Parenting
At the start of the story, we see Phillip at his wits end, unable to contain the naughtiness of his twins. They make his life a daily living hell with their antics, and he unable to be stern enough to reign in their bad behavior. However, when Eloise joins their family, she already has the experience of being part of a big family and is able to teach him the tips and tricks of being a better parent.
Mental Health
Though mental health was a taboo topic at the time, Quinn uses the book to discuss mental health in depth, mainly through the character of Marina. Marina is a mentally troubled young woman, who was highly depressed, now known to have been postpartum depression. Her inability to regulate her emotions leads to her eventually taking her own life, a fact that affects Phillip’s own mental health.
Marriage
Despite being beautiful and from a good family, Eloise is not interested in getting married. She has turned down many offers from great prospects, and yet, when she begins her pen pal exchange with Phillip, she is drawn to him. He makes her question everything she had ever thought about marriage and makes her ready to take a chance on being a wife.
