Being torn between two worlds
The most significant theme in the novel is being torn between two worlds. Maeve, the novel's protagonist, is forced to go and live with her father in another province after her mother decides to go on a 6-month mission to another country. Initially, Maeve is skeptical of this change. She doesn't have a particularly strong relationship with her father and thinks that her anxiety—which has plagued her for much of her life—will intensify even more. At first, this is true. Maeve doesn't like living with her father and wants to quickly return to her mother's home and the environment she is most comfortable with. Because of this, she isn't able to fully deal with her situation—that is until she meets Salix.
At the end of her six months with her father, Maeve is left with an important decision: will she return to the safety of her mother, or will she stay with her father and pursue a relationship with Salix? In that way, she is torn between the worlds of her father and her mother. Both offer her something different. But she can't exist in both. Ultimately, she decides to stay with her father and continue her relationship with Salix, preventing her from being stuck.
First love
First love is another significant theme in the novel. Because of her oftentimes crippling anxiety, Maeve never had any interest in pursuing a romantic relationship with anyone. After she is transported into a different environment and meets Salix, her feelings change. She becomes open to the possibility of finding love, and she and Salix start a relationship.
Their relationship, which is the first for each of them, is incredibly healthy. For instance, Salix is a calming and understanding presence in Maeve's otherwise chaotic and anxious life, allowing Maeve to open up and be present. Mave offers Salix love, support, understanding, and affection—all of which she had been searching for. However, as with all relationships, Salix and Maeve's is not without trouble. They sometimes argue, revealing in those moments the inexperience both have in relationships but the tremendous love they share for each other.
