Pucking Sweet

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content, illness, emotional abuse, antigay bias, racism, and cursing.

“Look…I don’t relish this part of my job, okay? I don’t want to come off as the morality police. It’s not about that. I’m sorry if, in my frustration, I sounded like a prude just now…or made you feel like you should be ashamed of your behavior.”

While the early chapters set up Poppy’s stakes as the head of PR for the Jacksonville Rays, her apology here to Lukas establishes that, though they are in professional conflict, this does not mean that Poppy personally judges or dislikes Lukas. This highlights how none of the novel’s characters seek to shame anyone for their sexual behaviors or preferences, which foreshadows an important development later when the three protagonists fear that they will be shamed for their polyamorous relationship, highlighting the theme of Pursuing Desires Despite Fear of Public Recrimination.

“In the first game the Jacksonville Rays play in the NHL, Colton Morrow, the Black kid from Canada who everyone bet against will be the starting right-side defender.”

Colton’s pride at being in the starting lineup in the Rays’ first-ever game intertwines his feelings about his racial identity, national identity, and health history. Being Black in an overwhelmingly white sport as well as someone who has longstanding heart issues makes Colton feel like an outsider at various points, which makes his triumph as the starter even more pointed. His reference to his Canadian origins may refer to his feelings as an outsider as a Canadian living in the United States.

“‘My Poppy girl!’

Mom stands from the table the moment she sees me enter the dining room. She holds her arms out wide, welcoming me into her loving embrace like I’m the prodigal daughter returned […]

‘Why didn’t you wear the Chanel?’ she says in my ear. ‘You always look so pretty in Chanel.’”

Poppy’s interaction with her mother, Annmarie, highlights how Annmarie manipulates her children, something that Poppy must learn to reckon with during the novel. Annmarie’s reference to the “prodigal daughter” refers to an