Character Analysis
A freshman at the university, Joel is pretty much Good Will Hunting. His father died when he was young, so his mother works her butt off to provide for Joel, and he in turn works his butt off to pay his way through college.
Alice and Joel start a courtship as she is trying to stay clean post-Colorado debacle. Alice's dad loves him right off the bat, and Joel appreciates him as a replacement father-figure, so Joel seems like a really good match. Even when Alice gets drugged and locked away, Joel manages to be supportive, dutifully writing her letters detailing his undying affections. If Alice hadn't died tragically at the end of the book, we like to think her and Joel could've had a happy ending.