The Dixon Rule

Shane Lindley is a hockey player going into his senior year at Briar University. Shane is biracial and described as “tall and handsome” with a “wide, sensual mouth and black hair in a buzz cut […] [and] a brash smile” (15). Though he’s grown up rich and privileged due to his father being an ex-pro NHL player and his mother the mayor of Heartsong, Vermont, Shane exudes humility and compassion for others. Due to his lifestyle, however, he is not well-versed with what it’s like for the working college student. His lifestyle consists of golfing throughout the summer at country clubs and keeping his physique primed for hockey through routine visits to the gym.

Shane’s closeness with his family is exhibited heavily throughout the novel, foreshadowing how devastating the loss of his father will be in the novel’s climax. His closeness with his family also places stakes on his growing relationship with Diana. Their opinions matter greatly to him, and it is only when they seemingly approve of Diana much more than they approved of Lynsey that Shane begins to see through the rose-colored filter he’s chosen to view his past relationship with.

Shane’s growth over the course of the novel stems from Finding Empowerment in Relationships. In the opening chapters, Shane is willing to diminish himself in order to rekindle things with Lynsey. However, by the end of the novel, his relationship with Diana has taught him to value his true worth and be unapologetically himself.

Percival “Percy” Forsythe acts as a foil to Shane. All of the ways in which Percy is incompatible with Diana highlight the ways in which Shane, who is his opposite, is highly compatible for her.

At 26, Percy initially exudes a maturity that sets him apart from his younger counterparts, which draws Diana to him. He seems confident, “so grounded in his opinions, his goals” and is sweet and attentive (37). When their relationship first began, he treated Diana “like a valued partner, rather than a glorified sex doll like a lot of guys [she’s] had the displeasure of encountering” (37). However, six months in, Percy’s darker side began to show. His mask of maturity and confidence fell away to reveal an insecure, controlling, opinionated, and condescending man with a habit of becoming violent when things don’t go his way. His attempts at demonstrating supposed affection for Diana are intense, underscoring his need for validation and his struggle with emotional intelligence.

Percy is described as handsome, with perpetually tousled thick brown hair, chiseled cheekbones, and pale skin. However, his attractive physical appearance hides his ugly personality, suggesting the dichotomy between appearances and reality. The darker side of Percy’s character is revealed over the course of the novel through his interactions with Diana and, eventually, through the discovery of his past actions, including an assault charge from his time as an undergraduate. His character serves as a cautionary exploration of how outward maturity and intellectual prowess can conceal deep flaws, inadequacies, and moral failings.

Lynsey is Shane’s ex and a static character whose presence in the story acts as both a foil and a catalyst for Shane’s growth. Lynsey is a ballerina at the prestigious Liberty Conservatory of Fine Arts. Her dedication to her craft and unwavering pursuit of excellence embodies ambition, discipline, and perfectionism. However, there are flaws in her approach to relationships, which are shown particularly through her interactions with Shane and Diana. Lynsey’s serious demeanor contrasts sharply with Diana’s playful humor and argumentative banter with Shane. Diana notes that Lynsey lacks a sense of humor, which adds to the perception of her as a rigid and emotionally distant character.

Physically described as stunning and graceful with glossy, dark hair and flawless features, Lynsey’s outward perfection mirrors her highly driven and precise nature. Her perfectionism extends into her relationships, where she tends to view others, including Shane, as components of her meticulously curated life rather than as equal partners. In her relationship with Shane, Lynsey’s lack of emotional reciprocity becomes evident. As Shane later reflects, their dynamic was often one-sided, with him making compromises and efforts to support her, such as attending her dance performances, while she showed little interest in his pursuits. This imbalance is further underscored by Diana’s observation that Lynsey “dims some of [Shane’s] light” (386). Lynsey’s inability to engage with Shane’s world demonstrates her self-focused nature and highlights the incompatibility of their relationship.

Ultimately, Lynsey is an obstacle to Shane’s growth when she reenters his life, as Shane is tempted to relapse back into their former relationship. However, she becomes a catalyst for his growth as he becomes more aware of her behavior: Lynsey’s flaws underscore the importance of reciprocity and emotional support in healthy relationships, allowing Shane to recognize and appreciate these qualities in his relationship with Diana.

The Lindley family comprises Shane’s father, Ryan, his mother, April, and his younger sister, Maryanne. Shane’s deep bond with them is heavily referenced in both his own point-of-view chapters and through Diana’s perspective when she witnesses their family dynamics. Though Diana is close with her father, she appreciates the jokes and smiles Ryan has for his family and for her during their times together. As for April, her motherly nature touches Diana, prompting her to fix her relationship with her own mother as a result.

At 10 years old, Maryanne exhibits an impressive intellect and is fascinated by science. Shane calls his sister “the coolest ten-year-old [he’s] ever met in [his] life” (28). Maryanne and Shane are incredibly close despite their decade-plus age gap. He recounts running home from hockey practice as a preteen to help feed her and sing her lullabies before bed.

April Lindley has curly black hair and always looks “like she stepped off the cover of a corporate magazine” (76). She is the town mayor of Heartsong, Vermont and is the first Black woman to ever hold the position. Ryan is a former NHL player who sustained a career-ending injury in his very first game. Since then, he has made a life for himself and supported his family through his own business ventures.

The close family dynamic explored in the novel places them as having very large, very pivotal roles in Shane’s life. This makes the loss of his father more devastating to the family at the end of the novel.

The Dixon family consists of Diana’s mother, her father, Tom, and her younger brother, Thomas. Like the Lindleys, the Dixons are a four-person family in which Diana is the eldest sibling and her parents are supposed opposites of one another in appearance and personality. By mirroring these two families, Elle Kennedy highlights the similarities and differences between Diana and Shane’s home lives, offering both love interests opportunities to either bond through what they share, or learn from where they differ.

Thomas Dixon is described as Diana’s opposite. Where she is interested in creative pursuits, he’s pursuing medical school. Where she is presumed to be lacking in intelligence and ambition, he is praised by their mother for exhibiting these qualities in abundance. Thomas has a close relationship with their mother, whereas Diana does not. Diana believes there are irreconcilable difference between her mother’s expectations of her children and who Diana is and wants to become, which causes a rift between them.

Tom Dixon is divorced from Diana’s mother and has remarried to Diana’s stepmother, Larissa, who is a hairdresser. Tom is a SWAT team leader on the Boston PD, depicting a strong, tough, and protective father figure for Diana. During many appearances in the novel, Tom repeatedly mentions his pride in his daughter and her strength. While she appreciates his support and confidence in her, this also places pressure on her to live up to these expectations. When Percy hits her, Diana is flooded with shame because she fears the experience makes her appear weak—a quality her father doesn’t see in her. Fear of how this might impact how her father sees her causes Diana to hide the truth and avoid seeking justice. However, she eventually learns that she is strong despite what happens to her and that her father’s opinion of her in this regard is permanent and unwavering.

Diana’s mother is described as cool, detached, and calculated. Their conversations often include blunt and disapproving comments from her mother, which depict the barriers in their relationship. Diana’s relationship with Shane prompts Diana to rekindle her relationship with her own mother before it’s too late.