43 pages • 1-hour read
Rebecca SerleA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
Dannie is a 32-year-old corporate lawyer living in Manhattan. She relies heavily on structure, routine, and a strict five-year plan to manage her daily life and career trajectory. Her disciplined nature stems from a childhood tragedy, making her highly averse to risk or spontaneity. After experiencing a vivid, unexplainable vision of an unrecognizable future, she scrambles to maintain control over her carefully plotted life.
Fiancé of David Rosen
Lifelong Best Friend of Bella Gold
Wary of Aaron Gregory
Sister of Michael
Employee of Aldridge
Patient of Dr. Christine
Bella is Dannie's childhood best friend, characterized by her artistic temperament and vibrant approach to the world. Raised by frequently absent wealthy parents, she embraces a fluid, impulsive lifestyle. She easily draws people in with her warmth and believes deeply in living fully in the present moment, acting as a gentle counterbalance to her best friend's strict routines.
Aaron is an architect who meets Bella through a dating app. Most people call him "Greg," but Dannie knows him as Aaron from her unexplained vision. He is kind, thoughtful, and deeply invested in his relationship with Bella. His sudden arrival in Dannie's social circle introduces friction, as he represents the very future she is desperately trying to avoid.
Romantic Partner of Bella Gold
Friendly toward Dannie Kohan
David is a finance professional working at a hedge fund. He shares Dannie's ambition and desire for affluent stability. He is patient and accommodating, willing to let his partner direct the timeline of their relationship. His easygoing nature allows their engagement to stretch out over years, prioritizing practical career milestones over passionate romance.
Fiancé of Dannie Kohan
Friend of Adam
Aldridge is a managing partner at the prestigious New York City law firm where Dannie works. He maintains a demanding 80-hour work schedule but emphasizes the importance of balancing ambition with personal life. He recognizes Dannie's talent and acts as a professional guide for her development.
Mentor of Dannie Kohan
Dr. Christine is a therapist who previously helped Dannie process childhood grief. She serves as a sounding board when Dannie struggles to rationalize the unexplainable vision of the future, pushing her to examine her need to control life events.
Therapist to Dannie Kohan
Michael is Dannie's older brother who passed away in a car accident when she was twelve. Though he is gone, his smart, even-tempered nature and sudden loss profoundly shaped his sister's adult worldview.
Brother of Dannie Kohan
Jill is Bella's wealthy mother. She struggles with feelings of inadequacy regarding her parenting, often remaining physically distant from her daughter's daily life while acknowledging the strength of Bella's chosen friendships.
Mother of Bella Gold
Wife of Frederick
Frederick is Bella's father, a successful professional who serves on the board of cardiology at a major hospital. Like his wife, he has been largely absent during his daughter's upbringing.
Father of Bella Gold
Husband of Jill
Adam is a mutual acquaintance of Dannie and David. Dannie initially attended his birthday party with romantic interest in him, but his attempts to set her up with his friend redirected her path.
Acquaintance of Dannie Kohan
Friend of David Rosen