Pucking Wild

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of ableism, sexual content, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

Throughout Pucking Wild, Tess is described as running away from her problems—particularly her relationship with Ryan. This metaphor recurs so often that it becomes a joke among her friends and a motif in the novel, highlighting Tess’s desperation and fear in the face of Navigating Romantic Relationships After Trauma. 

For instance, after first meeting Tess, Shelby tells Ryan, “I have a feeling your Tess is a runner. She’s the kind of woman who loves you and leaves you in the same breath” (144). Even without knowing Tess well, it is clear to Shelby that Tess is avoiding something. However, as Shelby comes to know Tess better, the metaphor shifts in connotation. Rather than seeing Tess as potentially heartless, Shelby comes to view her as skittish and tries to reassure her: “Some people are good, Tess. Some people genuinely want to help. You don’t have to keep running” (292). When Tess asks how Shelby knows this, she explains that she is a psychologist who has worked with a lot of other “runners.” The metaphor also suggests the speed with which Tess plans to leave Ryan in moments of crisis.