Halle is a bookish college junior at the University of California, Maple Hills. As the eldest daughter in her family, she habitually puts the needs of her relatives and her boyfriend ahead of her own. Following her breakup, she decides to prioritize herself by taking a job at The Huntington Hotel, running a romance book club at a local store, and entering a novel-writing competition. She lacks the dating experience needed to write her romance story authentically, leading her to accept a unique tutoring arrangement with a local hockey player.

Henry is a junior and the newly appointed captain of the Maple Hills hockey team, a role that causes him severe anxiety regarding his athletic and academic responsibilities. He struggles significantly with Professor Thornton's class and dislikes reading, preferring to express himself through visual art and painting. He is highly sensitive to loud environments and deeply observant of the people around him.

Will is a hockey player attending school in San Diego and Halle's childhood neighbor from Arizona. He relies on Halle to accommodate his schedule and interests, expressing frustration over her physical boundaries. He expects total devotion without returning any support for her personal goals.

Campbell, who frequently goes by Cami, is a student at Maple Hills and an employee at the local hotel. She instantly connects with Halle over their shared experiences with recent breakups, quickly becoming one of Halle's first independent friends on campus.

Gigi is Halle's younger stepsister who has ADHD and relies heavily on Halle for tutoring. She struggles to manage her academic workload alone and often leans on her older sister to mediate conflicts at home.

Neil is the demanding coach of the Maple Hills hockey team. He expects his captain to maintain perfect grades and set an impeccable behavioral standard for the rest of the roster, placing immense pressure on his players.

Nate is the former captain of the Maple Hills hockey team who has since graduated. He maintains contact with Henry, serving as a sounding board and offering advice when Henry feels overwhelmed by his new responsibilities.

Russ is one of Henry's roommates and a fellow hockey player at Maple Hills. He acts as a quiet, supportive friend who frequently encourages Henry to act on his feelings and prioritize his well-being.

Aurora is a student at Maple Hills who frequently hangs out at the hockey house. She helps introduce Henry to Halle's book club space and provides a welcoming presence in their friend group.

Anastasia is a close friend of Henry and Nate's partner. She is highly observant of social dynamics and pushes Henry to communicate honestly about his developing feelings.

Grayson is Halle's older brother who lives on the East Coast. He avoids taking on household responsibilities, leaving the burden of managing the family entirely to his younger sister.

Halle's mother is a demanding figure who relies heavily on her eldest daughter to manage the household and family relationships. She frequently guilt-trips Halle about returning home for holidays and expects her to fix any family disputes.

Paul is Halle's stepfather and Gigi's biological father. He serves as a background presence in Halle's stressful family dynamic.

Maria is one of Henry's mothers and a medical doctor. She provides a stable, unconditionally supportive home environment that allows her son to express his anxieties without fear of judgment.

Yasmine is Henry's other mother and also a medical doctor. Together with Maria, she ensures Henry never feels pressured or inadequate regarding his academic or athletic choices.

Inayah owns Enchanted, the local bookstore where Halle hosts her meetings. She informs Halle about the romance novel writing competition that sparks Halle's creative ambitions.