Roxane

Quick Facts

• Role: Best friend and grounding force for Emilie; part of the core trio with Chris
• First appearance: Early FaceTime call on Valentine’s morning
• Key relationships: Best friend of Emilie Hornby; dynamic duo with Chris; skeptical observer of Josh Sutton; co-conspirator in Nick Stark’s birthday surprise; dating Trey

Who They Are

Roxane (often “Rox”) is the friend who keeps the room warm and the story honest. Amid Emilie’s chaotic time-loop Valentine’s Day, Rox functions as emotional ballast—steady, perceptive, and unafraid to say what needs to be said. The novel surrounds Emilie with unreliable adults and confusing romance; Rox counters that instability with an unwavering presence that quietly advances Emilie’s self-discovery. She’s the friend who notices the crack before the whole thing collapses, then ushers Emilie to safety with humor and fierce care.

Her elegance is unmistakable and immediately framed through Emilie’s admiring eye:

Roxane had dark brown skin, cheekbones for days, and the kind of eyelashes that suburban moms tried to emulate with extensions...

The description matters because it sets up a character who could be intimidatingly flawless—but isn’t. Rox’s warmth and intelligence disarm the trope of the “perfect” friend and replace it with something real: earned trust.

Personality & Traits

Rox blends quick wit with unflinching loyalty. She is pragmatic about romance without being cynical about love, and she takes language—and truth—seriously. Her presence snaps the story into reality, often with a joke and always with care.

• Supportive, with standards: Celebrates Emilie’s excitement when she hears Josh might have a Valentine’s gift, but she’s not blinded by it—she wants Emilie happy, not duped.
• Pragmatic and funny: Jokes about what the size of a gift bag “really means,” deflating cliché romance with smart, affectionate humor.
• Pedantic in the best way: The ongoing “‘nother isn’t a word” debate shows her precision about language—really a stand-in for her larger insistence on clarity and honesty.
• Protective first, questions later: The second she sees Emilie unraveling after Josh, she steers her into a bathroom to cry in private, prioritizing safety over gossip.
• Blunt honesty, but never cruel: She calls Josh’s behavior what it is. The point isn’t meanness; it’s refusing to gaslight a friend about pain.
• Graceful collaborator: When the story shifts toward Nick, she recognizes Emilie’s real joy and helps orchestrate the surprise that aligns with it.

Character Journey

Rox doesn’t “change” so much as she reveals the durable power of a friend who won’t. Early on, she and Chris distrust Josh’s shiny perfection; when he hurts Emilie, Rox’s instincts are confirmed, and her protectiveness intensifies. Her arc culminates not in a personal transformation but in a choice: she throws her energy behind Nick’s plan to surprise Emilie on her birthday. That decision reframes Rox’s role—from commentator to architect of Emilie’s happiness—and clarifies her guiding principle throughout the loop: loyalty to Emilie’s authentic self, not to a plan, a checklist, or a status-quo boyfriend.

Key Relationships

• Emilie Hornby: Rox is Emilie’s emotional constant—a reliable listener who gives comfort first, clarity second. In a world where adults disappoint and romance misleads, their friendship becomes a safe room where Emilie can be unguarded and still be seen clearly.

• Chris: Their sibling-style banter (including the grammar wars) adds levity and reveals shared values: truth-telling, protective loyalty, and a no-nonsense read on people. As a duo, they normalize Emilie’s spiraling days with humor and solidarity.

• Trey: Trey hovers at the edges, but that’s the point—his quiet stability mirrors Rox’s. Their low-drama relationship contrasts with Emilie’s turbulence, underscoring Rox’s own emotional maturity and the kind of partnership she hopes Emilie finds.

Defining Moments

Rox’s best scenes combine comic realism with decisive care. Each moment anchors Emilie and nudges the plot toward the relationships that actually fit.

• The FaceTime Alarm Clock

  • What happens: Rox and Chris call first thing to dish about Josh’s gift.
  • Why it matters: Establishes the trio’s intimacy and Rox’s cheerful investment in Emilie’s joy—while hinting at Rox’s skepticism toward surface-level romance.

• The Bathroom Lifeline

  • What happens: After Emilie spots Josh with Macy Goldman, Rox clocks her distress instantly, pulls her into the bathroom, and lets her fall apart.
  • Why it matters: Demonstrates Rox’s instincts: protect the person, not the narrative. It’s the clearest image of her fierce, tender loyalty.

• The Grammar Bit That Isn’t Just a Bit

  • What happens: Rox insists “‘nother” isn’t a word, dragging in evidence and authority.
  • Why it matters: It’s funny, but it’s also principle. Rox refuses sloppy language the same way she refuses sloppy treatment of her friend.

• The Backstory Game and the Birthday Surprise

  • What happens: At Spaghetti Works, she plays the “invent a stranger’s backstory” game that seamlessly transitions into Nick’s arrival—and she’s in on the plan.
  • Why it matters: She helps steer Emilie toward joy that feels real, proving her loyalty is to Emilie’s truth, not to any preconceived love story.

Essential Quotes

“Which is good because too big just means a crappy stuffed animal, and too small means a coupon for free hugs. Medium is good. Medium is the dream.”

Rox skewers cliché romantic gestures with deadpan precision. The humor softens her skepticism, but the point is serious: size and spectacle don’t equal sincerity, and she wants Emilie to have the real thing.

“I’ve showed you the dictionary page that is not-shockingly absent of a ‘nother entry, and I’ve dragged you into Ms. Brand’s Honors English class and garnered her professional opinion. Which, of course, was in my favor. Because it is not a word.”

The pedant is a protector. Rox’s linguistic exactness doubles as moral clarity; she fights for definitions because she fights for truth—especially when truth protects Emilie.

“Oh, honey, what happened?”

A tiny line with huge weight. The endearment signals immediate safety, and the question invites honesty without pressure. Rox leads with care before judgment, modeling the kind of friendship Emilie needs to heal.

“He had a perfect day with the perfect girl, but his cynical heart refused to believe it could last, so he pushed her away.”

During the “backstory” game, Rox crafts a narrative that mirrors the book’s central conflict. She reads patterns, reframes pain as fear, and gently points Emilie toward a version of love that chooses courage over cynicism.