45 pages • 1-hour read
Emily EverettA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Romantic Interest of Anna Byrne
Friend of Faye Wilder
Friend of Tess
Friend of Callum
Friend of Sebastian
Friend of Hamza
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Friend of Theo