Addicted to You

Lily and Lo’s relationship is based on the existence of several interweaving truths and lies that define and shape their love. The truth that they share is that they each have an addiction, but the lie within that truth is that their relationship is helping them by allowing them to hide their addictions from their families. Their relationship is shrouded in a second lie, which is that they have been in a relationship for three years. In truth, they start dating long after that, and only when they are each finally honest about how they feel. Neither one is particularly skilled at being honest or straightforward, and they dance around each other’s desire for years before making things official.

Lo’s constant affection confuses Lily before they are together because she can never tell if he is trying to put on an act or if he is genuinely attracted to her: “It’s part of our lie, I remind myself. This isn’t real. But it feels real. His hands on me His warmth on my soft skin” (13). Lily always tells herself that Lo doesn’t see her that way but can’t help feeling like she wants to be with him. Since Lily and Lo are in their own world, isolated from everyone else, Lily doesn’t have any real source for comparison. Lo has been her only friend since childhood, and Lily believes that he is the only one who won’t judge her for having an addiction. Lo sees in Lily the only person he can trust to be himself around, and while it is a dark truth, it is a truth, nevertheless: “I love you. You’re my best friend and the only person I’ve ever told that I have a problem” (94).

When Lily and Lo make their relationship official, Lily assumes that it’s going to make their lives simpler and easier to understand: “Being in a real relationship was supposed to fix the kinks in our lives. It should’ve made our problems easier. We no longer have to pretend. We can be ourselves. We’re free from one lie” (224). Her false expectations lead to her compulsions getting worse as she tries to control them without any real support or plan for doing so. Eventually, the final lie in Lily’s and Lo’s lives implodes when Connor and Ryke begin intervening in an attempt to help them. Lily and Lo’s relationship is built on a foundation of deceiving themselves and others, and now that they are forced to confront their problems, Lily begins to wonder if their relationship will survive it. Eventually, Lo sees the truth about his dependency on alcohol and seeks professional help, while Lily plans to enter therapy for her compulsive sexual behavior. The truth about whether or not their relationship will last is yet to be seen.

Their relationship demonstrates how lies can sometimes serve as shields, allowing people to maintain an illusion of stability while concealing vulnerabilities. However, these lies ultimately unravel, forcing Lily and Lo to confront the truth about their reliance on one another and their own self-deception. The novel suggests that genuine love requires not just honesty but also the willingness to confront and address underlying issues, even when doing so risks destabilizing the relationship.

Family is a key aspect of healing from trauma and overcoming addiction in the text. Lily and Lo set their lives up for failure and a slow descent into what feels like an impossible situation. They isolate themselves from people who care about them and come to depend only on each other, which enables both of their addictions and makes it impossible for them to see their lives objectively. Lily is particularly set on keeping her family life separate from her college life and sexual adventures, and she knows that her parents in particular would judge her if they found out. Lily starts to feel lost within her own family and out of touch with their lives because of how little time she spends with them, but Rose is unwilling to let Lily be forgotten and cast aside. Rose frequently appears unannounced at Lily’s apartment to check on her or invite her out, hoping that she can help rebuild Lily’s connection with her family. Lily’s family is under the impression that Lo and Lily are in a serious relationship, and they are unaware that either of them is still in the throes of addiction.

Lily’s family continuously injects themselves into Lily’s life, and Lily finds that her attempts to avoid them increasingly fail. Lily’s sister shows up one night to stay over, and then her parents arrive the next morning to take Lily and Lo to the Bahamas. They knew that Lily would be reluctant to go, so they set it up so that she wouldn’t have much choice. All of this seems overbearing and controlling at first, but it turns out to be a blessing in disguise, as Lily desperate needs her family even if she does not realize it yet. Lily spends time bonding with her sisters on the yacht, going dress shopping and to the family lunches, but all along, she can’t stop thinking about Lo or her desire for sex. Lily hits a low point with neglecting her family when she misses Rose’s fashion show to have sex with Lo, and her mother sees through her claims of being ill. Lily’s addiction becomes so severe that she can no longer hide it, and Rose eventually intervenes to help her. Rose’s firm but supportive nature is exactly what Lily needs to find the strength to separate from Lo and begin reflecting on her own obstacles in life.

Lo’s familial relationships stand in stark contrast to Lily’s, particularly in the presence of Ryke and their absent father. Before Lo even knows that Ryke is his brother, Ryke attempts to reach out and form a connection, driven by his own experiences with a parent with alcohol use disorder. This burgeoning bond with Ryke offers a stark comparison to the lack of support that Lo receives from their father, Jonathan. Jonathan’s dismissive attitude and outright hostility only deepen Lo’s insecurities and dependency on alcohol, as he struggles to reconcile his need for approval with the emotional neglect he faces. Ryke’s persistence, however, begins to chip away at Lo’s isolation, demonstrating the redemptive power of chosen family in situations where biological family fails to provide adequate support. This contrast highlights the different ways that family dynamics can either hinder or nurture the recovery process.

This theme highlights how family, despite its flaws, often serves as a stabilizing force. Lily’s relationship with Rose demonstrates the power of persistent, unconditional support in breaking through denial and isolation. The Calloway family’s refusal to abandon Lily, even when she distances herself, underscores the importance of consistent love and accountability in the recovery process. The novel suggests that family intervention can be both a source of discomfort and a necessary catalyst for change.