The relationship between Amy and Nick, for example, demonstrates how both a woman and a man try to live up to certain standards in order to form a cohesive relationship. This was demonstrated when Amy comments on Nick's habits, "[...] replaces a pipe under our sink and repaints all the rooms we painted before that we didn't like" (83). It is noteworthy that Amy, the fake diary Amy, assigns Nick the tasks that a stereotypical man does around the house. Amy, the fake diary Amy, also presents herself as a fussy housewife (85). Amy, through her imaginary diary, paints a picture of her and Nick as a stereotypical couple doing stereotypical things. This argument is strengthened when Amy says, “Let's pretend together to be happy, carefree, and in love” (409). This quote illustrates that there are certain expectations of couples that must be met for society to consider the couple happy. Just as individuals have roles as males and females, males and females have roles to form a couple. This is also seen through Rand and Marybeth, Amy's parents. Rand and Marybeth are the emblem of a perfect marriage and the exact opposite of Nick's parents, who divorce while Nick is still young. The novel comments on Nick's parents by saying that Nick's mother, while married to his father, always did the housekeeping, housekeeping, and caretaking. Nick's father was the head of the family (144-145). These roles are traditional but the relationship has fallen apart. If this is contrasted with Rand and Marybeth's relationship, a successful marriage, it is important to note that Rand and Marybeth do not fit traditional roles. Rand was characterized as sensitive, and Marybeth earned as much money as Rand (147-155). Overall, Flynn highlights various types of relationships: some traditional, some not; these relationships further emphasize or deviate from typical male and female roles