Plot Summary
Letters Across the World
Ruby Santos, a young seamstress from Houston, volunteers for the Help a Soldier Foundation, writing weekly letters to a deployed staff sergeant, Aaron Hall. Her first messages are awkward, filled with jokes and questions, but reveal her warmth and sincerity. Despite Aaron's silence, Ruby persists, sharing pieces of her life, her family's chaos, and her own insecurities. The act of writing becomes a lifeline for both, even before Aaron responds. Through these letters, Ruby's vulnerability and humor shine, setting the stage for a relationship built on words, hope, and the need to be seen.
Silence and First Contact
Weeks pass with no reply, and Ruby's doubts grow. She wonders if she's been too much, or if Aaron simply isn't interested. Just as she's about to give up, Aaron finally responds, apologizing for his absence and asking to start over. Their correspondence restarts with a new honesty, as both admit to past hurts and current loneliness. The relief and excitement Ruby feels is palpable, and Aaron's dry humor and gentle curiosity begin to emerge. Their connection, once one-sided, now becomes a two-way street, full of tentative trust and the first glimmers of something deeper.
Building a Friendship
Ruby and Aaron's emails become a steady rhythm, filled with playful banter, confessions, and the comfort of routine. They share stories of family, favorite foods, embarrassing moments, and the small details that make up daily life. Ruby's openness draws Aaron out, and he begins to share more about his own family, his role as a soldier, and the challenges of deployment. Their friendship deepens, built on laughter, empathy, and the safety of distance. Each message is a small act of courage, and both begin to rely on the other in ways neither expected.
Secrets and Small Truths
As their bond strengthens, Ruby confesses she lied about having a boyfriend, a defense mechanism after a previous pen pal crossed boundaries. Aaron is understanding, and the admission only brings them closer. They discuss their living situations, family expectations, and the pressure to be more than they are. Ruby's honesty about her struggles—her health, her career, her family's chaos—invites Aaron to share his own burdens. The act of telling the truth, even in small ways, becomes a foundation for trust, and both begin to see each other as more than just pen pals.
Family, Fears, and Flaws
Ruby's family is loud, loving, and complicated, with siblings who tease and a mother who remarries often. Aaron's family is quieter, marked by distance and old wounds. They swap stories of childhood, parental expectations, and the ways family shapes them. Both struggle with feelings of inadequacy—Ruby with her career and single status, Aaron with his uncertain future and the scars of military life. Their conversations become a safe space to admit fears and flaws, and the emotional intimacy between them grows, even as they remain physically apart.
Laughter in the Dark
Jokes and playful teasing become the language of their friendship, a way to cope with stress and uncertainty. Ruby's terrible puns and Aaron's dry wit create moments of lightness, even when life is hard. They share embarrassing stories, laugh at each other's quirks, and find comfort in the absurd. Humor becomes both a shield against pain and a bridge between their worlds. Through laughter, they learn to trust each other with deeper truths, and the emotional distance between them shrinks, replaced by a sense of belonging neither has felt in a long time.
Vulnerability and Trust
When Ruby falls seriously ill, Aaron's concern is immediate and genuine. Their messages become more frequent, filled with worry, encouragement, and the kind of care that signals something more than friendship. Ruby's vulnerability—her health, her fears, her setbacks—draws Aaron in, and he responds with his own admissions of loneliness and doubt. The risk of being truly seen, flaws and all, becomes a turning point. They begin to imagine a future where their connection is not just virtual, but real. The possibility of meeting in person looms, both thrilling and terrifying.
Illness, Worry, and Waiting
As Ruby recovers, Aaron faces his own challenges—loss, trauma, and the relentless grind of deployment. Their messages become a lifeline, a way to hold on to hope in the face of uncertainty. Both struggle with the ache of absence, the longing for something tangible. The idea of meeting becomes a shared dream, but also a source of anxiety. What if the reality doesn't match the fantasy? What if the friendship can't survive the transition to real life? The waiting is both agony and anticipation, and both are forced to confront what they truly want.
New Beginnings, Old Wounds
When Aaron returns from deployment, he invites Ruby to join him and his friends at a beach house in Florida. The decision to go is fraught with fear and excitement—Ruby worries about disappointing him, about not living up to the connection they've built. Their first meeting is awkward, emotional, and electric. Old wounds—family secrets, past heartbreaks, and the scars of war—surface, threatening to pull them apart. But the courage to show up, to be present and real, becomes an act of healing for both. The beach house becomes a crucible for transformation.
Facing the Past
In the intimacy of the beach house, Ruby and Aaron are forced to confront the ghosts that haunt them. Ruby reveals the pain of her first love, the shame of past mistakes, and the fear of never being enough. Aaron shares the wounds left by his mother's abandonment, the pressure of family expectations, and the trauma of war. Their confessions are raw, sometimes painful, but met with compassion and understanding. Forgiveness—of themselves and each other—becomes possible. The act of facing the past together creates a new foundation for their relationship.
