Margot is an English major at Rutledge College who is intensely struggling with the recent death of her childhood best friend. She views herself as timid and cautious, heavily dependent on others to dictate her social life. Desperate to shed her meek persona and reinvent herself, she eagerly attaches herself to a group of confident women living off-campus.

Lucy is a highly charismatic and enigmatic young woman who acts as the magnetic center of her friend group. She effortlessly breaks rules, commands attention, and slowly molds the social lives of the girls around her. She wears a distinctive necklace featuring diamond constellations and carefully guards the details of her past before arriving at Rutledge.

Sloane is a studious and fiercely protective member of the core friend group who can sometimes be abrasive. She operates as the practical voice of the household, taking her studies and employment seriously. Though she willingly participates in the group's partying, she remains highly suspicious of those outside their inner circle.

Nicole is a quiet, gentle young woman who easily bends to the will of stronger personalities. She lives off-campus with Sloane, Lucy, and Margot. Her lack of self-confidence makes her highly dependent on her friends, particularly Sloane, to navigate the aggressive social atmosphere of the nearby fraternity.

Eliza is Margot's deceased former best friend. During her life, she was a vibrant, popular, and commanding presence who dictated the rules of her friendship with Margot. Her sudden death shortly after high school leaves a massive void that actively shapes Margot's emotional state in college.

Levi is a young man from the Outer Banks who dated Eliza prior to her death. He is a legacy pledge at the Kappa Nu fraternity at Rutledge, enduring grueling hazing rituals to secure his place. His unexpected presence on campus deeply unsettles Margot, who blames him for pulling Eliza away from her.

Trevor is the president of the Kappa Nu fraternity. He embodies a culture of excessive partying, male entitlement, and aggressive hazing. He effectively acts as the landlord for the women's house, leveraging his position to maintain constant access to their space.

Maggie is Margot's eagerly assigned freshman roommate. She is kind, attentive, and tries to help Margot manage her depression. However, her timid nature mirrors the parts of Margot's own personality that Margot wishes to abandon.

Detective Frank is the police officer assigned to investigate the crimes surrounding the off-campus house. He approaches his investigation with a dismissive attitude toward the young women, frequently referring to them as "girls" and underestimating their capacity for deception.

Mr. Jefferson is Eliza's father. Following the tragic death of his daughter, he is left exhausted and grieving. He periodically reaches out to Margot for a connection to Eliza's memory.

Danny is a college student from Fairfield, North Carolina. He serves as a bridge to Lucy's heavily guarded past, carrying rumors and information about the tragedies that occurred in her small hometown.

Margot's mother is a rigid socialite who prioritizes appearances and formal success. She disapproves of Margot's decision to attend Rutledge and maintains a relationship with her daughter that feels highly transactional.

Lucas is a member of the Kappa Nu fraternity. He frequently hosts the women at fraternity events and attempts to pursue a romantic connection with Sloane.

James is a Kappa Nu fraternity brother. He actively hunts deer, dressing and storing the meat in the shed between the two properties, firmly believing in the ethical separation between animals and humans.

Will is a Kappa Nu brother who spends the holiday break on campus. He joins the women and the other remaining fraternity members for a deer-meat dinner.

Parker is Lucy's deceased high school boyfriend from Fairfield, North Carolina. He died in a car crash after an argument with Lucy, leaving a permanent shadow over her reputation in her hometown.