One True Loves

Blair Books, the bookstore run by Emma and Marie’s parents, is an important symbol in One True Loves. The bookstore has been in the family for two generations, having been founded by Emma’s paternal great-uncle; there is a clear hope for it to continue being a family business, with one of the girls taking over. Because of this, the bookstore perfectly symbolizes family, particularly familial expectations and the parts of identity tied to family. For instance, Marie is seen as the ideal daughter, popular and well-read, and set to take over the store one day; she even earns the nickname the “Bookseller’s Daughter.” Emma, on the other hand, feels stifled by her parents’ expectations and longs to forge her own identity. As such, she resents the bookstore and everything it stands for, seeing the “Travel the World” bookmarks as symbolizing everything she wants to escape. Emma does precisely this, choosing to leave Acton as soon as she can, seemingly never to return. However, when tragedy strikes and Emma returns home, the bookstore plays an integral role in the process of rebuilding her life. This mirrors the support a grieving Emma receives from her family; she moves back in with her parents, and grows closer to her sister. Similarly, Blair Books gives Emma a sense of purpose and self-worth again, and helps reaffirm her identity. The bookstore is still a symbol of family and identity, but without its accompanying expectations, Emma is now able to embrace it wholeheartedly. She changes her last name back to Blair to reflect this new sentiment, and even keeps reprinting the bookmarks she once loathed. The question of ownership pushes the sisters to finally air out their differences and reconcile, with the story’s ending seeing them happily working together at the store.

Emma’s engagement rings are important symbols. In general, engagement rings are understood to be symbols of commitment between two individuals; in Emma’s case, her two engagement rings reflect the novel’s love triangle. The rings represents the two loves of Emma’s life, and her different relationships with them.

Jesse’s engagement ring is a ruby ring. During their travels, Emma points out the ruby ring among a street hawker’s wares, and Jesse immediately buys it, secretly carrying it around for five years before proposing. The ring reflects Jesse’s spontaneous, even risk-taking nature. He does not hesitate in buying the ring as soon as he realizes Emma likes it. It also speaks to the strength of his conviction that Emma is the one for him. Furthermore, the red stone of the ring can be likened to the passion in Jesse and Emma’s relationship—a high school romance born of instant connection that leads to the two following their dreams and traveling the world together.

Sam’s engagement ring is a diamond ring. Unlike Jesse, Sam proposes to Emma without a ring, then spends two months shopping for the perfect one for her. The time and care Sam takes in picking out the ring points to his cautious nature; it also reflects his and Emma’s relationship happening later in their lives and being more slow-paced. Furthermore, the stone in Sam’s engagement ring is a diamond—the hardest material on the planet, a stone that symbolizes purity and commitment.