Mistakes We Never Made

Hannah Brown

Mistakes We Never Made

Hannah Brown
57 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 2024

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Character List

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

Major Characters

Emma is an interior designer living in New York City who feels her career has stalled after a wealthy couple fired her from a hotel project. She acts as the meticulous planner and caretaker for her friends, driven by an intense need to prevent situations from falling apart. She carries deep emotional scars from her father abandoning the family when she was a child, making her fiercely protective of her loved ones but highly resistant to romantic vulnerability.

Key Relationships

Former debate partner of Finn Hughes

Best friend of Sybil Rain

Estranged daughter of Mike Townsend

Older sister of Liz

Close friend of Nikki

Close friend of Willow

Acquaintance of Jamie

Finn is a successful business owner in the process of selling his tech startup. He drives a highly valuable Singer Porsche 964 and maintains a calm, observant demeanor that often clashes with Emma's anxious planning. Having lost his father to terminal cancer during high school, he struggles with his own fears of commitment and the pressure of living up to the expectations of those he cares about.

Key Relationships

Former debate partner of Emma Townsend

Close friend of Sybil Rain

Former romantic partner of Pilar

Sybil is a free-spirited, magnetic woman preparing for her third engagement. She possesses an effortless charm that naturally draws people to her, though she often uses her effervescent personality to mask deeper insecurities and fears. Her sudden disappearance from her own wedding weekend catalyzes the cross-country search that drives the narrative.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Emma Townsend

Fiancée of Jamie

Close friend of Finn Hughes

Daughter of Mrs. Rain

Daughter of Mr. Rain

Friend of Nikki

Friend of Willow

Supporting Characters

Mike is Emma and Liz's father who abruptly abandoned his family when the girls were young. He lives a quiet, isolated life in a rural Arizona town, surrounded by University of Texas memorabilia. His sudden departure left a lasting void that fundamentally altered his eldest daughter's personality, leaving him disconnected from the reality of his children's adult lives.

Key Relationships

Estranged father of Emma Townsend

Father of Liz

Nikki is a member of Emma's primary friend group and a recent contestant on the reality television dating show *LovedBy*. She projects a polished, resilient exterior to cope with a highly public romantic betrayal broadcast on national television. She balances her fierce loyalty to her friends with a strong desire to prove she can handle her own problems independently.

Key Relationships

Close friend of Emma Townsend

Friend of Sybil Rain

Ex-girlfriend of Aaron

Friend of Willow

Willow is the fourth member of the central friend group. Currently pregnant, she provides a grounding, practical presence amidst the high emotions and drama of the wedding weekend. She remains at the wedding venue to help manage the bridal party's cover story while others search for the bride.

Key Relationships

Friend of Emma Townsend

Friend of Sybil Rain

Friend of Nikki

Jamie is Sybil's fiancé, preparing for their upcoming wedding in Malibu. He is steadfast, patient, and deeply devoted to Sybil, representing the kind of reliable affection that Emma envies but fears. He remains largely unaware of the true reasons behind the bridal party's unusual behavior and erratic travel schedules.

Key Relationships

Fiancé of Sybil Rain

Acquaintance of Emma Townsend

Aaron is a reality television star who appeared on the dating show *LovedBy*. He prioritizes his public image and approaches relationships with a callous attitude, treating his television romance as a calculated career move rather than a genuine connection.

Key Relationships

Ex-boyfriend of Nikki

Antagonist of Emma Townsend

Liz is Emma's younger sister. She stays at Emma's New York apartment while looking for an internship in the city. She maintains a more casual, open connection to their estranged father and relies heavily on her older sister for guidance and practical support in her adult life.

Key Relationships

Younger sister of Emma Townsend

Daughter of Mike Townsend

Mrs. Rain is Sybil's mother, managing the logistics and family expectations of the Malibu wedding weekend. She contrasts sharply with Emma's own single mother, representing a more traditional, schedule-oriented family dynamic.

Key Relationships

Mother of Sybil Rain

Wife of Mr. Rain

Mr. Rain is Sybil's father. He shares an appreciation for classic automobiles, providing a brief moment of calm connection for Emma before the chaos of the wedding weekend fully unfolds.

Key Relationships

Father of Sybil Rain

Husband of Mrs. Rain

Pilar is a woman from San Francisco who dates Finn during his college years. Her presence in his life creates significant romantic confusion and tension, ultimately leading to a massive misunderstanding at a mutual friend's wedding.

Key Relationships

Romantic partner of Finn Hughes