Mistakes We Never Made

Cars operate as a recurring motif throughout the novel. They are a throughline between Emma’s past and present, connecting her to her memories with her father and her future with Finn.

It’s clear early in the novel that Emma knows a lot about cars, which are first mentioned when she bonds with Sybil’s father over the Singer Porsche they find in the parking lot. She does not expect it to be Finn’s car, and its early mention foreshadows the significant relationship she will have both with the car and its owner. In fact, it is her only consolation when she realizes that she has to drive with Finn to find her friend: “If I have to chase Sybil, at least I get to do it in a perfect car” (49). Because the car is extremely rare and expensive, with a price tag close to a million dollars, it also characterizes Finn as a highly successful, wealthy businessperson. Like the private jet that Jamie borrows from a friend, this car is one of many symbols of extreme wealth found throughout the novel—a common feature of the romantic comedy genre, which exists in part to offer readers an aspirational fantasy.