Freya is a 29-year-old woman with dark, frizzy hair and deep-set eyes who returns to her hometown of Somers, New York, after a decade away. Following an emergency appendectomy that drains her finances, she travels back to sell the deteriorating house she inherited from her late parents. Having fled Somers due to a traumatic family dynamic, she feels anxious about running into her estranged relatives. She soon finds a job at a local restaurant called The Aster to pay off mounting house bills.

Aubrey is Freya's 15-year-old niece, an intelligent and artistic teenager. She temporarily moves into Freya's empty house after her mother kicks her out over a conflict involving school bullying. Resourceful and mature for her age, Aubrey works at a local grocery store to make ends meet and occasionally sells old furniture to keep the house utilities running. She shares many similarities with Freya, including a sensitive nature.

Steena is Freya's older half-sister and Aubrey's mother. Beautiful and highly concerned with appearances, she projects an image of upper-class perfection to the town of Somers while harboring a cruel streak behind closed doors. She deeply favors her son over her daughter and openly expresses her resentment toward Freya.

Charlie is a wealthy real estate developer from an established Somers family. He is married to Steena and acts as Aubrey's father. He maintains a veneer of jovial authority in public but represents a source of deep anxiety and trauma for Freya, contributing heavily to her decision to originally flee the town.

Jam is Freya's high school best friend, a former musical prodigy who now works at the butcher counter of the local Gristedes grocery store. He lives with his father and struggles with substance dependency, using drugs to cope with the tragic loss of his mother. Despite his personal difficulties, he remains fiercely loyal to Freya and looks out for Aubrey.

Step is Freya's late father, a weak-willed but occasionally gentle man who ran an insurance business in Somers. He died in a car accident before the events of the novel, leaving his heavily damaged home to Freya. Throughout her childhood, he consistently failed to stand up to the verbal abuse leveled by his wife and stepdaughter.

Hans is the lawyer managing the estate of Freya's deceased parents. He takes a fatherly interest in Freya's well-being, actively helping her understand the massive tax and insurance bills attached to the property. He has an unconventional family setup, co-parenting a young child named Emmeline with a woman named Mira.

Bee is Freya's childhood best friend, from whom she drifted apart during middle school. She now works as a guidance counselor at the local high school, where she directly interacts with Aubrey. She easily resumes her friendship with Freya, offering practical help and emotional support without holding grudges about their past estrangement.

Eddie is a local emergency medical technician who grew up across Deans Pond from Freya. He spent hours building sandcastles with her when they were young. Currently undergoing a divorce from his wife Lexi, Eddie provides a grounding presence in town and actively helps Freya with physical repairs to her damaged roof.

Shray is Aubrey's closest friend at school. He is a flamboyant, artistic teenager who provides a safe haven for Aubrey when she faces harassment from other students. The two set up an art studio in the basement of Freya's house.

Dr. Singh is a local surgeon from Pakistan and the father of Shray. He provides gentle, reassuring medical care to Freya when she injures herself, giving her a rare moment of feeling properly nurtured by a parental figure.

Buck is Freya's boss at the bar in Maine. He is frequently intoxicated or confused, prompting Freya to act as a caretaker for him during her employment. Despite his flaws, he shows genuine concern for her safety.

Carter is the brother of Aubrey's former friend. He is a high school student who actively bullies and torments Aubrey, spreading malicious rumors about her across the student body.

Mr. Gioletti is a high school science teacher. He silently permits Aubrey to steal a lab rat from his classroom, seemingly understanding her need to care for the animal.

Carlos is the chef at The Aster restaurant who remembers Freya from her teenage years working there. He quickly resumes a friendly, bantering dynamic with her and regularly supplies her with extra food.

Sam is the new owner of The Aster Lodge. He runs a tight ship with a complex menu but readily hires Freya and soon trusts her with important responsibilities like closing up the bar.

Gus is a regular patron at the restaurant. He becomes part of Freya's informal support network in Somers, eventually helping her with physical labor around her property and organizing the sale of her carved furniture.

Shorty is another local regular at The Aster. He assists with heavy lifting tasks, including moving Jam's piano into Freya's living room, and regularly contributes food to neighborhood gatherings.

Tommy is an EMT in Somers who works with Eddie. He casually shares local gossip and provides Freya with updates on Eddie's personal life.

Lee is a local realtor who operates a competing business against Charlie Wells. He evaluates Freya's property and provides her with a daunting, extensive list of repairs required before the house can be placed on the market.

Lexi is a local woman who attended school with Freya and Eddie. She is currently going through a divorce with Eddie and worries intensely about how the town will judge her for leaving a highly respected EMT.

Hachaliah Bailey is a historical 19th-century Somers farmer who acquired an elephant named Old Bet, exhibiting her for money and establishing the town's reputation as the cradle of the American circus.

Old Bet is a historical circus elephant brought to Somers in the early 1800s. Her exploitation by local farmers deeply troubles Freya, who views the captive animal as a tragic figure rather than a point of local pride.

Lenny Juice is a laboratory rat that Aubrey steals from her high school science classroom. Aubrey cares for him meticulously, projecting her own need for a safe home onto the small animal.

Emmeline is Hans's young daughter, born from a co-parenting arrangement he established later in life to avoid loneliness.

Austin is Aubrey's brother and Steena's clearly favored child. Steena consistently takes his side in arguments, contributing to Aubrey's sense of isolation within her own family.

Freya's late mother was a former finance professional in New York City who moved back to Somers after an unplanned pregnancy. Deeply frustrated by her domestic life, she frequently drank and directed intense verbal abuse at Freya while heavily favoring her older daughter.