A privileged, charismatic man raised in a wealthy Florida household before attending a New Hampshire prep school. With his unconventional good looks and magnetic, happy-go-lucky attitude, Lotto enjoys a carefree youth that eventually brings him to New York City. He struggles to establish himself as an actor before finding rapid success as a playwright. Because he operates on idealism rather than realism, he relies heavily on the women in his life to manage his daily upkeep and professional affairs.

A tall, blonde woman with a difficult childhood split between Europe and Pennsylvania. She adopts a cheerful, supportive facade to match public expectations of a playwright's wife, though she is intensely analytical and fiercely protective of her marriage. Having financed her college education through a secretive arrangement with an older gallery owner, Mathilde works diligently behind the scenes to cultivate her husband's career while managing a heavily guarded inner life.

Lotto’s pragmatic best friend from their days at a New Hampshire prep school. Characterized by his blunt demeanor and personal wealth, Chollie frequently audits college classes while living illegally in the dorms. He values money and realistic thinking over romance, but remains fiercely protective of Lotto, making him highly suspicious of others entering his best friend's orbit.

Lotto’s mother, who relocated to Florida to chase stardom before marrying the founder of Hamlin Springs. Her fair complexion and voluptuous curves initially brought her attention, but she eventually develops severe agoraphobia and isolates herself in her estate. Deeply religious and fiercely protective, her love for Lotto borders on co-dependency, driving a permanent wedge between her and her daughter-in-law.

Lotto’s aunt and Gawain's sister. Following the loss of her parents, she relies on her brother's success in the water-bottling industry but eventually becomes the emotional glue for the extended Satterwhite family. She frequently steps in to mediate disputes and offers practical assistance to her relatives.

Lotto’s younger sister, who grows from a precocious child into a stable, grounded adult. With a penchant for quirky tattoos and a restless energy similar to her brother's, she serves as a stabilizing force within her chaotic family. She frequently cares for her agoraphobic mother and protects her relatives from their own worst impulses.

A 26-year-old up-and-coming composer raised on a remote island near Nova Scotia. Characterized by his red hair and half-Native heritage, he approaches music with a trance-like intensity. Articulate and sardonic, he enters a volatile, isolated creative bubble with Lotto at a New England artist's colony.

Chollie’s twin sister, a gifted student who grows bored with her predictable life and adopts a punk-rock rebellion during her teenage years. Her impulsive choices and desire to escape lead her into complicated, life-altering situations during her youth.

Lotto’s father and a self-made businessman who founded the highly successful Hamlin Springs water-bottling company. He establishes his fortune initially to support his sister Sallie, but directs his dedication toward his wife and children, providing Lotto with an incredibly affluent upbringing.

An older gallery owner in New York City who acts as a cultural mentor to a young Mathilde. Sophisticated and calculating, he enters into a strict transactional arrangement with her, paying for her college education in exchange for her weekend time. He eventually hires her as his protégé at the gallery.

A handsome young man who works on theatrical revivals of plays. He harbors a deep admiration for playwrights and easily charms the people he meets with his confident demeanor and acting skills.

Rachel’s long-term partner and eventual wife. She shares an enduring, steady relationship with Rachel that begins during their teenage years, eventually becoming the birth mother to their children and providing a grounding presence.

Mathilde’s guardian who lives in a converted farmhouse in Pennsylvania Dutch country. Harboring secrets regarding his potentially illicit business ventures, he believes in fostering strict independence in his ward, providing only the bare essentials of care and education.

A failed actress turned investigator who previously took a workshop hosted by Lotto. She surprises her clients with her sassy demeanor and a large dolphin tattoo, utilizing her skills with disguises to blur the line between professional work and casual flirtation.

A Scottish-raised neighbor living upstairs from Lotto and Mathilde's first apartment. Having faced her own physical and emotional trials, she offers practical, non-judgmental assistance to the young couple during moments of crisis.

A frugal Parisian woman who takes in her granddaughter. She resorts to hosting men to maintain her sparse lifestyle, forcing her granddaughter to sleep in a closet and providing a severely neglectful environment that profoundly impacts the child's development.