Amy
Quick Facts: Amy is Dr. Jacob Maddox's ex-girlfriend and later becomes the wife of his brother, Jeremiah. She works as a pediatrician at Memorial West, where Jacob used to work. Her engagement to Jeremiah sets the stage for the fake-dating plot.
Who She Is
Amy represents Jacob's past and the feelings of inadequacy that he associates with their failed relationship. She embodies the theme of Communication and Misunderstanding, as her extroverted nature clashes with Jacob's introversion and struggles with Mental Health and Anxiety. While well-intentioned, she often misses the mark in understanding Jacob's needs, highlighting the fundamental incompatibility that led to their breakup.
Personality & Traits
Amy is portrayed as an extroverted, high-energy individual who thrives in social settings, but her actions often reveal a lack of understanding of Jacob's introverted nature.
- Extroverted and Social: Amy loves being around people and enjoys parties. She chooses a loud ax-throwing bar to announce her engagement and throws a large luau for her engagement party. Jacob describes her as a "people person" who loves parties.
- High-Energy: Jacob recalls that their time together was never quiet.
"Amy was the highest-energy of all. There was never silence. She had to fill every moment."
- Well-Intentioned but Oblivious: She often acts out of what she perceives as kindness, but she fails to understand Jacob's core needs. She throws him a surprise party and takes him to a loud bar, believing he'll enjoy it, completely missing how these events trigger his anxiety. She’d say something like, “But they’re famous for their wings! You love wings, that’s why I brought you here!” as if the right buffalo sauce could mitigate the rest of it.
- Caring but Misguided: She confronts Jacob at the engagement party out of genuine concern, worried that Dr. Briana Ortiz is taking advantage of him. However, her concern is rooted in her own perception of Jacob as someone who is "too anxious to function," revealing her fundamental misunderstanding of him.
Character Journey
Amy's character arc is relatively static, as she primarily serves as a catalyst for Jacob's personal growth. Throughout the novel, her role remains consistent: a well-meaning but ultimately incompatible partner for Jacob. The real development lies in Jacob's evolving perception of her. Initially, she is a source of pain and anxiety, representing a past he struggles to move on from. However, by the end of the story, Jacob is able to see her not as a villain but simply as the wrong person for him, allowing him to genuinely celebrate her marriage to his brother. The Epilogue Summary hints at a positive shift, with Amy and Briana becoming friends, suggesting she has matured and found peace within the blended family.
Key Relationships
- Dr. Jacob Maddox: Amy's relationship with Jacob, her ex-boyfriend of over two years, was defined by a fundamental lack of understanding. She struggled with his introversion and anxiety, while he felt unseen and unheard in the relationship. Their breakup and her subsequent relationship with his brother are the driving forces behind Jacob's journey toward Healing and Second Chances.
- Jeremiah Maddox: Jacob's brother and Amy's fiancé, Jeremiah is portrayed as a much better match for Amy's personality. Jacob observes that Jeremiah is a "sidekick" who is happy to facilitate her high-energy, social lifestyle. Their compatibility underscores the reasons Jacob and Amy's relationship was doomed to fail, highlighting the importance of shared values and lifestyles in a successful partnership.
- The Maddox Family: The Maddox family initially loved Amy, which made her relationship with Jeremiah a source of deep conflict and pain for them. They are fiercely protective of Jacob and struggle to accept her new relationship until they believe Jacob has truly moved on. This dynamic highlights the complexities of family relationships and the challenges of navigating love and loyalty.
Defining Moments
Amy's defining moments are less about her personal growth and more about how she impacts Jacob's journey.
- The Engagement Announcement (Chapter 2): At the Bad Axe Grill, Amy and Jeremiah inform Jacob of their plans to marry. The choice of a loud, overwhelming venue for such a sensitive conversation immediately highlights the core incompatibility that defined her relationship with Jacob. This moment sets the stage for the entire fake-dating plot, as Jacob feels pressured to prove he has moved on.
- The Engagement Party Confrontation (Chapter 24): After seeing Jacob and Briana together, Amy confronts him in the taxidermy room. She accuses Briana of using him for his kidney and expresses concern that he is being taken advantage of. This conversation provides crucial closure for Jacob, as he realizes he is no longer in love with her and that she never truly understood him.
"I’m concerned about you,” she said. “You’re vulnerable right now. You just went through a difficult breakup and you meet this woman and she’s moving in? Already?"
- The Wedding (Chapter 42): Jacob attends her wedding to Jeremiah and feels nothing but genuine happiness for them. This moment solidifies his emotional growth and confirms that he has completely moved on. It marks a significant step in his journey toward self-acceptance and finding love that is truly compatible with his needs.
Essential Quotes
"Amy was the highest-energy of all. There was never silence. She had to fill every moment."
"I’m concerned about you,” she said. “You’re vulnerable right now. You just went through a difficult breakup and you meet this woman and she’s moving in? Already?"
She’d say something like, “But they’re famous for their wings! You love wings, that’s why I brought you here!” as if the right buffalo sauce could mitigate the rest of it.