Aria is an 18-year-old recent high school graduate with a scientific mind and a burgeoning interest in art. After a classmate distributes nonconsensual photos of her, she is sent to spend the summer with her grandmother in Woodacre, California, instead of vacationing with her friends. Amid the vibrant California community, she connects with an older group of friends and begins to question her sexuality.

Joan is Aria's paternal grandmother, an accomplished multimedia artist known for her abstract paintings and photography. She lives independently in a rural California cottage following the death of her husband. Joan provides a non-judgmental, creative environment where Aria feels safe to explore new ideas and feelings.

Steph is a gardener in her early twenties who works at a local plant nursery and tends to Joan's yard. She is a talented musician who abandoned her formal education due to financial burdens. Masculine-presenting and thoughtful, she introduces Aria to her close-knit friend group and sparks a profound shift in Aria's self-discovery.

Matthew is Aria's father, a college professor and moderately famous novelist from Massachusetts. He acts as Aria's primary guardian due to his ex-wife's international travel schedule. He sends Aria to California hoping to shield her from hometown gossip while he attends a summer writers' retreat.

Alexis is Aria's mother, a successful opera singer whose career requires constant international travel. Her intense focus on her profession often leaves Aria feeling like a secondary priority. She can be highly critical of Aria's choices but actively attempts to bridge the gap between them during a summer layover in San Francisco.

Tasha is Aria's longtime best friend from Massachusetts. She comes from a wealthy family and originally planned to host Aria in Martha's Vineyard for the summer. Despite the physical distance, the two share a tight bond, offering each other support as they experience their own respective summer dramas.

Lisa is Steph's long-term girlfriend and works as a manager at a local store. She provided a home for Steph when Steph was kicked out by her parents. Lisa is fiercely protective of her relationship and quickly senses underlying tension when Aria enters their social circle.

Mel is a core member of the California friend group that takes Aria under its wing. Welcoming and open, Mel introduces Aria to the local community, explains the dynamics of their tight-knit circle, and invites Aria to numerous social events.

Haley is a friend of Aria and Tasha back in Massachusetts. She hosts the party that upends Aria's life and occasionally reaches out to Aria over the summer. She is deeply concerned with societal expectations and struggles with her own identity.

Jacob is a high school classmate who takes and shares nonconsensual photos of Aria. His complete lack of accountability for his actions contrasts sharply with the social fallout Aria faces, serving as the catalyst for her summer in California.

Russ is Joan's late husband and Aria's grandfather. He was an astronomy professor whose academic materials and research notes still populate Joan's home, deeply influencing both Joan's art and Aria's scientific mindset.

Roxy is Mel's polyamorous partner and a musician in the band Madchen. She continually encourages her former bandmate, Steph, to return to the stage and perform with them.

Tammy is Matthew's sister and Joan's daughter, living in Pasadena. She is practical and responsive, traveling quickly to Northern California to assist with family logistics when needed.

Lily is an older, distant relative of Alexis who worked as a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Lab. Her life story provides Aria with a meaningful connection to both her Chinese heritage and the historical LGBTQ+ community.

Kath is Lily Hu's long-time partner. Their relationship demonstrates to Aria that older generations of her family successfully built lasting queer relationships.

Analemma is Joan's loyal pet dog, named after a scientific term for the sun's path. She provides quiet comfort and routine to the family in California.