At first I’d chalked it up to the stress about the new baby, but as time has worn on, my sister’s seemed more distant rather than closer. We’re fundamentally out of sync in a way I can’t seem to name, and not even my dream mattress and a cloud of diffused lavender oil are enough to keep me from lying awake, turning over our last few conversations like I’m looking for faint cracks.
-- Nora (chapter 1)

Importance: This quote establishes how the relationship between Nora and Libby has only recently weakened, leading to one of the main conflicts of the novel. It is clear that both sisters care for each other. This is not an inherently strained relationship, nor are they struggling to get along. However, Nora recognizes that Libby is pulling further away, and since caring for Libby is one of Nora’s greatest goals in life, she...