In an Instant

Suzanne Redfearn

68 pages 2-hour read

Suzanne Redfearn

In an Instant

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2020

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Finn is a sixteen-year-old high school student with bright copper hair and large green eyes. She is observant and straightforward, yet deeply empathetic toward others. She frequently acts as a vital communicator within her highly conflicted family, eagerly anticipating an upcoming formal dance but dreading a mandatory family trip to Big Bear.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Jack Miller

Daughter of Ann Miller

Younger Sister of Aubrey Miller

Younger Sister of Chloe Miller

Older Sister of Oz Miller

Best Friend of Mo Kaminski

Romantic Interest of Charlie McCoy

Mo is Finn's beautiful and charming best friend. Coming from a wealthier background with a highly protective mother, she wears designer clothes and takes exotic vacations. Despite the differences in their family dynamics, she is easygoing and fits seamlessly into the Miller family's chaotic orbit during their trip to the mountains.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Finn Miller

Daughter of Mrs. Kaminski

Entrusted to the Care of Ann Miller

Intrigued by Kyle

Rival and Acquaintance of Natalie Gold

Ann is the capable matriarch of the Miller family who works as a lawyer. She drives a brand-new Mercedes SUV and often projects a rigid exterior that masks her emotional struggles, particularly concerning her strained marriage to Jack and the demanding needs of her youngest son. She relies heavily on her close friendship with the Gold family for stability.

Key Relationships

Wife of Jack Miller

Mother of Finn Miller

Mother of Aubrey Miller

Mother of Chloe Miller

Mother of Oz Miller

Best Friend of Karen Gold

Close Family Friend of Bob Gold

Guardian of Mo Kaminski

Jack is Finn's athletic father and a former yacht captain who sacrificed his career on the ocean to care for his son, Oz. He organizes the family ski trip to Big Bear in a desperate attempt to mend the growing fractures within his household. He connects easily with his children but remains deeply at odds with his wife.

Key Relationships

Husband of Ann Miller

Father of Finn Miller

Father of Aubrey Miller

Father of Chloe Miller

Father and Primary Caretaker of Oz Miller

Resentful of Vance

Chloe is the eighteen-year-old middle daughter of the Miller family. She shares Finn's copper hair but projects a rebellious attitude, frequently clashing with her parents. She maintains a fiercely independent streak, heavily influenced by her college-aged boyfriend who joins them on the trip.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Jack Miller

Daughter of Ann Miller

Older Sister of Finn Miller

Younger Sister of Aubrey Miller

Older Sister of Oz Miller

Girlfriend of Vance

Oz is the thirteen-year-old youngest child of the Miller family. He has a developmental disability that leaves him with the emotional maturity of a toddler. His large physical size and quick temper often create significant tension within the family, leading his father to become his primary source of support.

Key Relationships

Son of Jack Miller

Son of Ann Miller

Younger Brother of Finn Miller

Younger Brother of Aubrey Miller

Younger Brother of Chloe Miller

Owner of Bingo

Bob is a close family friend who acts like an uncle to Finn and her siblings. He travels with the Millers on their ski trip, displaying a confident, take-charge demeanor that occasionally masks a tendency to prioritize his own family's comfort over others.

Key Relationships

Husband of Karen Gold

Father of Natalie Gold

Close Friend of Jack Miller

Close Friend of Ann Miller

Karen is Ann's long-time best friend, acting as an aunt figure to Finn. She is meticulous about her appearance and values order, bringing her husband and daughter along on the Millers' ski trip while maintaining a sharp focus on her own family's welfare.

Key Relationships

Wife of Bob Gold

Mother of Natalie Gold

Best Friend of Ann Miller

Supporting Characters

Aubrey is the eldest Miller daughter, whose upcoming wedding serves as a rare point of unity for the fractured family. She shares many interests with her mother and manages to avoid the stressful family ski trip by visiting her fiancé's parents in Ohio instead.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Ann Miller

Daughter of Jack Miller

Older Sister of Finn Miller

Older Sister of Chloe Miller

Older Sister of Oz Miller

Fiance of Ben

Natalie is the only child of Bob and Karen Gold. Snobbish and highly competitive with Finn and Mo, she frequently attempts to assert her superiority, which tends to alienate the other girls during their shared vacation.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Bob Gold

Daughter of Karen Gold

Rival and Acquaintance of Finn Miller

Rival and Acquaintance of Mo Kaminski

Vance is Chloe's college-aged boyfriend who tags along on the families' ski trip. He possesses an arrogant streak and heavily influences Chloe, sharing her rebellious nature while frequently pushing her to defy her parents' boundaries.

Key Relationships

Boyfriend of Chloe Miller

Opponent of Jack Miller

Kyle is a tall, good-looking stranded teenager whom Jack offers a ride to during the worsening blizzard. He quickly captivates the attention of the girls in the camper and proves to be a highly capable presence when the group encounters a severe emergency.

Key Relationships

Rescued by Jack Miller

Romantic Interest of Mo Kaminski

Survival Partner of Ann Miller

Mo's protective mother. She strictly guards her daughter's safety and only reluctantly entrusts Mo to the Miller family for the ski trip, possessing a sharp intuition about potential dangers.

Key Relationships

Mother of Mo Kaminski

Neighbor of Ann Miller

A high school boy who acts as Finn's crush. He communicates with her through text messages just as the group heads up the mountain, providing Finn with a sense of normal teenage anticipation.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Finn Miller

A competent sheriff's deputy and emergency responder who oversees search and rescue operations in the Big Bear area. He approaches his duties with a critical eye, striving to establish facts during severe crises.

Key Relationships

Rescuer of Ann Miller

Suspicious of Bob Gold

Oz's loyal dog who accompanies the family on their fateful ski trip. He serves as Oz's primary source of comfort and emotional regulation during high-stress situations.

Key Relationships

Pet of Oz Miller

Aubrey's fiancé, whose parents she visits in Ohio while the rest of the Miller family travels to Big Bear. He represents a stable, happy future away from intense family conflicts.

Key Relationships

Fiance of Aubrey Miller