Avi is an artistic, introverted student who struggles to fit in after relocating with his mother. Following his father's death ten years ago, he shares a close bond with his mother, Hannah. He is thrust into a difficult new living situation when she becomes engaged to Tom Harbor, forcing Avi to live with his openly hostile new stepbrother. Later attending Boston College, Avi uses his creativity and resourcefulness to manage sudden financial struggles, eventually finding confidence through online content creation.

Kyran is a disciplined, popular star quarterback whose polished public image hides deep anxiety and resentment. Unhappy following his parents' divorce, he maintains a strict need for order and control to cope with an unacknowledged childhood trauma. He reacts to his father's new relationship with intense hostility, projecting much of his anger onto his new stepbrother. At Boston College, he desperately tries to maintain his perfect athlete persona while dealing with financial collapse.

Frankie is a bold, pragmatic, and sexually liberated student who quickly becomes Avi's closest confidante. She operates a lucrative online content creation business and approaches digital work with professional pragmatism. Her unapologetic confidence provides a sharp contrast to the anxiety and shame experienced by others. She acts as a crucial guide for Avi when he faces financial ruin.

Tom is Kyran's father, a strict, Irish Catholic man heavily invested in achievement and maintaining his family's public image. While he presents a warm and happy demeanor to his new partner, Hannah, his relationship with his own son is rigid and emotionally distant. He acts as the primary enforcer of the Harbor family's closely guarded secrets, often prioritizing reputation over emotional honesty.

Hannah is Avi's warm, affectionate, and communicative mother. Having raised Avi largely on her own since the death of his father, she provides a foundation of unconditional love. Her entry into a relationship with Tom introduces her to the dysfunctional Harbor family dynamic, though she consistently prioritizes honesty over the mere appearance of stability.

Bridget is Kyran's estranged older sister who moved to California to escape their toxic family environment. Her physical absence is deeply felt by Kyran, and she carries significant guilt over leaving her younger brother behind. She remembers Kyran as a carefree child before family secrets fundamentally changed his personality.

Guty is Kyran's roommate, teammate, and closest friend within the Boston College football program. Grounded in the ordinary aspects of college life, he provides Kyran with a loyal connection outside the immediate conflicts of his family. He remains a steady presence in the hyper-masculine world of college athletics.

Becca is Kyran's high school girlfriend. While she appears perfect for him on paper and has his father's approval, Kyran feels emotionally detached from the relationship. She eventually acts on her own desires, providing Kyran with a convenient exit from their pairing.

Ash is a Boston College student who later becomes Avi's roommate. He inadvertently becomes tangled in the ongoing rivalry and tension between Avi and Kyran.

Lexi is a college cheerleader who serves as a casual romantic interest for Kyran. Kyran often uses his public interactions with her as a performative way to assert his heterosexual athlete persona to the rest of the school.

Zeb is one of Avi's friends at Boston College. He is supportive but inadvertently brings the collapsing wall between Avi's private and public lives to the forefront when he uncovers online rumors circulating the campus.

Dean Perkins is a college administrator at Boston College. He represents the institutional authority threatening to expose the students' private lives when he investigates rumors of explicit content produced on campus.