Before We Were Yours
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prelude Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26
Themes
All Themes Personal Identity Family Secrets Injustice and Class Divisions Child Trafficking, Heritage, and Rewriting History
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Avery Judith Stafford Rill Foss/May Weathers Crandall Trent Turner III Judy Myers Stafford Trent Turner Sr./Stevie Fern Foss/Beth Weathers Camellia Foss/Iris Weathers Lark Foss/Bonnie Weathers Gabion “Gabby” Foss/Robby Weathers Mary Anne “Queenie” Anthony B. A. “Briny” Foss Georgia Tann Ida Murphy Mrs. Pulnik Mr. Riggs Old Zede Silas Senator Wells Stafford Honeybee Stafford Darren Sevier Victoria Sevier Miss Dodd Hootsie Elliot Zuma Leslie Arnelle “Arney” McCamey Ian Jonah Allison James Sherry Christine
Symbols
All Symbols Dragonfly Bracelets
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Before We Were Yours

by

Lisa Wingate
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Elliot Character Analysis

Avery Stafford’s fiancé. Elliot and Avery grew up together and slowly became boyfriend and girlfriend as teenagers. Elliot and Avery decide to get married because it seems like the next logical step and they do love each other, but there is no real passion between them. Elliot is a busy lawyer and his mother, Bitsy, is a busybody who tries to take control of the couple’s wedding plans. Elliot discourages Avery from investigating Judy Stafford’s past and especially from sharing details of that past with anyone. Avery begins rethinking their relationship and ultimately breaks off their engagement to date Trent Turner III instead.

Elliot Quotes in Before We Were Yours

The Before We Were Yours quotes below are all either spoken by Elliot or refer to Elliot . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Personal Identity Theme Icon
).
Chapter 11 Quotes

Why haven’t Elliot and I ever come here?

The answer tastes bitter, so I don’t chew on it very long. Our schedules are always filled with other things. That’s why.

Who chooses the schedules we keep? We do, I guess.

Although, so often it seems as if there isn’t any choice. If we aren’t constantly slapping new paint on all the ramparts, the wind and the weather will sneak in and erode the accomplishments of a dozen previous generations of the family. The good life demands a lot of maintenance.

Related Characters: Avery Judith Stafford (speaker), Elliot
Personal Identity Theme Icon
Page Number: 114
Explanation and Analysis:
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Elliot Quotes in Before We Were Yours

The Before We Were Yours quotes below are all either spoken by Elliot or refer to Elliot . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Personal Identity Theme Icon
).
Chapter 11 Quotes

Why haven’t Elliot and I ever come here?

The answer tastes bitter, so I don’t chew on it very long. Our schedules are always filled with other things. That’s why.

Who chooses the schedules we keep? We do, I guess.

Although, so often it seems as if there isn’t any choice. If we aren’t constantly slapping new paint on all the ramparts, the wind and the weather will sneak in and erode the accomplishments of a dozen previous generations of the family. The good life demands a lot of maintenance.

Related Characters: Avery Judith Stafford (speaker), Elliot
Personal Identity Theme Icon
Page Number: 114
Explanation and Analysis:
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