insecurity'
The main theme of Rob's life has been commitment-phobia, which is somewhat ironic given his undying commitment to Arsenal Football Club and beloved mix tapes. It appears that Rob is able to commit to things that do not involve him personally, such as a team or a succession of songs that are already hits without any involvement from him. Rob believes that his fear of commitment is actually a symptom of a greater fear, he is fearful of death, and he believes that this is responsible for his inability to commit to one woman or one goal. He is a habitual cheat and he also attributes this to his fear of death, which is somewhat of an excuse, and another way in which he is able to not deal with his continual ability to stay in a relationship.
By the end of the novel, Rob is beginning to realize that in failing to commit to Laura, he is also failing to commit to himself, which is slightly self-absorbed in that it seems that he only feels the need to change his behavior when it impacts him, and not when it impacts the woman, he is convinced that he loves. However, the fact that he is admitting his failure to commit, and naming it, is definitely a step in the right direction.
Mix Tapes and Music
One of the most important things in the world to Rob is mix tapes. He has built this into an obsession, and he cannot really think in terms of anything else. He has always wanted to be a radio disc jockey and be the one to host the chart countdown every week, and so he has a tendency to put everything else in his life into a chart that can be counted down as well. Rob also believes that a good mix tape is an art, and that each mix tape is individual to the person who put it together. Since his commitment to Laura is solidified with a mix tape specially constructed for her, it is a theme that takes us from the beginning of the novel through to the end of it.
Death
Death is fairly pivotal in Rob's life in the book which is ironic given that it is also his biggest phobia. He attributes his inability to commit and his tendency to cheat to a fear of death (something that was also suggested by the character of Johnny Cammarari in the Oscar winning movie Moonstruck as an explanation for why men chased women.) By resisting commitment with just one person, he feels that he is avoiding death in some way.
Death brings Laura back into Rob's life as they rekindle their romance after the funeral of Laura's father, with whom Rob had always got along very well. After her father's death, she is feeling low and Rob steps in to show her how he has grown as a person, inspiring her to take him back. In this way, despite the fact that he fears death greatly, Rob finds that it also has a rejuvenating ability when it comes to his relationship with Laura.
