Love Interest

Character Role Analysis

Audrey

If Ed was in a cartoon, his eyes would pop out every time they landed on Audrey; he's so gaga for her that he can't focus on anything else when she's around. But this is no cartoon, and Audrey isn't interested in Ed because she wants to have meaningless, physical relationships. This is where it gets interesting, though, because Ed is constantly fighting his feelings for her while bumping into her endless string of hook-ups.

As far as love interests go, Audrey is complex and messy. Ed kisses her and she refuses his advances, but then she wants to come over and spend the night asleep in his arms—and this back-and-forth, will-she-won't-she aspect of their relationship is one of the most intriguing in the book because it makes us think about the different forms that love takes in people's lives. It also shows us a lot about Ed, because it's only when he stops obsessing about Audrey and finally comes clean about how he really feels that we know he's grown up… at least a little.