Carolina is a sixteen-year-old high school student from Seattle. As a dedicated long-distance runner, she often uses physical exertion to manage her emotions and process her intense grief over her mother's recent death. She feels out of place in Italy, initially keeping others at a distance while she reads her mother's old journal to understand the past.

Lorenzo is an Italian-American student at the American International School of Florence. He possesses a kind, empathetic disposition and goes out of his way to make Carolina feel welcome in a foreign country. He enjoys exploring the city on his red scooter and introduces Carolina to local customs like eating gelato.

Howard manages the American Cemetery and Memorial in Florence. He maintains a quiet, structured life far from his South Carolina roots. He lives in a house on the cemetery grounds, enjoys old James Bond movies, and listens to classic rock music.

Hadley is a talented, renowned photographer and Carolina's late mother. She raised her daughter as a single parent in Seattle. Before her death, she arranged for Carolina to spend the summer in Florence and left behind a journal detailing her own youth studying abroad.

Thomas is a wealthy British expatriate studying at the American International School of Florence. He possesses striking good looks and an extreme sense of self-assurance. He actively pursues what he wants within his elite social circle.

Sonia works as the assistant superintendent at the American Cemetery. She is a striking woman who provides practical help and emotional warmth to Carolina upon her arrival in Florence. She acts as a maternal figure and confidante.

Addie is Carolina's best friend from Seattle. She communicates with Carolina over spotty internet connections, offering support and encouraging her friend to open up to new experiences abroad.

Mimi is a student at the international school. She maintains an aloof posture and feels highly protective of her social standing and romantic territory.

Odette is Lorenzo's mother. She works as a ceramics artist crafting scenes of Tuscany. She is eager to connect with fellow Americans and provides a warm, domestic environment for her son's friends.

Matteo runs a prestigious gallery and photography school in Rome. Years earlier, he worked as an art professor at the Fine Arts Academy in Florence where he instructed American exchange students.

Francesca is a successful fashion photographer living in Italy. She originally studied fashion photography alongside Hadley in Florence and provides a link to the past.