The American Roommate Experiment

As Rosie and Lucas finally acknowledge and act on their feelings (culminating in sex), Armas reiterates that Lucas’s self-doubt will continue to be an ongoing obstacle—to both him and his romantic relationship. He continues to focus on the ways in which he cannot physically and financially support Rosie—like helping her move back to her apartment and finding a new career path—as well as the ways that he believes a relationship with him is inadequate compared to what she truly deserves. Again, this mindset stems from his somewhat gendered understanding of masculinity. While not quite the same as imposter syndrome (as per the theme of Imposter Syndrome and Authenticity), this mindset prevents Lucas from internalizing both Rosie and Alexia’s encouragement; he hears their compliments regarding his kindness and cooking but struggles to believe them. His ability to move and surf unencumbered has been taken from him, but rather than find solutions to his current problems, he stagnates—partially due to denial of his current situation (as per the theme of Risk-Taking, Loss, and Recovery). Lucas exhibits more vulnerability than he did before he met Rosie, but his stagnation persists until his last day in the US. Before the novel ends, it is important for him to personally want change, not just seek it for someone else’s sake (though Rosie’s influence helps).

For Rosie’s part, she is direct with Lucas and reiterates that his emotional support and proximity are more than enough for her. This demonstrates that she has found a new confidence with which to express her needs and preferences, in tandem with her recovered ability to create. Through their experimental relationship, Lucas has reminded Rosie of her best self and belief in love, which she tries to demonstrate to him with her grief over his departure and certainty that he is the right partner for her. She decides Lucas is worth the risk of heartbreak, even if their time together is limited. In some moments, Armas suggests that Rosie has succeeded in reconciling the Tensions Between Romantic Narratives and Reality: Lucas is present for Rosie after her days of writing, supporting her in her work more authentically than he did during their dating experiment. However, he clearly does not believe himself to be a true partner, only a pale substitute whom Rosie is temporarily settling for. This gap between Rosie’s new certainty and Lucas’s persistent doubts foreshadows the novel’s final act, in which tension gives way to a happy ending.