A 38-year-old acclaimed fiction writer spending the summer in Paris. Following the tragic death of her four-year-old daughter, Emerson, her marriage has dissolved, and she seeks a quiet space to write in her agent's apartment. She is thoughtful, humorous, and deeply scarred by her recent trauma, often using her writing to process her emotions.

A handsome, commanding artist who specializes in drawing portraits of people experiencing grief. He possesses striking blue eyes and a confident but sensitive demeanor. Drawn to Olivia's sorrow, he initiates a mysterious romance governed by a strict rule against asking personal questions.

Olivia's ex-husband and the current United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He possesses an elite, New England sensibility and a demanding career. His marriage to Olivia ended in the aftermath of their daughter's death, though he remains a lingering, sometimes overbearing presence in her life.

Olivia's playful, outspoken close friend. She stays in touch with Olivia via phone calls, offering unfiltered commentary on Olivia's love life and sexual exploration. She acts as a sounding board and a vital link to Olivia's life back in the United States.

The older manager of the Parisian apartment building where Olivia is staying. A proud Frenchman who boasts of his past romantic exploits, he is convivial and acts as a social bridge, introducing Olivia to James in a formal setting.

An attractive woman living in an apartment across the courtyard from Olivia. Her uninhibited, audible sex life initially isolates the grieving Olivia but soon awakens Olivia's dormant sexual desires, acting as a catalyst for her own explorations.

Gigi's partner and Olivia's neighbor. Along with Gigi, his frequent and intense romantic encounters echo through the apartment complex, inadvertently pushing Olivia to confront her own sexuality and grief-induced numbness.

Olivia's fashionable, eclectic literary agent. She owns the top-floor Parisian apartment where Olivia seeks refuge. She is highly protective of Olivia's literary brand and holds strong opinions about the boundaries between literary fiction and genre romance.

Olivia and Chris's four-year-old daughter. Her recent, tragic death by gunfire profoundly traumatized Olivia, collapsing her marriage and extinguishing her creative drive before her trip to Paris. Her memory shadows everything Olivia does.

A resilient German woman who serves as a dedicated caregiver for Olivia. She is fiercely protective of Olivia's well-being, offering steady companionship and a grounding presence during times of severe emotional and physical vulnerability.