Beyah is a nineteen-year-old recent high school graduate who survives a childhood of extreme poverty and neglect. She earns a volleyball scholarship to Penn State but must first spend the summer with her estranged father in Texas. Guarded and self-reliant, she keeps her painful past a secret while trying to adapt to a world of unfamiliar wealth.

Samson is a wealthy twenty-year-old managing properties for his family on the Bolivar Peninsula before purportedly heading to the Air Force Academy. He maintains a quiet, observant demeanor and keeps his personal history closely guarded. Despite his privileged background, he shows surprising empathy and notices details others overlook.

Sara is a peppy college sophomore and the only child of Alana. She readily shares her privileged lifestyle with her new stepsister, eagerly offering clothes and inclusion in her social circle. She means well and genuinely desires a close sisterly bond.

Brian is a financial consultant living a comfortable life in Texas with his new wife. He provides financial support for Beyah but remained emotionally absent for years. He tries to act as a protective father but struggles to overcome the massive distance created by his absence.

Alana is a successful dentist and Brian's new wife. She maintains a cheerful, polished demeanor and tries to make Beyah feel welcome in their summer home. She acts as a stabilizing presence and offers maternal guidance when needed.

Marcos is a young man who spends his summer on the Bolivar Peninsula. He dates Sara and spends most of his time hanging out with Samson, paddleboarding, and socializing around beach campfires.

Janean is Beyah's mother, a woman who struggled with severe substance addiction in rural Kentucky. She neglected her daughter and misappropriated child support funds, leaving Beyah to fend for herself.

Buzz is the local police chief in Beyah's Kentucky hometown. He acts practically in a grim situation, advising Beyah on how to handle her mother's body without incurring debt she cannot pay.

Dakota is the police chief's son in Kentucky. He maintains a hidden transactional relationship with Beyah, paying her for physical intimacy while completely ignoring her in public settings.

Gary owns the mobile-home park where Beyah and Janean lived. He prioritizes his financial interests and bluntly informs the grieving teenager that she is being evicted.

Marjorie is an eccentric, elderly widow who owns the largest house on the peninsula. She spends her time cracking pecans and has a deep fondness for Samson, who regularly helps her with household repairs.

Rake is a sailor who wandered the Texas coast, writing poetry and distributing it to strangers. He vanished along with his boat during Hurricane Ike.

Beau is a loud, aggressive young man who spends time around the beach campfires. He directs unwanted sexual interest toward Beyah and turns violent when rejected.

Cadence is a local girl who spends time at the beach campfires. She shows romantic interest in Samson early in the summer but quickly falls out of his favor.

Keith is Marjorie's son who works as an attorney in the local area.

Isabel is Samson's mother who tragically drowned in a riptide when he was five years old.

P. J. is a stray dog rescued by Beyah. Marjorie suggests his long, cheese-themed name (Pepper Jack Cheese). The dog becomes a loyal companion to Beyah during her summer transition.

Natalie is Beyah's friend back in Kentucky. She is one of the few people Beyah contacts after leaving her old life behind.