Tips Deep dive into the tiara symbolism in Laura Nowlin's "If He Had Been With Me" - hidden meanings?

[JonelleHak]

Recently completed diving into this incredible YA book and I'm completely fascinated by the literary devices throughout the narrative - the fall metaphors is incredibly meaningful and mirrors Autumn's coming of age story perfectly, while the tiara scene absolutely destroyed me because it represents her lost innocence and the life she could have understanding symbolism in if he had been with me with Finny, plus the way Laura Nowlin uses autumn elements to predict the tragic ending is genius-level writing that elevates this from a basic love story into a deep analysis of destiny and loss - has anyone else picked up on how the repeated symbols of patterns throughout the story tie into the theme that we're stuck by our decisions and can't escape the roads we choose?