Vivian is a successful 51-year-old novelist and mother of three who writes popular beach reads set in Nantucket. She has built a wealthy, self-made life for her family following a painful divorce from her ex-husband. After dying in a sudden hit-and-run, she ascends to the "Beyond," where she anxiously watches over her children as they struggle to cope with her passing.

Willa is Vivi's 24-year-old eldest daughter. She is newly pregnant after suffering three previous miscarriages, a secret she shared only with her mother before Vivi's death. Willa presents a calm, responsible front to her family, trying to maintain stability and organize affairs while processing her own intense grief.

Carson is Vivi's 21-year-old middle child. She works as a bartender at a local establishment called the Oystercatcher. Since her parents' divorce a decade ago, she has struggled with rebellious tendencies, turning increasingly to drugs and alcohol to cope with her emotional pain and her mother's sudden death.

Leo is Vivi's 18-year-old son who has just graduated high school. He is a quiet, well-liked teenager who feels entirely unmoored by his mother's death. His grief is compounded by intense isolation, as he has recently experienced a severe falling out with his childhood best friend and is struggling with his romantic relationships.

Martha is an afterlife guide assigned to help Vivi transition into the "Beyond." She is a pragmatic, observant figure who consistently wears elegant, designer Hermès scarves. She establishes the rules of the afterlife for Vivi, granting her a 75-day viewing window and three opportunities to physically intervene in events on Earth.

JP is Vivi's ex-husband and the father of Willa, Carson, and Leo. Ten years prior, he had an affair with his employee, leading to his divorce from Vivi. He comes from a wealthy, old-money Nantucket family but relies on Vivi's financial success for support, causing tension in his current relationship.

Cruz is Leo's childhood best friend. Raised by a single father, Cruz grew up practically as a member of Vivi's household. He is the person who finds Vivi's body after the hit-and-run, which, combined with him running a stop sign nearby, makes him the primary suspect in the police investigation.

Known universally as "The Chief," Ed Kapenash oversees the Nantucket police department. He takes charge of investigating Vivi's hit-and-run death. He faces mounting frustration as physical evidence continually goes missing and suspects' stories fail to align.

Marissa is Leo's girlfriend. She is highly insecure about her relationship, particularly concerning Leo's close bond with Cruz. When the investigation begins, she experiences a severe emotional reaction that leads to the destruction of her personal vehicle.

Savannah is Vivi's oldest friend and the godmother to her three children. Coming from a wealthy, established Nantucket family, Savannah is highly capable and immediately takes charge of the logistics following Vivi's death, using her club memberships to honor her late friend.

Amy is JP's girlfriend, who began an affair with him ten years ago while working at his wine shop. She finally moved in with him three years ago but remains deeply insecure about Vivi's lingering presence in JP's life and the financial drain of his alimony payments.

Rip is Willa's husband and childhood sweetheart. He works for an insurance company, which makes him useful for handling the logistical and bureaucratic aspects of the police investigation and family claims following his mother-in-law's death.

Brett is Vivi's high school boyfriend who reconnects with the family after learning of her death. Now a hotel manager, he was once a promising musician who wrote a song titled "Golden Girl" for Vivi, an experience that directly mirrors the plot of her final, unreleased novel.

Dennis is Vivi's boyfriend at the time of her death. He is deeply affected by the sudden tragedy and struggles to maintain his composure around JP, whom he resents for mistreating Vivi in the past.

Zach is Pamela's much older husband. Despite his marriage and familial connections to the Bonhams, he engages in a secretive, passionate affair that threatens to upend his established life in Nantucket.

Pamela is Rip's sister and Zach's wife. She has a history of being judgmental toward Willa, but she seeks her sister-in-law out for support when she begins to suspect her husband is being unfaithful.

Joe is Cruz's hardworking father who runs a local sandwich shop called Nickel. He raised Cruz as a single father after his wife died of cancer. He fiercely defends his son's innocence against police suspicion and community gossip.

Lucinda is JP's aristocratic mother. Her family has belonged to the exclusive Field and Oar Club since the 1940s. She actively discouraged Vivi's membership after the divorce and maintains a snobbish attitude toward those she deems beneath her station.

Alexis is Marissa's sister. She works at the front desk of the Nantucket Police Department, giving her early access to sensitive information regarding the hit-and-run investigation.

Lorna is Amy's best friend and confidante. She offers advice regarding Amy's relationship with JP and frequently accompanies her for drinks when Amy needs to vent her frustrations.

Marshall is a bartender at the Field and Oar Club. He notices Carson's destructive behavior but remains consistently kind and interested in her, attempting to ask her out when he visits her workplace on his night off.

Peter is a local teenager and classmate who captures a sensitive moment at a party. By sending the photograph to specific people, he inadvertently creates severe conflict among the local youth.