Alice is a determined and optimistic journalist working for *The Scratch* in Los Angeles. Growing up homeschooled by eccentric journalist parents, she possesses a deep passion for finding the emotional truth behind a story. She views the opportunity to write Margaret's biography as a chance to prove her professional worth, especially to her skeptical mother. Her cheerful exterior masks lingering insecurities and grief over her father's recent death.

Hayden is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and *Rolling Stone* reporter known for his rigid professionalism and emotional distance. Having grown up in the public eye due to his father's political career in Indiana, he fiercely protects his privacy and keeps others at arm's length. He initially presents a grumpy, unyielding exterior to Alice's sunny disposition, preferring to maintain strict boundaries while competing for the job.

Margaret is an 87-year-old reclusive heiress to a massive media empire. Once known as the "Tabloid Princess" during Hollywood's golden age, she vanished from the public eye decades ago following immense personal tragedy. She now spends her days creating mosaic art from sea glass and beach trash. By offering a one-month trial period to two competing journalists, she breaks her long silence to reclaim her family's narrative.

Angie is Alice's mother, a pragmatic woman who copes with her husband's death by throwing herself into gardening and maintaining emotional distance. She views Alice's career in lifestyle journalism with skepticism, preferring a more serious vocation. Her inability to express emotional warmth creates an unspoken barrier between her and her daughter.

Cosmo is a famous rock musician who captured the hearts of fans worldwide, including a young Margaret and Laura. Coming from a humble background, he struggled with the intense media scrutiny that accompanied his marriage to the "Tabloid Princess." His tragic death remains a focal point of public fascination and Margaret's personal grief.

Laura is Margaret's sister, a woman who fundamentally disliked the paparazzi and the suffocating attention of the Ives family legacy. Her desire to escape the pressure of her inheritance and the family's media empire led her down dangerous paths, making her a crucial figure in Margaret's understanding of love and guilt.

Cecil is an older, genial local on Little Crescent Island who quickly offers his assistance to Alice. He frequents the Fish Bowl restaurant and possesses an unusually deep knowledge of the island's residents, maintaining a quiet but observant presence in the small community.

Jodi is Margaret's protective niece and caretaker on Little Crescent Island. She handles the practical aspects of Margaret's isolated life, from grocery shopping to managing the quiet sales of her aunt's mosaic artwork, ensuring Margaret remains undisturbed by unwanted visitors.

Gerald is Margaret's grandfather, a ruthless and ambitious man who transformed a single newspaper into a massive media empire. Driven by a desperate need to earn his own father's approval, he prioritized power and circulation numbers over personal relationships, setting the destructive standard for the Ives family legacy.

Theo is an Atlanta-based photographer and Alice's casual romantic partner. His reluctance to commit or make an effort to visit her on Little Crescent Island highlights the unfulfilling nature of their arrangement and pushes Alice to reevaluate what she wants from a relationship.