Maybe in Another Life

Cinnamon rolls, and particularly Hannah’s well-known and lifelong love for them, feature heavily in the book. While she finds them comforting and delightful simply based on taste, they also hold sentimental value for her, given that her father used to buy them regularly for her when she was a child. The emotional value Hannah places on cinnamon rolls comes to light when her family visits her in the US following the car accident. Before returning to London, her parents leave her with a cinnamon roll from an old family-favorite bakery. Hannah’s parents’ willingness to abide by her wishes despite their desire to stay and care for her coupled with the thoughtful parting gift enables Hannah to recognize that “I never realized how much my parents have always, always loved me” (133).

As they are a known favorite of Hannah’s, cinnamon rolls symbolize the love and affection Hannah is shown by those closest to her. When she moves back to her hometown of LA and visits the Hudsons, she is delighted to see that, despite Tina’s status as a health nut, she has made cinnamon rolls for the special occasion. Similarly, Ethan is also aware of Hannah’s cinnamon roll obsession; knowing her love for them, he makes a point to treat her to cinnamon rolls in both of the novel’s storylines.