Rory is the first of two protagonists in the novel. She is a dynamic character who tries to establish a life of her own beyond the societal and familial expectations of her wealthy Boston upbringing. She is also a main driver of the action of the novel as her choices drive the plot. For example, her decision to return the dress box to Soline forms the inciting incident that sets into motion a friendship that ultimately changes the lives of Rory, Soline, Camilla, Anson, and Thia. Later on, her desire to find a picture of Anson connects her to Thia and uncovers the family secret, creating the novel’s climax.

Much of the novel focuses on Rory’s evolution into a more realized version of herself as she goes through immense character development relationally, emotionally, and physically. As an adult, she sought to fulfill a lifelong dream of independence until Hux’s disappearance derailed her plans: “She used to dream of flying away a lot when she was a girl, of being someone else, living another life. One that was her own. A career that had nothing to do with her mother. A husband who was nothing like her father” (11). In the beginning, she is grieving the potential loss of her fiancé and has retreated from life; as a result, her relationships are strained or nonexistent.