Gabe “Roamer” Romero Character Analysis in All the Bright Places

Gabe, who goes by “Roamer,” is one of the novel’s antagonists. He’s a senior on the baseball team at Finch and Violet’s school who’s extremely popular and is dating Amanda Monk for most of the novel. Finch reveals to readers that in eighth grade, Finch and Roamer used to be best friends—Finch even confided in Roamer about his strange headaches and invited Roamer to try jumping in front of a car to stop them. Roamer told his parents and got the school involved, and at that point he began calling Finch “Theodore Freak.” So, in the present, Roamer is one of Finch’s biggest bullies. He continuously pushes Finch in the hallways, tells Finch that he should kill himself, and makes other snide comments. Finch tries to kill Roamer twice in the novel, first by holding his head under water at the river and then by choking Roamer. He places most of the blame for how other kids treat him on Roamer, since he constantly antagonizes Finch. Charlie Donahue is incensed when Roamer cries at Finch’s funeral—in Charlie’s mind, Roamer bears some responsibility for Finch’s death.

Gabe “Roamer” Romero Quotes in All the Bright Places

The All the Bright Places quotes below are all either spoken by Gabe “Roamer” Romero or refer to Gabe “Roamer” Romero . 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:

Mental Health, Stigma, and Suicide Theme Icon

I made the mistake of talking about it once. A few years ago, I asked my then good friend Gabe Romero if he could feel sound and see headaches […] and he went home and told his parents, and they told my teacher, who told the principal, who told my parents, who said to me, Is it true, Theodore? Are you telling stories to your friends? The next day it was all over school, and I was officially Theodore Freak. One year later, I grew out of my clothes because, it turns out, growing fourteen inches in a summer is easy. It’s growing out of a label that’s hard.

Related Characters: Theodore Finch (speaker), Finch’s Mom, Finch’s Dad, Gabe “Roamer” Romero

Page Number and Citation: 141

Explanation and Analysis:

“Listen, I’m the freak. I’m the weirdo. I’m the troublemaker. I start fights. I let people down. Don’t make Finch mad, whatever you do. Oh, there he goes again, in one of his moods. Moody Finch. Angry Finch. Unpredictable Finch. Crazy Finch. But I’m not a compilation of symptoms. Not a casualty of shitty parents and an even shittier chemical makeup. Not a problem. Not a diagnosis. Not an illness. Not something to be rescued. I’m a person.”

Related Characters: Theodore Finch (speaker), Violet Markey, Eleanor Markey, Finch’s Mom, Finch’s Dad, Gabe “Roamer” Romero

Page Number and Citation: 307

Explanation and Analysis:

Gabe “Roamer” Romero Character Timeline in All the Bright Places

The timeline below shows where the character Gabe “Roamer” Romero appears in All the Bright Places. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Community, Support, and Trust Theme Icon

Grief, Trauma, Purpose, and Survivorship Theme Icon

From below, Finch hears Gabe Romero—Roamer—tell Finch to “get it over with.” In response, Finch shouts a thanks to Violet for... (full context)

When class ends, Roamer—surrounded by Amanda and Ryan—blocks Finch’s way. He accuses Finch of looking at him (they’ve been... (full context)

Roamer appears, sets down an ice bucket of beer, and asks why Violet was in the... (full context)

...Goodwill. As Finch and Brenda browse the racks, Brenda tells Finch about making out with Roamer at a party over the weekend. (Though Roamer is Amanda Monk’s boyfriend, he’s also a... (full context)

Language, Meaning, and Control Theme Icon

...back down to earth. Violet is too busy talking to Ryan to acknowledge Finch, and Roamer insults Finch for good measure. (full context)

...up right behind Violet. In his new persona, he’s not afraid of Ryan Cross or Roamer. He says in his normal voice that it’s time to start wandering. Finch suggests they... (full context)

...Australian accent, plops a big rock on Violet’s desk, and gives Mr. Black an apple. Roamer mimes hanging himself, and the class finally quiets down. When Violet is done with her... (full context)

...up. She’s seething when Ryan shows up. They walk to the drive-in, find Amanda and Roamer, and climb into Roamer’s Impala. As the movie starts, Ryan, Roamer, and Amanda talk about... (full context)

When the second movie starts, Roamer and Amanda go to the front seat. Violet tries not to listen to their slurping... (full context)

...says it means you can be yourself, and fights aren’t so scary. She apologizes about Roamer. Finch says that “sorry wastes time.” It’s essential to live life like you’ll never have... (full context)

...the way to Violet’s house, Finch suggests epitaphs for people they know, like Amanda and Roamer. He asks what Violet’s epitaph would say. She says she doesn’t know, but her voice... (full context)

...ever thought jumping in front of a car would make it stop. Finch had asked Roamer to try it with him because he thought he wasn’t real and was therefore invincible.... (full context)

...he’s different. He tells himself it’s his own fault that he can’t be normal, like Roamer or Ryan. Finch stands on a chair, imagining the Asleep coming. He decides that his... (full context)

...out of the principal’s sight. But as Finch runs up the stairs, he crashes into Roamer, who then bumps into Amanda. Finch continues to run until he gets to Violet. She’s... (full context)

...the river, dresses, and starts to tell Violet what they should do next. But then, Roamer, Ryan, and another boy come down the embankment. Ryan says that they came to check... (full context)

...a Black stereotype, so he joined the chess club instead. They discuss Finch almost drowning Roamer, and Charlie asks if Finch has had sex with Violet yet. Roamer comes up to... (full context)

Later, Roamer corners Finch in the locker room once most of the other kids are gone. Roamer... (full context)

...and asks what the rock is for and what happened to Finch’s face. They discuss Roamer for a moment and then walk to class together. Finch pretends to listen and answer... (full context)

...in return, but she isn’t sure what she and Finch are. Then, Ryan says that Roamer “went after” Finch in gym, and Finch just stood there. (full context)

At lunch, Violet walks past Amanda and Roamer’s table in the cafeteria. Violet turns and asks to join Brenda, the three Brianas, and... (full context)

...picks Violet up and they go to the Arboretum. Violet asks about the fight with Roamer, but Finch says that Roamer was just being a jerk, and he pulls her into... (full context)

After gym class the next morning, Roamer says “Freak” under his breath as he passes Finch. Finch doesn’t think—he slams Roamer into... (full context)

...Violet remembers that Finch wanted to be cremated. Everyone is crying, including Amanda, Ryan, and Roamer. Violet stands next to Brenda and Charlie, and her parents are nearby. Brenda stares at... (full context)

...at the table and offers her condolences. She also says that she broke up with Roamer. Brenda says it’s too late and leaves. (full context)