Between Sisters

Kristin Hannah

Between Sisters

Kristin Hannah
54 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 2003

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Character List

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

Major Characters

Meghann (Meg) Dontess is a 42-year-old family law attorney living in an expensive condo in Seattle. She is financially successful but deeply lonely, masking her unhappiness with a demanding work schedule and fleeting encounters. She harbors significant unresolved guilt regarding her decision to abandon her younger sister during their childhood.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Eliana Sullivan

Estranged from Sam

Aunt of Ali

Romantic Interest of Joe Wyatt

Patient of Harriet Bloom

Best Friend of Elizabeth

Claire is a 35-year-old single mother who helps run her father's resort in Hayden, Washington. She dropped out of college years ago but has found peace and stability in her rural community. While she deeply loves her daughter and father, she occasionally wonders if she is missing out on romantic love and independence.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Sam

Mother of Ali

Romantic Interest of Bobby Jack Austin

Friend of Gina

Daughter of Eliana Sullivan

Joe is a 43-year-old widower who has spent three years living a nomadic lifestyle in the wilderness. Grieving the loss of his wife to illness, he carries immense guilt and fears returning to his hometown of Hayden. He struggles to figure out how to live without his wife and whether his community will accept him back.

Key Relationships

Widower of Diana

Brother of Gina

Romantic Interest of Meghann (Meg) Dontess

Supporting Characters

Sam is Claire's father and the owner of the River's Edge Resort. He welcomed Claire into his life after her mother abandoned her and has since provided a stable, loving home. He is a steady fixture in his family's life, dedicated to his daughter and granddaughter.

Key Relationships

Grandfather of Ali

Estranged from Meghann (Meg) Dontess

Ex-Husband of Eliana Sullivan

Ali is Claire's energetic five-year-old daughter. Raised by her single mother and grandfather in Hayden, she is a vibrant and cheerful child who brings light and purpose to her family's daily life.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Claire Cavanaugh

Granddaughter of Sam

Bobby Jack is a handsome and charismatic singer-songwriter performing in the Lake Chelan area. He immediately notices Claire in the audience and pursues her, sparking a whirlwind romance that forces Claire to rethink her independent life.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Claire Cavanaugh

Eliana, often referred to as Mama, is a former actress known for her role on a science fiction television show. She prioritized her career and romantic pursuits over her children, eventually abandoning Meg and Claire entirely to film a movie.

Key Relationships

Ex-Wife of Sam

Gina is one of Claire's best friends and part of a tight-knit group known as the Bluesers. Currently going through a difficult divorce, she provides a contrasting perspective on romance while fiercely supporting Claire's pursuit of happiness.

Key Relationships

Sister of Joe Wyatt

Harriet is Meg's therapist of four years. She is perceptive and persistent, continually challenging Meg to look beyond her career and confront the childhood traumas that fuel her current loneliness.

Key Relationships

Elizabeth is Meg's best friend who lives in New York. She provides a listening ear and emotional support from across the country, serving as Meg's primary confidant outside of therapy.

Key Relationships

Diana is Joe's deceased wife. Her tragic death following a severe illness upended Joe's life, driving him to wander the wilderness in grief. Her memory heavily influences Joe's reluctance to reenter society.

Key Relationships

Late Wife of Joe Wyatt