great gesture at the airport, as well as Lucas’ return to New York, support Rosie’s faith in the power of love narratives?
10. How does the Epilogue present Lucas as deserving of Rosie’s second chance?