28 Summers

Romantic infidelity is an important component of 28 Summers, as Jake’s relationship with Ursula—which culminates in marriage—means that his relationship with Mallory is adulterous. The narrative surrounding Mallory and Jake’s relationship establishes the idea that although society might believe what they’re doing is wrong, Jake and Mallory believe themselves mostly innocent because they aren’t guilty emotionally. Mallory is generally single during her trysts with Jake, although she pursues romantic relationships with other men during the rest of the year. Two of these men are single, but she finds out that a third, Bayer, is married after she becomes romantically entangled with him. Jake struggles with some feelings of guilt during his early summers with Mallory (Ursula’s characterization as emotionally distant, competitive, and self-centered helps suggest that Jake has an emotional void that his annual weekend with Mallory helps fill). The dynamic is also intended to prevent the reader from “feeling sorry” for Ursula, who seems to treat her marriage with Jake and his well-being as afterthoughts. Jake reflects that “If he were to lose his job, go bankrupt, get hit by a bus, or be diagnosed with terminal cancer while he was married to Ursula, he’d be on his own” (70).