Taking Chances Together
With the past laid bare, Ruby and Aaron take tentative steps toward something more. Their friendship shifts, deepens, and becomes romantic, but not without fear. Both are wary of repeating old patterns, of losing themselves in the process. They negotiate boundaries, expectations, and the realities of distance. The decision to be together is not a fairy tale, but a choice made in the face of uncertainty. They promise to keep showing up, to keep choosing each other, even when it's hard. Love becomes an act of courage, a daily risk, and a shared adventure.
The Beach House Awakening
The days at the beach house are filled with laughter, shared meals, and the simple pleasures of being together. Ruby and Aaron discover the joy of physical closeness, the comfort of touch, and the thrill of new love. Their friends become witnesses to their happiness, and the sense of belonging deepens. The beauty of the present moment—the sunrise, the ocean, the warmth of another's hand—becomes a source of healing and hope. In each other, they find not just romance, but a home.
Confessions and Realizations
As their time together draws to a close, Ruby and Aaron confess their love, not in grand gestures, but in the small details—the breakfasts made, the jokes shared, the willingness to be vulnerable. They realize that love is not about perfection, but about acceptance and presence. The fear of loss remains, but is outweighed by the certainty of what they have found in each other. Their confessions are met with joy, relief, and the promise of more to come. Love, they discover, is in the details.
Love in the Details
Back in their separate lives, Ruby and Aaron navigate the challenges of distance, work, and family. Their love is sustained by the small things—texts, jokes, care packages, and the memory of shared moments. The ordinary becomes extraordinary in the context of their relationship. They learn that love is not just a feeling, but a practice—a series of choices, big and small, to show up for each other. The details matter, and in them, they find the strength to keep going.
Letting Go, Holding On
The pain of parting is real, but so is the hope of reunion. Ruby and Aaron say goodbye at the airport, both devastated and determined. They promise to keep loving each other, to keep choosing each other, no matter the distance. The ache of absence is tempered by the knowledge that what they have is worth waiting for. Letting go becomes an act of faith, and holding on becomes a promise for the future. Their love endures, not because it is easy, but because it is real.
Promises for Tomorrow
In the months and years that follow, Ruby and Aaron build a life together, one message, one visit, one act of kindness at a time. Their love is not perfect, but it is steadfast. They face challenges—illness, uncertainty, the demands of work and family—but meet them together. The lessons of their journey remain: honesty, vulnerability, laughter, and the courage to risk love. Their story is not just about romance, but about the power of connection, the beauty of ordinary moments, and the promise of tomorrow.
Characters
Ruby Santos
Ruby is the emotional heart of the story—a young seamstress with a big, chaotic family and a bigger capacity for love. She is funny, self-deprecating, and deeply empathetic, but struggles with insecurity and the fear of not being enough. Her letters are filled with humor and honesty, masking a vulnerability that only deepens as she opens up to Aaron. Ruby's journey is one of self-acceptance: learning to trust her instincts, to forgive her past, and to believe she is worthy of love. Her relationship with Aaron is transformative, teaching her the value of honesty, courage, and the beauty of being truly seen.
Aaron Hall
Aaron is a staff sergeant whose stoicism hides a well of pain and longing. Haunted by family abandonment, the trauma of war, and the pressure to live up to expectations, he finds solace in Ruby's letters. His humor is dry, his care understated, but his loyalty is fierce. Aaron's journey is about learning to trust, to let himself be vulnerable, and to accept love without fear. His relationship with Ruby is both a refuge and a challenge, forcing him to confront old wounds and imagine a future beyond survival. Through Ruby, he discovers hope, healing, and the possibility of happiness.
Jasmine Santos
Jasmine, Ruby's younger sister, is a competitive figure skater whose ambition and intensity both inspire and intimidate. She is the family's "baby," but her discipline and stubbornness set her apart. Jasmine's relationship with Ruby is complex—full of teasing, rivalry, and deep affection. She represents the pressure to succeed, the fear of failure, and the struggle to balance personal dreams with family expectations. Jasmine's journey mirrors Ruby's in many ways, as both learn to accept help, to forgive themselves, and to redefine what success means.
Ruby's Mother
Ruby's mother is a force of nature—loving, overbearing, and endlessly resourceful. Her multiple marriages, fierce protectiveness, and dramatic flair shape Ruby's worldview. She is both a source of comfort and frustration, embodying the contradictions of family: the desire to nurture and the need to let go. Her relationship with Ruby is a dance of boundaries, expectations, and unconditional love. Through her, Ruby learns the importance of forgiveness, resilience, and the courage to live on her own terms.
Max
Max is Aaron's best friend since childhood, a steady presence who provides comic relief and emotional grounding. He is the bridge between Aaron's past and present, offering support without judgment. Max's loyalty is unwavering, and his friendship with Aaron is a model of masculine vulnerability and care. He is also a subtle matchmaker, encouraging Aaron to take risks and open his heart to Ruby.
