48 pages • 1 hour read
Sarah AdamsPractice Makes Perfect
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Annabell (Annie) Walker
Annie, 27, is the youngest of four Walker siblings and is seen as a “shy, socially anxious, introvert extraordinaire” by everyone in her small hometown of Rome, Kentucky (5). In public, Annie is a quiet, wholesome, and “pure” flower shop owner. Annie stands at five-foot-three, her petite stature highlighting the way everyone perceives her—as a young woman with childlike innocence that must be protected at all costs. She has nearly white, blond hair and blue eyes, “enough to inform a person that she has kindness and empathy spilling out of her soul” (50). Annie even tallies cuss words spoken by her family and friends in a portable notebook, which prompts them to donate to charity once 20 marks have accumulated within 30 days.
In private, Annie loves steamy historical romance novels and yearns for a whirlwind romance of her own. Despite being only three when her parents died—and the only one of her siblings without memories of them—Annie carries the trauma in secret, not wanting to burden anyone with her problems but always willing to help others. Annie is too occupied with being nice to look out for herself. She struggles to have conversations with dates because she worries she’ll offend someone or say the wrong thing, evidencing The Passivity of Excessive Niceness. As a result, she’s seen as boring and dull, when truly, she’s only afraid of judgment should she be herself.
Annie’s character growth comes from recognizing her false belief and discovering what truly adds fulfillment to her life. Annie’s belief is that she needs to “settle down with [her] perfect someone—because that’s the only box left unchecked in [her] life” (4). In reality, though, she finds her perfect someone in Will, and the thing she needed all along was to learn how to comfortably be herself.
Will Griffin
Will is the former bodyguard of Amelia Rose. He served her for five years, but with her increasingly quaint life in Rome, Kentucky, drawing less visitors, he now provides services for other high-profile celebrities. Will is described as beautiful, with strong black brows, “mischievous blue-gray eyes,” a muscular body, and “a playful mouth that looks absolutely wicked when he smiles” (12). He also has a sleeve of black floral tattoos covering his left arm, ending in a butterfly spreading across his knuckles. His desire for adventure and pirate-like disposition heighten Annie’s attraction toward him.
Will is “famous for being one of the hottest bodyguards in the world” and one of the most dangerous (11). The extensive media coverage on him makes him out to be quite the flirt, and Will enjoys taking many women out on dates around the world. Despite his rakish behavior, Will has high morals when it comes to treating women with respect, but due to childhood trauma involving unfaithful parents, he doesn’t believe in long-lasting love and intends to never marry. Will doesn’t bother trying for relationships anymore because “[he doesn’t] know how to love—not even sure [he’s] capable of it” (28). His relationships never last longer than three weeks because he bails at the first sign of a fight, reminded of the nightly screaming matches his parents would have.
Will’s worldwide adventures and sexual escapades have kept him entertained but only temporarily distracted himself from his real issue: the “feeling [he] can’t quite pinpoint” (24). If he becomes bored enough to let his mind wander, Will becomes unsure that being a bodyguard is what he’s supposed to be doing and increasingly envisions a life with Annie. Will’s character arc is determined by confronting The Impact of Childhood Experiences on his false beliefs about love and embracing the introspection that comes with a slow-paced life.
Amelia Rae Rose
Amelia is Noah Walker’s fiancée and the Walker sisters’ soon-to-be sister-in-law. She’s alternatively known as Rae Rose, her stage name for her world-famous pop star career. Her obsession with Audrey Hepburn comes from her childhood movie marathons with her single mother and is what led her to seek out Rome, Kentucky, in the first place after watching Roman Holiday.
Annie and Amelia “had an instant bond […] like [Amelia] was always meant to be in [the Walker] family. Despite the fact that she’s new to the family, [Annie] trust[s] her in a way that [she doesn’t] trust many other people” (8), including her own sisters, who chastise her in a way that makes her unhappy. Amelia’s friendship is vital to Annie’s transformation as a character. As a relative newcomer to town, Amelia’s perception of Annie is not colored by their history or the townspeople’s persuasion. Amelia has no expectations for who Annie should or should not be, and because of this, Annie feels more comfortable revealing her problems and dating life to Amelia.
Amelia serves as point of comparison to Emily and Madison, pointing out the flaws in Annie’s relationship with her sisters—which must be addressed and rectified throughout the novel. Unlike Emily and Madison, Amelia doesn’t poke fun at Annie as the “sweet baby sister, a little plain and unexciting” (74). Instead, Amelia sees Annie’s needs and desires more clearly, leading to her playing matchmaker between Annie and Will—even when Emily and Madison laugh at the mere thought of the two polar opposites in a committed relationship.
Walker Siblings
When the Walker siblings were children, their parents died in a freak accident during a storm while camping in Colorado for their anniversary. Noah, the eldest, was 10 at the time, and Annie, the youngest, was three. The siblings were raised by their grandmother, Silvie—who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s—and Mabel, Silvie’s best friend and the owner of Mabel’s Inn. Their respective traumas surrounding the loss of their parents and their interactions with each other represent The Impact of Childhood Experiences.
Noah is engaged to Amelia and is owner of The Pie Shop—a generational family business—where the siblings gather every Saturday night to play hearts. Noah’s fear of storms stems from the circumstances that led to their parents’ traumatic deaths.
Emily, 29, is the eldest Walker sister and has green eyes and golden, sandy-colored hair. Emily’s fear of abandonment stems from the loss of her parents, and this prompts her harsh judgments of her siblings and her desire to keep them in Rome permanently. Her relationship with Noah in past years became strained when he moved to New York with his ex-fiancée, and she convinced Madison to stay in Rome by becoming an elementary school teacher like herself. Emily is described as a fierce protector who “feels more like a mom than a sister to [Annie]” (206). Emily has only ever loved one person—her high school sweetheart—and their relationship ended from mysterious circumstances.
Madison is the second youngest Walker sibling and looks most like their late father. She is a “stinky little brunette with a bouncy shoulder-length haircut, wild brown eyes that are always seeking trouble, and a small adorable nose that is all too boopable” (206). Madison’s personality is described as assertive, unflappable, and deeply emotional. Despite these strong aspects to Madison’s character, she often caves to Emily’s desires instead of seeking her own. Madison’s dream has always been to attend culinary school, but she remains in the teaching job she hates to keep Emily comfortable. Maddie experiences a significant moment in character growth in the novel when she decides to attend The Culinary Institute of America in the coming fall. Madison’s upcoming romance is hinted at with James’s solemn reaction to her impending leave for school.
