Content Warning: This section of the guide includes references to sexual harassment and child abandonment.

By a Thread is a romantic comedy that embraces the workplace romance plot to explore the complications of balancing one’s personal and professional responsibilities. When Ally Morales and Dominic Russo first begin working together at Label, they are antagonistic. Although neither likes the other, each has a personal stake in working at Label, which compels them to maintain professionalism despite their discomfort: Ally needs the job to pay for her dad’s care, renovate his house, and support herself, while Dominic is determined to “[p]rotect [his family’s] name at all costs” (29). However, the more attracted they become to one another, the more difficult it is for them to manage their duties without giving in to their desires. Ally and Dominic’s dynamic is the novel’s primary conflict, underscoring the social complexities of workplace spheres. Ultimately, they achieve balance between their personal and professional lives by embracing open communication with each other, their bosses, and their colleagues.

Ally’s storyline further comments on the challenge of establishing work-life balance. In Ally’s chapters, Score highlights the difficulty of finding time for oneself while attempting to make ends meet, care for family, and pursue one’s dreams.