There's a lot of love going around in Where Things Come Back—brotherly love, familial love, romantic love, and even friend love (or bromance, if you will). Cullen may be watching his life fall apart over the summer, but that doesn't mean he's not surrounded by people who care about him; his mom, dad, and aunt all absolutely love and care for both him and Gabriel. On top of that, he's got the best friend ever in Lucas, who comes around constantly to make sure that Cullen and his family are looked after. And even though what he has with Ada doesn't work out, at least he has the chance to experience romantic love during that tumultuous summer.
Questions About Love
- Do you think that Cullen is really in love with Ada? Why or why not?
- Why do you think Cabot and Alma's marriage ends up failing?
- What's the deal with Cullen and his dad? Why aren't they getting along?
Chew on This
Cullen's love for his brother—and the hope that they'll find Gabriel—is what keeps him going even when everything in his life has become terrible.
Even though Cabot thinks that he loves Alma, he actually only loves himself and the possibility of his own greatness.