The younger, cautious sister in the Shred family. Growing up in the shadow of her sibling's unpredictable behavior causes Amy to seek refuge in academic achievement and isolation. She fights a tendency to suppress her own needs to avoid causing trouble and embarks on a long journey to establish an authentic identity separate from her chaotic household.

Amy's older sister is a beautiful and impulsive track star who refuses to conform to rules. Her unpredictable behavior and undiagnosed mental health struggles dictate the family's dynamics. She frequently runs away from home and shoplifts, yet she also possesses a magnetic energy that deeply impacts those around her.

The loving but overwhelmed matriarch of the Shred family. She holds strict ideas about discipline and struggles to accept the reality of her eldest daughter's mental health issues. Her life and sense of identity are heavily tied to her marriage and her efforts to manage her household.

The patriarch of the Shred family who runs a growing home design business. He is highly accommodating and often rescues his eldest daughter from trouble. His intense avoidance of conflict slowly drives a wedge between him and his wife.

An employee at the home design business who becomes closely involved with her boss. She represents an escape from the tensions of the Shred household and eventually becomes a permanent fixture in the family's changing structure.

The outgoing secretary in Amy's graduate department. She handles her own complex personal life, including an arranged engagement, and encourages Amy to embrace her independence during a difficult period.

An aspiring actor who claims to have dropped out of Columbia University. He is charming but struggles to hold down a job or adhere to social norms. His impulsive nature often mirrors the chaotic energy of Amy's older sister.

A hard-working lawyer who comes from a broken family of his own. He is driven and conventionally successful, representing stability and traditional expectations as he enters a relationship with Amy.

An editor at a publishing house and an old high school friend of Marc. She hires Amy as a sub-editor and becomes a friend and confidante in the publishing world.

A wealthy film producer with a house in Beverly Hills. He becomes entangled with Ollie and provides her with a luxurious lifestyle while attempting to care for her.

A consistent and perceptive therapist who helps Amy work through her feelings of isolation. He challenges Amy to recognize the repetitive patterns in her personal relationships.

A middle school librarian who provides a safe haven for the socially awkward Amy. She is well-meaning but clumsy in her support, gifting Amy a self-help book that highlights the young girl's social isolation.

A young therapist at the psychiatric facility where Ollie is hospitalized. She diagnoses the teenager's condition but becomes the target of an inappropriate obsession.

An older teenage boy who loves to surf. His relationship with Ollie causes concern for the Shred family when she disappears with him for long stretches.

Kira's fiancé in an arranged engagement. Their relationship faces turbulence as Kira explores her independence in New York.

An aspiring actor who meets Josh at work. She quickly catches his eye and shifts the dynamics of his living situation.

A married academic who writes a book on empathy. He signs a publishing contract with Amy, leading to a close professional relationship.