55 pages • 1 hour read
Taylor Jenkins ReidOne True Loves
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Emma Blair
Emma is the protagonist of One True Loves. She is the younger daughter of Colin and Ashley, and is born and raised in Acton, Massachusetts, where the Blairs run a bookstore—Blair Books. Unlike her older sister, Marie, Emma has no interest in books or reading; she wants to travel the world. In her freshman year, she develops a crush on Jesse, also a freshman at the same school; they date at the end of sophomore year, eventually marrying as adults. Emma is also asked out by Sam, who works at Blair Books and is a couple of years older than her; she initially turns him down, though she finds him attractive. Years after Jesse disappears, Emma runs into and reconnects with Sam again, whom she eventually goes on to marry.
The younger Emma is a quiet rebel. She actively avoids reading and the bookstore, seeing the latter as an anchor tying her to a small life in Acton, defined by her parents’ expectations. Thus, Emma leaves home at the earliest opportunity and travels the world. Her interests and identity in these years are largely shaped by her rebellion against her family’s expectations, and this need to break out is shared by Jesse, her boyfriend. The thrill of travel is mirrored in the excitement and passion in Emma and Jesse’s relationship, a high school romance that progresses into marriage.
However, there are also parts of Emma that lie dormant until she is older, and has satiated some of her wanderlust. Hints of this are seen in her affinity for language, despite her avoidance of reading and books; she even graduates college as a writer, against all expectations. She begins to long for a permanent home, and the first place that comes to mind is Acton, especially upon learning that Marie is pregnant and moving closer to their parents. Emma is able to explore these desires upon Jesse’s disappearance, and in the process, a different side of her emerges, one that enjoys reading and running the bookstore, and longs to settle in Acton for the rest of her life. Eventually, this leads to her marrying Sam, despite Jesse’s reemergence. Emma’s character arc is one of self-discovery, just as much as it is about love. Her choice regarding who she wishes to spend her life with is rooted in her recognition of the person she has grown to be.
Jesse Lerner
Jesse is one of Emma’s love interests. He is a student at the same high school as her, and in the same year. Jesse is a talented swimmer who goes on to break state records and captain the school’s swim team to an unbroken streak of victory. However, he hates competitive swimming, and eventually quits the sport. Handsome and popular, Jesse catches Emma’s eye but dates the captain of the girls’ soccer team before her. Jesse and Emma date the summer before their junior year, eventually going to college together in California and even getting married. After being stranded at sea after a helicopter crash, Jesse manages to make it to an islet and survive there for three years, before swimming into the open sea and getting rescued by a passing ship.
Jesse is spontaneous and fun-loving. He enjoys travel just as much as Emma does, and looks for new, challenging experiences. Unlike Emma, at no point does Jesse feel a desire to settle down in one place. Even after his return to human society, he does not choose to stay with his family in Acton; instead, he heads back to California to pick up the remains of his old life. Jesse’s spontaneity is seen in how he immediately buys the ruby ring Emma likes, and his suggestion to visit the cabin in Maine after he reemerges. This side of him sometimes manifests as risk-taking. He drives without a license, speeding despite Emma’s request to slow down, causing them to get pulled over. This risk-taking is further fueled by his frustration at having missed out on so much.
Jesse is also a determined person, proven by him surviving on an islet for years and trying to revive his relationship with Emma. Part of this perseverance perhaps comes from his training as a competitive swimmer. He is eventually successful in returning home, and though his experience at sea leaves him scarred, his resilience suggests that he will eventually heal and move on with his life. Accordingly, the end of the novel sees Jesse back in California, in a new relationship, and happy once more.
Sam Kemper
Sam is Emma’s second love interest. Sam attends the same high school as Emma and Jesse, but is a couple of years older than them. He is a talented musician, and plays a number of instruments. He works part-time at Blair Books, which is how he meets and befriends Emma. Sam has feelings for Emma during their high school years, and asks her out; however, these feelings remain unrequited until much later in their lives. Hurt at seeing Emma and Jesse together, Sam leaves town for college without bidding Emma goodbye, and the two presumably have no contact until they meet again, over a decade later. However, their connection is strong enough that they hit it off, and in just over a year, they are engaged to be married.
Sam is quiet and cautious. As opposed to Jesse, who boldly kisses Emma the first night they converse, Sam gives up on Emma after her first (unintentional) rejection. He does not ask her out again, despite her constantly dropping hints for him to do so. When Emma and Jesse get together, Sam is deeply affected. However, he is also empathetic and kind; when Emma and he reconnect years later, he understands Emma’s grief over losing Jesse. Even after Sam and Emma begin a relationship, he allows her to keep Jesse close to her heart.
The older Sam is not vastly different from high-school Sam. Music is still a part of his life, as he is a high school music teacher now. He continues to be content living in Acton. However, Sam seems to have gained more confidence over the years; for instance, he asks Emma out on a date almost immediately. When Jesse reemerges, Sam chooses to pause his relationship with Emma not just because he is trying to be selfless, but because he wants some degree of control over the situation. He asks that Emma refrain from reaching out until he is ready. When he eventually returns to the narrative, it is because he has decided to fight for Emma, unlike the last time they were in high school. As a character, Sam contrasts with both Jesse and Emma in different ways. Sam and Jesse are different in personality and preferences, while Sam and Emma grow and change in different ways over the years. While Emma mellows out, Sam becomes bolder and more certain of himself. Ultimately, these changes are what allow Sam and Emma to work well together later in their lives.
The Blairs
The Blairs are Emma’s family: her father, Colin; her mother, Ashley; and her older sister, Marie. Colin and Ashley run a bookstore founded by Colin’s uncle—Blair Books—which they eventually pass on to their daughters. As parents, Colin and Ashley are painted to be loving and supportive. They are not harsh disciplinarians, and treat their children with respect. However, they harbor certain expectations of their daughters, particularly their futures. Thus, Emma’s decision to attend college in California and not return home leaves them disappointed. Still, this does not stop Colin and Ashley from supporting Emma through her choice of career and husband, before and after Jesse’s disappearance. They welcome Emma home after the tragedy, and are present for her as she grieves and heals.
As children, Emma and Marie aren’t close, largely due to their differing personalities, and Emma’s resentment toward Marie for being seen as the ideal daughter. However, as adults, they grow closer because Emma starts to see the value in Marie’s grounded lifestyle, and the sisters help each other with their respective challenges: Jesse’s disappearance and Marie’s daughters’ sudden deafness. Marie supports a grieving Emma, and Emma supports Marie as she adjusts to her daughters’ needs. The sisters’ changing relationship is a testament to the theme of Growth and Change as Individuals and within Relationships. As time and experience leave their mark on Emma and Marie, they are able to confront and resolve age-long issues in their relationship. As a result, the end of the novel sees them in a healthier place—with Marie as Emma’s maid of honor and welcomed co-worker at the store.
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