Characters In the Likely Event Rebecca Yarros

Jeremy Covington: The Political Fiancé in In the Likely Event

Overview

Jeremy Covington is a secondary but pivotal character in Rebecca Yarros’s In the Likely Event. He is Izzy Astor’s fiancé, a polished Washington insider whose political ambitions and emotional limitations make him a foil for the novel’s hero, Nathaniel Phelan. On the surface, Jeremy offers Izzy stability, parental approval, and a conventional future. Underneath, he represents the comfortable but hollow path Izzy chooses while trying to bury her unresolved love for Nate. His arrival in Kabul forces a confrontation that breaks Izzy’s cycle of people-pleasing and propels her toward authenticity.

Plot Role and Chronological Arc

Jeremy is introduced indirectly through Izzy’s memories and then appears physically in Chapter 13 when he flies unannounced to Kabul during the August 2021 evacuation. He confronts Izzy in her hotel room, where Nate quickly places himself between them. Jeremy’s arrival triggers a critical turning point: he reveals his six-month affair, proposes an open marriage, and accuses Izzy of never loving him. Izzy returns the engagement ring, officially ending their relationship. This scene is the catalyst for Izzy’s emotional breakthrough—she admits Jeremy was right: she has never moved on from Nate. After that, Jeremy disappears from the narrative, his role complete.

Motivations and Traits

Jeremy is driven by ambition, image, and convenience. He is a career politician shaped by dynastic expectations. Evidence shows he is polished—gelled hair, Armani shoes, a Hermès tie he wears in a war zone. His primary motivation is preserving the partnership with Izzy’s family for mutual career benefit. When caught cheating, he does not apologize; he calculates a solution. He proposes an open marriage, framing it as an “alliance” to satisfy their families while both seek satisfaction elsewhere. This reveals a pragmatic, transactional view of relationships. He lacks emotional depth and fidelity, treating Izzy as a stepping-stone rather than a person.

Jeremy’s traits are shown through actions: he grabs Izzy’s arm aggressively, forcing Nate to intervene; he dismisses her feelings; he tries to spin the scandal with media manipulation. He cannot fathom Izzy rejecting him (“You aren’t telling me no. That’s not possible”), demonstrating his entitlement.

Relationships

  • With Izzy: Their engagement is a product of family pressure and timeliness. Izzy’s parents arranged their meeting after her breakup with Nate. Izzy sees Jeremy as a safe, approved choice. Jeremy sees Izzy as a political asset. Their relationship lacks passion, trust, and communication. Jeremy’s infidelity is not a surprise—it is a symptom of his emotional absence. Izzy’s sister Serena warns her not to marry him, sensing Izzy’s true heart remains with Nate.
  • With Nathaniel Phelan: Jeremy and Nate never form a relationship; they are adversaries. Nate calls Jeremy “Dickface.” Their first meeting results in Nate pinning Jeremy to a wall for grabbing Izzy. Jeremy is jealous of Nate’s place in Izzy’s heart and tries to use that jealousy to bargain an open marriage.
  • With Izzy’s Family: Jeremy is the son Izzy’s parents want—connected, ambitious, respectable. He represents the approval Izzy has long craved but never received fully. Her father’s political maneuvering likely aligns with Jeremy’s career.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Flying to Kabul unannounced – Jeremy hopes to win Izzy back and salvage their engagement. Instead, his presence forces an honest confrontation. He admits cheating but frames it as Izzy’s fault because she never loved him. The consequence: Izzy ends the relationship, marking her first truly autonomous decision.

  2. Proposing an open marriage – This reveals his true priorities: image over intimacy. The proposal is the final nail in their relationship coffin. Izzy realizes he does not value exclusivity or love. Consequence: She returns the ring and gains clarity about her own feelings.

  3. Not fighting for her after the breakup – Jeremy accepts the end with a threat (“You’ll regret this”) but does not pursue genuine reconciliation. His passive exit confirms he values convenience over commitment.

Theme/Symbol Connections

Jeremy embodies the theme of love versus duty. He is the path of duty—arranged, acceptable, empty. His character illustrates the danger of settling for a life that looks right on paper but lacks emotional truth. He is a symbol of Izzy’s internal conflict: the safe political marriage versus the risky, passionate connection with Nate. For deeper exploration, see the analysis of fate versus timing and love versus duty.

Jeremy also connects to communication and miscommunication. His proposal of an open marriage is a grotesque misreading of Izzy’s needs. He communicates in political spin, not honest emotion, contrasting with Nate’s raw but flawed honesty. See communication and miscommunication.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why did Izzy agree to marry Jeremy in the first place?

Izzy accepted Jeremy’s proposal because her parents orchestrated it. She was trying to earn their approval and believed she could grow to love him over time. She settled for a comfortable alliance after Nate left her in New York.

2. Did Jeremy really love Izzy?

The novel suggests Jeremy’s love was conditional and self-serving. He loved what Izzy could do for his career and social standing. When confronted, he prioritizes a political arrangement over a genuine relationship.

3. What was Jeremy’s reaction to being caught cheating?

He deflects blame onto Izzy, claiming her lingering feelings for Nate drove him to seek affection elsewhere. He then offers an open marriage as a solution, showing he does not understand why monogamy matters to her.

4. How does Jeremy’s character affect the main couple’s arc?

Jeremy’s presence in Kabul forces Izzy to choose between comfort and authenticity. Her rejection of him clears the emotional path for her eventual reunion with Nate. Without Jeremy, Izzy might have returned to the US still engaged, delaying her growth.

5. Could Jeremy be considered a villain?

He is more antagonist than villain. He is not malicious but self-absorbed and oblivious. His actions hurt Izzy, but the novel treats him as a symptom of the political world she must leave behind. He is a foil, not a true obstacle.

For more interpretations and discussion, see the ending explained and questions and answers pages.