The Rom-Commers

Emma is the protagonist and narrator of The Rom-Commers. She grew up in Texas with her mother, father, and younger sister Sylvie and planned to go to college with a writing scholarship before her family experienced a tragic camping accident shortly after her graduation. The accident and its aftermath have defined her life, leading her to find strength and self-reliance as a caregiver. However, Emma struggles with Balancing Caregiving and Self-Care to the point where it has prevented her from pursuing her dream for a decade. Though Emma is a dynamic character, she is stuck in a rut throughout most of the novel, afraid to take chances on herself but also afraid to rely on others. Used to doing everything herself, Emma rarely allows others to help her, let alone comfort her. She is selfless but to a fault, rarely putting herself first and feeling extreme guilt when she does so. Toward the novel’s end, particularly with Charlie’s help, Emma begins to learn the benefits of putting herself first and making choices for her own sake rather than for others. The greatest change in Emma’s character comes when she learns to overcome her guilt.