The right to privacy takes many forms in the novel, whether this be online or in person or between strangers or lovers. As CEO of a cyber security company, Christian ensures that very little of his personal life is available for consumption. This applies to his nonexistent digital footprint and his sleek, sparsely furnished home. Despite having access to his apartment, Stella “kn[ows] maddeningly little about him. His penthouse [i]s a study in flawless design and luxury, but it contain[s] few to no personal effects” (8). Christian does not appreciate people invading his personal space or “touching [his] things without permission” (107). As a result, Christian is a walking mystery to many, including Stella, even as their romance develops. Similarly, though Stella is close with her best friends Ava, Bridget, and Jules, she also practices personal boundaries with them. She does not tell them about every aspect of her private life, including the strained relationship with her family and the existence of Maura. These boundaries highlight every individual’s right to privacy, even with intimate partners or close friends.

These boundaries are constantly overstepped over the course of the novel. Early on, Christian oversteps upon first learning of Stella’s stalker.