One Golden Summer

Charlie Florek is one of the novel’s primary characters. As Alice’s love interest, he is the novel’s male romantic lead. Charlie is 35 in the narrative present. He works as a stock market trader in Toronto, but is on sabbatical from work and spending his time off in Barry’s Bay. He, his parents, and younger brother Sam used to summer at Kamaniskeg Lake. Now that both of his parents have passed away, Charlie finds the lake healing. While there, he reconnects with his late father’s memory and recalls the happy times he and his family spent together before his dad’s death.

Charlie faces health challenges that he keeps secret for most of the novel. He was recently diagnosed with the same heart condition as his father, and is convinced that he’s going to die at 35 just like his dad. In part, his fun-loving attitude throughout the novel is a reaction to his fear of dying and desperation to appreciate life’s beauty before it’s too late. On the other hand, Charlie’s verve for life is also an innate facet of his identity. Even after his dad died when he was 14, he did his best to maintain a happy-go-lucky energy to help his grieving mom and brother withstand their sorrow.

Just as Charlie’s approach to life transforms Alice, so too does Alice push him towards personal growth. Alice is beautiful, kind, and passionate; they have fun together like two teenagers, and also share meaningful conversations about life’s difficulties. Charlie opens up to Alice about his guilt over his mom’s passing, his anger at himself for sleeping with Sam’s wife Percy before they got married, and his fear that he’s an inherently bad person. Exposing these emotional dark spots to Alice conveys Charlie’s capacity for vulnerability. Although he withholds his heart condition to protect her and keep their summer fling carefree, Charlie does seek genuine connection with Alice in these other ways.

To establish a committed relationship with Alice, Charlie learns to confront his fears, forgive himself, and take risks. Alice’s appearance at the hospital after his surgery catalyzes these changes in Charlie’s character. Once she’s by his side again, Charlie realizes that he doesn’t want to lose her. The photos she shows him of their summer together also help him to recognize the purity and rarity of their connection. Just as Alice has to learn to ask for help in order to grow, Charlie must allow Alice to support him. That they end up happily together shows that Charlie has changed.

Nan is another of the novel’s primary characters. She is Alice’s maternal grandmother, and also plays the part of Alice’s archetypal mentor figure. After Nan undergoes hip surgery, Alice decides to take her to Kamaniskeg Lake to rest and recover. The trip is Alice’s gift to Nan. However, Nan also helps Alice to grow and find renewal over the course of their summer together. She is a positive influence on Alice because they two have a rich personal history. Nan cherishes Alice, recognizes her granddaughter’s gifts and passions, and honors her self-sacrificing nature. At the same time, Nan is careful never to take advantage of Alice’s grace and empathy. Instead, she encourages Alice to relax and enjoy herself. Because Alice and Nan have been close since Alice was a child, Alice trusts Nan’s counsel. She knows that Nan has her best interest in mind, which inspires her to confide in her grandmother and seek her advice and guidance.

Nan is particularly influential when it comes to Alice’s relationship with Charlie. Nan at first likes Charlie because he’s handsome and fun to be around, but she grows to genuinely appreciate Charlie’s investment in her care, his devotion to Alice, and his genuine respect for Alice’s passions and dreams. Nan helps Alice to see these aspects of Charlie more clearly, too, shepherding Alice on her self-discovery journey.

Heather is a secondary character. She is Alice, Luca, and Lavinia’s older sister, Kip and Michelle’s eldest child, and Bennett’s mom. Heather, who is divorced and works as a lawyer, is optimistic and determined. Alice loves Heather and enjoys spending time with her, but also can’t help feeling overshadowed by her older sister:

Heather’s an unrepentant show-off; I prefer going unnoticed. She has our dad’s height, confidence, and […] a sharp-angled bob—part of her courtroom intimidation tactics. I get my library-soft voice and auburn curls from our mom. Heather’s the rebel; I’m the good girl. She’s impulsive; I’m a planner. And, unlike me, she’s completely uninhibited (17).

Because of the sisters’ differences, Alice both leans on Heather for strength and feels pressured to be more like Heather. Heather isn’t shy about expressing her opinions or pushing Alice to do things outside of her comfort zone. Heather’s insistence can often feel overwhelming to Alice, which becomes particularly apparent when Heather presses Alice about attending Elyse’s gallery opening despite Alice’s hesitation about the photograph that will be displayed.

Alice and Heather come to a better understanding over the course of the novel. Alice learns that she needs to be more honest with Heather about what she wants: Once she communicates her professional frustrations to Heather, Heather is more receptive and sympathetic. Likewise, once Alice tells Heather the full story about her relationship with Charlie, Heather offers Alice perspective on the romance and gives her the courage to share her feelings with Charlie. Heather is thus an influential figure in Alice’s life.