56 pages • 1 hour read
Liz TomfordePlay Along
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Kennedy’s Sneakers
On their fated night out in Vegas, after Kennedy dumps her designer high heels in the trash, Isaiah buys her a pair of sneakers so that she will be more comfortable. Though he rescues the expensive shoes from the garbage, Kennedy gladly wears the more practical footwear all night. The sneakers symbolize their marriage, their evolving relationship, and Kennedy’s transformation. On the surface, the sneakers are a thoughtful, practical gift from Isaiah, but beneath this simplicity lies a more profound representation of his care for her. Throughout the story, Isaiah notices that Kennedy continues wearing the sneakers. Despite her regrets about their Vegas marriage, she integrates the shoes into her daily life. Just as the shoes provide comfort and stability during long workdays, Isaiah’s presence also makes Kennedy more comfortable and helps her to heal. Trading her uncomfortable designer shoes for something more practical symbolizes Kennedy’s new willingness to break free of her past and the expectations of her loveless family.
Buying the sneakers reveals Isaiah’s attentiveness and desire to support Kennedy in a way that aligns with her independent nature. Kennedy is self-sufficient and often hesitant to rely on others for anything, so by giving her something as practical as sneakers, Isaiah acknowledges her need for autonomy while subtly offering his support. It is not an extravagant or showy gesture; instead, it is a meaningful act that respects her boundaries while expressing care. Like Isaiah’s role in Kennedy’s life, the sneakers symbolize grounding and practicality. In many ways, when she first puts on the shoes, she steps into a whole new life. At their vow renewal ceremony in the novel’s conclusion, Isaiah notices, “There are no heels on her feet, just a pair of black sneakers I bought her when I was desperate for her to be comfortable enough that she might be willing to spend a bit of time with me” (359). The moment brings the couple full-circle as Isaiah notes the presence of the shoes through every step of their relationship.
Rings
Throughout the story, rings symbolize commitment, connection, and the tension between appearances and reality. The various rings that appear also represent the evolving relationship between Isaiah and Kennedy. The day that Isaiah meets Kennedy, he declares that he will marry her one day but quickly realizes that she is wearing an engagement ring. Later, when she stops wearing the ring, Isaiah sees this shift as a sign that he can now pursue a relationship with her. Yet the symbolism changes once again after their impulsive Las Vegas wedding, for the flimsy rings that they now wear are a symbolic nod to the perceived impermanence of the agreement. However, once they return home, they realize that they must stay married, and this necessitates procuring more convincing rings to project the sense that their relationship is also more considered and permanent. At this midpoint of the story, the more respectable rings represent the external façade of their union: a physical marker of a marriage that they intend to dissolve in six months. However, as they spend more time together, their rings evolve into symbols of authenticity, reflecting the genuine feelings that grow between them.
For Kennedy, wearing a ring is a complicated notion. Though the engagement ring she once wore was flashy and expensive, it symbolized an arranged marriage rather than true love. Ironically, the ring that Isaiah gives Kennedy is one that she initially considers to be yet another symbol of a false relationship. However, she realizes she loves the ring more than her first, and the ring eventually transforms from a symbol of obligation to one of choice, becoming a testament to her inner growth and her desire to choose the person she loves and marries. By contrast, Isaiah has no problem wearing his ring from the very beginning, and he takes any chance to show it off, broadcasting his pure joy in being married to Kennedy.
On a more serious note, the ring of Isaiah’s mother symbolizes his connection with his mother and the values that she instilled in him. As a sentimental heirloom, the ring carries the weight of familial love and continuity. Isaiah’s attachment to it reflects his deep respect for his mother and her impact on his life. For Isaiah, giving Kennedy his mother’s ring signifies his desire to make her a permanent part of his family. It therefore becomes a silent promise of his commitment to her as a person.
Isaiah’s Colorblindness
Isaiah’s inability to perceive colors limits his experience of the world, but it never bothers him much until he meets Kennedy. At this point, he must ask Travis for help in identifying her hair color, which he memorizes. Because he cannot perceive the color of her hair, he cannot fully appreciate its beauty. When Kennedy learns about Isaiah’s color blindness, it marks the first vulnerable moment in their relationship as he shares something personal with her. Since picking a favorite color is pointless, he asks Kennedy to choose one for him, and Kennedy, in turn, shows her support by helping him to match his clothes, a simple yet affectionate action that reveals her growing care for him. Color blindness symbolizes Isaiah’s perception limitations and inability to see the full picture of his life experiences. Just as Isaiah cannot perceive specific colors, he struggles to understand his emotions. Even though Kennedy cannot cure Isaiah’s colorblindness, she brings more color and joy into his life. Marrying Kennedy therefore helps Isaiah learn to explore the full spectrum of his emotional “colors.”
The motif comes full circle when Kennedy gifts Isaiah color blindness glasses for their vow renewal. The glasses symbolize Kennedy’s attentiveness toward Isaiah’s needs. Isaiah has always managed his challenges independently, including his anxiety and colorblindness. By giving him the glasses, Kennedy demonstrates that she values his quality of life. The gift reflects her desire to broaden his visual and emotional perception of the world. He explains the change, stating, “I apparently never understood the real complexities of the color I once memorized” (364). The gift allows Isaiah to experience new perspectives, just as their relationship has helped Kennedy expand her own worldview. Kennedy’s gift ultimately celebrates the fact that their love helps them to see the world and each other in color, and through more meaningful lenses.