Des
Des is another of Aaron's close friends, a firefighter with a dry wit and a keen sense of observation. He is protective of his friends, quick to offer advice or a reality check when needed. Des's relationship with Aaron is built on mutual respect and shared history, and he becomes a confidant for both Aaron and Ruby as their relationship develops.
Brittany
Brittany is Des's girlfriend, a calming presence who offers wisdom and support to Ruby. She is perceptive, quick to notice the dynamics between Ruby and Aaron, and unafraid to offer gentle guidance. Brittany's nurturing nature provides a counterpoint to the chaos of Ruby's family, and her relationship with Des models healthy communication and partnership.
Mindy
Mindy, Max's younger sister, is a teenager navigating the challenges of growing up in a family of strong personalities. Her curiosity and bluntness often lead to awkward but honest conversations. Mindy's search for identity and acceptance mirrors Ruby's own journey, and her presence in the story highlights the importance of chosen family and the need to be seen.
Ruby's Siblings
Ruby's brothers and sisters are a constant presence—teasing, meddling, and offering both comfort and challenge. Their relationships are marked by rivalry, loyalty, and the shared history of a family that has weathered divorce, remarriage, and the struggle to make ends meet. Through them, Ruby learns the value of forgiveness, the pain of comparison, and the joy of unconditional love.
Aaron's Family
Aaron's family—his father, siblings, and estranged mother—are the source of both pain and longing. His father's emotional distance, his mother's abandonment, and the pressure to join the family business leave Aaron feeling unmoored. His siblings offer both support and complication, and the wounds of his past shape his fears about love and belonging. Through his relationship with Ruby, Aaron begins to heal these old wounds and imagine a new kind of family.
Plot Devices
Epistolary Structure
The novel's foundation is built on the exchange of letters and emails, creating an intimate, confessional space for Ruby and Aaron. This structure allows for deep character exploration, the slow reveal of secrets, and the gradual building of trust. The written word becomes both a shield and a bridge, enabling vulnerability that might be impossible face-to-face. The epistolary form also heightens anticipation, as each message is a small act of hope and risk.
Slow Burn Romance
The story's pacing is deliberately slow, mirroring the real-life progression from strangers to friends to lovers. The romance unfolds through small moments—shared jokes, confessions, acts of care—rather than grand gestures. This slow burn allows for deep emotional investment, making the eventual union feel earned and authentic. The tension of waiting, of not knowing, becomes a central engine of the narrative.
Dual Vulnerability
Both Ruby and Aaron are wounded, carrying scars from family, past relationships, and personal failures. Their willingness to be vulnerable—to admit fears, confess mistakes, and ask for help—becomes the catalyst for healing and growth. The story foregrounds the idea that love is not about perfection, but about the courage to be seen and accepted as flawed.
Humor and Playfulness
Humor is both a coping mechanism and a means of connection. Jokes, puns, and playful teasing create intimacy, defuse tension, and offer relief from the heaviness of life's challenges. Laughter becomes a language of love, a way to say "I see you" and "I care" without the risk of rejection.
Family as Both Anchor and Obstacle
The influence of family—supportive, chaotic, or absent—is a constant undercurrent. Both protagonists must navigate the expectations, wounds, and loyalties of their families, learning to define themselves on their own terms. Family is both a source of comfort and a barrier to intimacy, and the process of negotiating these ties is central to their growth.
Realism in Romance
The novel resists fairy-tale resolutions, instead portraying love as a series of choices, compromises, and acts of courage. The challenges of distance, work, and personal baggage are not magically resolved, but faced together. The story insists that love is not about finding someone perfect, but about building something real, one day at a time.
Symbolism of the Beach House
The beach house serves as a symbolic space—removed from daily life, it becomes a crucible for change. Here, Ruby and Aaron can shed old identities, confront their fears, and imagine new possibilities. The ocean, the sunrise, and the rituals of daily life become metaphors for renewal, healing, and the beauty of the present moment.
Analysis
Dear Aaron is a masterclass in the art of the slow burn, using the epistolary form to create a romance that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. At its core, the novel is about the courage to be vulnerable—to risk rejection, to tell the truth, to show up for another person even when it's hard. Ruby and Aaron's journey is not one of grand gestures or easy resolutions, but of small, daily acts of care and honesty. The story insists that love is not about perfection, but about presence: the willingness to see and be seen, to forgive and be forgiven, to laugh in the face of pain. The challenges they face—distance, family wounds, personal insecurities—are not obstacles to be overcome, but realities to be lived with and through. In a world that often prizes speed and spectacle, Dear Aaron offers a counter-narrative: that the most profound connections are built slowly, patiently, and with great care. The novel's lesson is clear—love is not a destination, but a practice, a series of choices to show up, to listen, to risk, and to hope. In the end, it is the ordinary moments—the shared jokes, the quiet confessions, the simple act of making breakfast—that become extraordinary, transforming two lonely souls into a family of their own making.
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