“When you find love, you take it. You grab it with both hands and you do everything in your power not to let it go. You can’t just walk away from it and expect it to linger until you’re ready for it.”
In this excerpt, Ben is emphasizing the importance of embracing love when it comes. He is saying that when one finds love, one should not take it for granted and should do everything one can to make it last. This is a powerful message that resonates throughout the novel. Ben's advice is especially relevant in the context of the novel, as Fallon and Ben are struggling to keep their love alive despite their circumstances. Fallon is hesitant to be with Ben due to her mother's advice to wait until she is twenty-three, while Ben is hesitant to commit due to his past trauma. Despite their fears, Ben encourages Fallon to take a chance on their love and not let it go. He is telling her to grab it with both hands and to do everything in her power to hold onto it.
“I would never let anyone else borrow my heart if I know there’s a chance in hell you might want it back.”
This quotation captures the essence of Ben’s character. Ben has always been protective of Fallon, caring for her deeply and never wanting to put her in a position where she could be hurt. Rather than risking the potential of having his heart broken, Ben is willing to keep his heart safe and never let anyone else borrow it if there is a chance that Fallon might want it back. This quote speaks to Ben's character development throughout the novel, as he goes from pretending to be Fallon's boyfriend to protect her from her father's cruel words to be willing to take the risk and love her. It also speaks to how much he has grown to care for her, as he is willing to put his heart on the line even if there is a chance of being hurt. This quote also speaks to Ben's maturity, as he is willing to accept responsibility for his actions and be honest with himself about the potential consequences of his actions. Thus, it is a testament to Ben's commitment to Fallon and his willingness to take the risk to have a future with her.
“Goals are achieved through discomfort and hard work. They aren’t achieved when you hide out in a place where you’re nice and cozy.”
In this citation, Fallon is referring to the hard work and discomfort that is required to achieve one's goals. She is pointing out that to make something happen, one has to be willing to put in the effort and push through the discomfort that comes with it. Falling into a comfortable and safe space will not get one to where one needs to be. This idea is demonstrated in the novel when Fallon decides to take a chance and move to New York to pursue her dreams of being an actor. She faces a lot of obstacles along the way, but she pushes through them and eventually finds success. The relationship between Fallon and Ben is also a good example of this message. Fallon and Ben both had to put in a lot of hard work and face a lot of discomfort to make their relationship work. Even though they initially agreed to have a non-serious relationship, they still had to make a lot of sacrifices and take risks to keep their love alive.
