The Limitations of Public Figures

Through Alex and Henry's romance, the author illustrates the limitations that public figures like them face, as they are unable initially to pursue their relationship as they would like and are instead forced into a facade of a friendship to maintain their carefully curated public personas. While some of them revel in their fame and public spotlight to some extent, others shrink in the spotlight, preferring instead the privacy that is not actually afforded to them. As part of the White House Trio, Alex is initially amenable to the spotlight the position affords him, since he is a darling of the media and is generally able to manipulate the coverage that surrounds him. Meanwhile, Henry generally depicts a stoic demeanor that is carefully managed by the press team of the Royal Family.

When the novel begins, Alex is generally oblivious to the...