Growth and Change
The theme of growth and change is central to this story. Maggie is portrayed as a character who is stuck in a rut, unable to progress in her life because of her negative thought patterns and lack of self-awareness. Maggie is determined to embrace her new life as a single woman, and takes up nine new hobbies, eats hamburgers at 4 am, and explores her sex life. Throughout the story, she goes through many stages of growth and change, eventually realizing that she must accept responsibility for her actions and move on from her past. Maggie learns to be more honest with herself and others as she grows and changes, to let go of her need to control every situation and to accept help from those around her. Maggie is a different person by the end of the story.
Mental Health
Maggie is struggling to come to terms with her new life and is trying different things to distract herself from the pain. She is struggling to be positive and focus on the positives in her life and is turning to unhelpful activities such as stalking her ex on social media and obsessing over her appearance. Maggie is dealing with a great deal of grief, loneliness, and insecurity while attempting to find her place in the world. She is also unsure of how to proceed, frequently relying on the advice of her friends and academic advisor to assist her in making decisions. Maggie's mental health is complicated further by her refusal to seek help or therapy, as well as her proclivity to lash out at those closest to her. Maggie's mental health deteriorates throughout the story as she falls deeper into a cycle of fear and insecurity, only to be rescued in the end by a newfound self-awareness and acceptance of her situation.
Relationships
This theme explores the various aspects of relationships that Maggie encounters throughout the novel. Maggie's divorce and how she deals with it are the main focus. She is surrounded by newly divorced friends and her academic advisor, Merris, who offer her support and advice. Maggie learns to accept her new life as a single person and to embrace the freedom that comes with it through her relationships with these people. The novel also examines the idea of relationships in the digital age, as Maggie often turns to her group chat and social media to connect with people. This is a reflection of how technology has changed the way people interact, and how it can both help and hurt people’s relationships. Maggie also struggles with her relationship with her ex-husband, Jon, as she continues to obsess over him and their failed marriage. This further explores the idea of how the past can affect one’s present relationships and how difficult it can be to move on. Ultimately, the novel looks at how relationships can be complicated, messy, and sometimes painful, but it is possible to learn and grow from them.
