60 pages • 2-hour read
Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney BoylanA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
Olivia is a commercial apiarist living on her family's farm in Adams, New Hampshire. She relocated back to her hometown to raise her son following her divorce from an abusive husband. Protective and observant, she channels her energy into her business and her son. She worries constantly about the lingering effects of her past trauma on her family.
Mother of Asher Fields
Ex-wife of Braden Fields
Younger sister of Jordan McAfee
Boyfriend's mother to Lily Campanello
Childhood friend of Mike Newcomb
Lily is an 18-year-old cellist who recently relocated to New Hampshire with her mother. She holds a deep appreciation for music and a strong desire to live an ordinary teenage life. Having transitioned earlier in her youth, she maintains strict boundaries around her history to protect herself from prejudice, making her highly cautious about who she trusts.
Daughter of Ava Campanello
Girlfriend of Asher Fields
Close friend of Maya Banerjee
Ex-girlfriend of Jonah Cooper
Former friend of Sorel
Asher is an 18-year-old high school senior and co-captain of the local hockey team. He possesses a charismatic and sensitive demeanor that makes him popular among his peers. Raised primarily by his mother, he wrestles with complicated feelings regarding his absent father and exhibits occasional flashes of temper that contrast with his usually gentle nature.
Son of Olivia McAfee
Boyfriend of Lily Campanello
Childhood friend of Maya Banerjee
Son of Braden Fields
Teammate of Dirk
Ava is a former park ranger who relocated across the country to secure a safer environment for her daughter. She works a desk job in Adams, New Hampshire, prioritizing stability over her previous outdoor career. Her primary focus is shielding Lily from harm, operating with a maternal instinct shaped by past conflicts regarding her child's identity.
Mother of Lily Campanello
Girlfriend's mother to Asher Fields
Braden is a successful doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Olivia's ex-husband. He projects an image of professional competence and charm that masks a highly volatile and controlling private nature. He has started a new family, maintaining physical distance from his past life while still exerting a psychological pull on his son.
Jordan is a high-profile defense attorney and Olivia's older brother. Known for handling difficult, highly publicized legal cases, he brings a pragmatic and strategic mindset to familial problems. He balances his professional detachment with a genuine sense of loyalty to his sister and nephew.
Maya is a high school student in Adams who plays the oboe. She is deeply embedded in the local social scene and serves as a bridge between the town's established residents and newcomers. She observes the shifting dynamics of her peer group with keen interest, deeply attached to her oldest friends.
Selena is a private investigator married to Jordan McAfee. She approaches problems with a methodical, detail-oriented perspective, catching facts that others easily miss. She offers grounded, practical support to her sister-in-law during times of immense stress.
Mike is a local police lieutenant in Adams, New Hampshire, who shares a long history with the town's residents. He balances his official duties with his personal knowledge of the community members, maintaining a professional but empathetic demeanor when dealing with familiar faces in crisis.
Childhood friend of Olivia McAfee
Investigating officer to Asher Fields
Jonah is a student who befriends Lily during her time in California. Initially presenting as an attentive and friendly peer who enjoys hiking, his behavior shifts dramatically based on social pressure and the opinions of his hockey teammates.
Ex-boyfriend of Lily Campanello
Dirk is a high school student and a member of the local boys' hockey team. He possesses a confident, borderline intrusive demeanor and frequently attempts to cross social boundaries, paying unwanted attention to his teammates' romantic partners.
Teammate of Asher Fields
Unwelcome suitor to Lily Campanello
Gina is the prosecuting attorney assigned to the central legal case in Adams. She approaches her job with sharp focus, utilizing aggressive legal strategies to construct rigid narratives for the jury.
Legal opponent of Jordan McAfee
Dr. McBride is a forensic pathologist and medical examiner. He approaches his work with clinical detachment, presenting biological facts and professional opinions that heavily influence the direction of criminal investigations.
Expert witness for Gina Jewett
Elizabeth is a trans woman who owns Edgar's, a local music shop in Adams. She lives openly and authentically in the community, serving as an observational role model to those passing through her store.
Local shop owner to Lily Campanello
Informative acquaintance to Olivia McAfee
Coach Lacroix leads the high school hockey team in Adams. He views his players through an athletic lens, emphasizing loyalty, leadership, and physical toughness while sometimes overlooking behavioral issues off the ice.
Coach of Asher Fields