All That Life Can Afford

Emily Everett

45 pages 1-hour read

Emily Everett

All That Life Can Afford

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2025

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Anna is a 22-year-old American graduate student studying British literature at Queen Mary University. Raised in a lower-middle-class Massachusetts household, she currently works multiple service jobs to afford life in London. The recent loss of her diabetic mother leaves her grieving and eager to distance herself from her difficult origins. She views the extravagant lifestyles of her wealthy tutoring clients as an appealing escape from her daily financial stress.

Key Relationships

Deceased Parent of Anna's Mother

Estranged Daughter of Anna's Father

Tutor to Pippa Wilder

Roommate of Andre

Friend of Liv

Acquaintance of Faye Wilder

Romantic Interest of Callum

Romantic Interest of Theo

Callum is a law student who frequents the South of France with his social circle. He exhibits a surprisingly grounded demeanor and shows genuine interest in literature despite his privileged status. His shifting moods keep others guessing about his true opinions regarding social class and wealth.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Anna Byrne

Friend of Faye Wilder

Friend of Theo

Friend of Tess

Nephew of Lena

Nephew of Martim

Faye is a 21-year-old woman who lives a highly glamorous life funded by her parents. She commands immense social power within her elite circle and treats outsiders with polite distance. Her expensive designer wardrobe makes her an aspirational figure for those wanting to enter high society.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Mrs. Wilder

Older Sister of Pippa Wilder

Acquaintance of Anna Byrne

Friend of Callum

Friend of Theo

Friend of Simon

Theo is a handsome member of London's elite class who embraces the privileges of his wealth. He directs immediate affection toward newcomers to his social group. His easy charm provides an alluring entry point into the glamorous world he inhabits.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Anna Byrne

Friend of Faye Wilder

Friend of Tess

Friend of Callum

Friend of Sebastian

Friend of Hamza

Supporting Characters

Andre is a university student from an East London public housing estate studying at University College London. He shares a cramped apartment with Anna and understands the intense pressure of surviving in an expensive city on a limited budget. He offers practical advice when his friends face economic hurdles.

Key Relationships

Roommate of Anna Byrne

Friend of Liv

Liv is an American graduate student studying in London. As the daughter of immigrants, she relates directly to the financial anxieties of her peers. She carries herself with a cool composure and actively encourages her friends to seize rare opportunities for advancement.

Key Relationships

Friend of Anna Byrne

Friend of Andre

Pippa is a 16-year-old high school student whose family splits time between London and the South of France. She dreams of eventually moving to New York. She remains highly earnest and deeply appreciative of academic help despite her extreme privilege.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Mrs. Wilder

Younger Sister of Faye Wilder

Student of Anna Byrne

Mrs. Wilder is the matriarch of a highly affluent family. She readily utilizes her wealth to secure advantages for her children. She routinely hosts staff and acquaintances at her luxurious international properties without worrying about the expense.

Key Relationships

Mother of Faye Wilder

Mother of Pippa Wilder

Employer of Anna Byrne

Anna's late mother suffered from diabetes and struggled to afford proper medical care in Massachusetts. She fostered her daughter's love of British literature. She frequently encouraged Anna to travel abroad before her health rapidly declined.

Key Relationships

Mother of Anna Byrne

Wife of Anna's Father

Anna's father resides in Massachusetts and experiences ongoing financial hardship. He holds deep disapproval of his daughter's impractical academic path. His relationship with Anna fractured entirely following the death of his wife.

Key Relationships

Father of Anna Byrne

Husband of Anna's Mother

Tess is a wealthy young woman who runs in elite London circles. She harbors a genuine passion for classic literature and struggles with feeling misunderstood by her peers. She finds an unexpected intellectual companion in her new acquaintances.

Key Relationships

Friend of Theo

Acquaintance of Anna Byrne

Lena is Callum's aunt who resides in Portugal. She maintains a warm, hospitable household and readily offers comfort to unexpected guests. She provides a grounding family presence for her nephew when he travels.

Key Relationships

Aunt of Callum

Wife of Martim

Martim is Callum's uncle. He lives an established life in Lisbon alongside his wife. He enjoys sharing family history and maintaining close ties with his visiting relatives.

Key Relationships

Uncle of Callum

Husband of Lena

Simon is a cast member on the reality television show Chelsea Made. He travels in the same affluent circles as the Wilder family. His minor fame adds an extra layer of glamour to his high-society group.

Key Relationships

Friend of Faye Wilder

Sebastian belongs to Theo's immediate social circle. He attends high-end parties and dinners across Highgate. He expects his peers to adhere to the casual, expensive habits of old-money society.

Key Relationships

Friend of Theo

Hamza is a fixture in London's elite young adult scene. He spends his leisure time frequenting exclusive events with his tightly knit group of wealthy peers. He rarely questions the extravagant spending norms of his friends.

Key Relationships

Friend of Theo