Yara is a Palestinian American woman living in North Carolina who works as a part-time art professor and graphic designer at Pinewood College. Raised in a conservative Arab American community in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, she frequently feels caught between traditional cultural expectations and modern American values. She expresses her creativity through cooking traditional Palestinian dishes and painting, all while managing a demanding marriage and confronting racist microaggressions at work.

Fadi is Yara's husband and a small business owner who strongly identifies as the primary provider for his family. He immerses himself in his work and prefers to spend his free time watching American television shows, actively avoiding emotional discussions. He views Yara primarily through her functions as a wife and mother, routinely dismissing her professional aspirations and mental health concerns.

Silas is a culinary arts professor at Pinewood College who becomes an unlikely confidant for Yara. Raised in a traditional Southern family, he experienced isolation as a gay man before eventually coming out and repairing his relationship with his mother. He bonds with Yara over their shared experiences as cultural outsiders and their deep appreciation for traditional family recipes.

Meriem is Yara's mother. She moved from Palestine to Brooklyn after marrying, leaving behind her home and her family. Believing herself cursed by the evil eye for leaving her homeland, she suffered from severe, untreated mental health issues that manifested as emotional volatility. Her anger and despair deeply shaped Yara's childhood and continue to cast a shadow over her adult life.

Nadia is Fadi's mother and Yara's mother-in-law. Having spent part of her life in a refugee camp after being displaced from Palestine, she holds tightly to conservative traditions in her North Carolina community. She frequently inspects Yara's home for flaws and openly expresses disappointment with her daughter-in-law's career and modern lifestyle.

Hasan is Fadi's father and Nadia's husband. He holds high expectations for his son, originally wanting Fadi to take over the family gas station. This disagreement over career paths creates a lingering strain in their family dynamics.

Teta is Yara's grandmother and Meriem's mother. Forcibly displaced from her home in Jaffa during the 1948 Nakba, she raised her family in a refugee camp while holding onto the key to her lost home. She practices traditional coffee ground reading and passes down the hamsa charm that Yara's family uses for protection.

Amanda is a white colleague of Yara's at Pinewood College who teaches women's and gender studies. She frequently subjects Yara to bigoted remarks masked as cultural curiosity. Assuming Yara is oppressed because of her background, Amanda feels entitled to voice her prejudices openly during faculty meetings.

Michelle is a white faculty member at Pinewood College. She associates closely with Amanda and participates in casual workplace conversations that rely on stereotypes. Her presence reinforces the exclusionary social dynamics among the college staff.

Jonathan is the department chair at Pinewood College. He critiques Yara for including too many artists of color in her curriculum, urging her to focus on canonical European figures. When Yara reacts to workplace racism, he penalizes her by suspending her teaching duties and mandating mental health counseling.

William is an on-campus therapist assigned to Yara by her department chair. He attempts to diagnose Yara with depression and suggests medication based on a standard intake questionnaire. His reliance on clinical frameworks fails to bridge the cultural gap, making Yara defensive during their sessions.

Esther is a therapist who specializes in whole-person treatment. She provides a welcoming environment that incorporates holistic methods and cultural awareness. She introduces Yara to the concept of ancestral trauma, helping her trace the psychological impact of her family's historical displacement.

Josephine is Silas's mother. Though she and Silas experienced past friction regarding his sexuality, they have successfully repaired their familial bond. She extends warm Southern hospitality to Yara and enthusiastically purchases one of her paintings.

Ramy is Fadi's business partner. He shares a visibly affectionate relationship with his wife, which highlights the emotional distance in Yara and Fadi's marriage. He closely observes the operations of his and Fadi's shared business.

Mira is Yara and Fadi's daughter. She brings an exuberant and enthusiastic energy to the household. She enjoys spending time with her mother, particularly during school breaks and playground visits.

Jude is Yara and Fadi's daughter. She possesses a sensitive and quiet demeanor, closely observing the emotional atmosphere at home. Her inarticulate sadness makes Yara acutely aware of the potential for passing down generational trauma.