The Dixon Rule

Elle Kennedy

The Dixon Rule

Elle Kennedy
61 pages2-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

Diana is a 21-year-old Briar University cheer captain who inherited her off-campus apartment from her late aunt. She balances cheerleading, dance rehearsals, two part-time jobs, and a monetized social media account. She is highly ambitious and throws her energy into constantly mastering new skills. Despite her outward confidence, she struggles with insecurity driven by her mother's high academic expectations.

Key Relationships

Fake Dating Partner of Shane Lindley

Ex-girlfriend of Percy Forsythe

Friend of Gigi Graham

Daughter of Tom Dixon

Daughter of Diana's Mother

Older Sister of Thomas Dixon

Stepdaughter of Larissa

Former Dance Partner of Kenji

Shane is a senior hockey player at Briar University with realistic dreams of making the NHL. Supported financially by his parents in Vermont, he enjoys a comfortable lifestyle filled with summer golfing and casual dating. He presents himself as a carefree playboy but secretly carries unresolved feelings for his ex-girlfriend. He enters a fake relationship with his neighbor to project an image of having moved on.

Key Relationships

Fake Dating Partner of Diana Dixon

Ex-boyfriend of Lynsey

Son of Ryan Lindley

Son of April Lindley

Older Brother of Maryanne Lindley

Friend of Luke Ryder

Friend of Will Larsen

Percy is a 26-year-old man who recently dated Diana. He initially projects an aura of grounded maturity and intelligence. Over time, his behavior reveals a deeply insecure and controlling nature. He refuses to accept the end of his relationship with Diana and repeatedly violates her boundaries by showing up unannounced.

Key Relationships

Ex-boyfriend of Diana Dixon

Rival of Shane Lindley

Lynsey is a dedicated ballerina at the Liberty Conservatory of Fine Arts. She dated Shane for four years before their breakup. She approaches life with rigid ambition and perfectionism, treating her relationships as accessories to her own goals. She expects Shane to drop everything for her despite having moved on with someone else.

Key Relationships

Ex-girlfriend of Shane Lindley

Girlfriend of Tyreek

Rival of Diana Dixon

Supporting Characters

Gigi is a student at Briar University and Diana's close confidante. She recently eloped with Luke Ryder and is planning a formal wedding to appease her family. She openly dislikes Percy and frequently checks in on Diana's demanding schedule.

Key Relationships

Friend of Diana Dixon

Wife of Luke Ryder

Friend of Blake Logan

Luke is a hockey player at Briar University who recently married Gigi Graham. He frequently hosts social events and invites his teammates to assist with summer hockey camps. He acts as a steady presence within the university's athletic social circle.

Key Relationships

Husband of Gigi Graham

Friend of Shane Lindley

Tom is a SWAT team leader for the Boston Police Department. He is a tough, physically imposing man who views his daughter as practically invincible. He frequently shares childhood stories that highlight Diana's physical and emotional toughness.

Key Relationships

Father of Diana Dixon

Father of Thomas Dixon

Husband of Larissa

Ex-husband of Diana's Mother

Diana's mother is a calculated and detached woman who prioritizes academic success over creative or athletic pursuits. She regularly expresses disapproval of Diana's lifestyle choices, believing her daughter lacks the intelligence possessed by her younger brother.

Key Relationships

Mother of Diana Dixon

Mother of Thomas Dixon

Ex-wife of Tom Dixon

Thomas is Diana's younger brother. He recently graduated high school and is taking a gap year to travel and volunteer abroad before attending medical school. He aligns perfectly with his mother's expectations.

Key Relationships

Younger Brother of Diana Dixon

Son of Diana's Mother

Son of Tom Dixon

Larissa works as a hairdresser and is married to Tom Dixon. She serves as a stepmother to Diana and Thomas.

Key Relationships

Wife of Tom Dixon

Stepmother of Diana Dixon

Ryan is a former professional hockey player whose NHL career ended during his very first game due to an injury. He pivoted to running successful business ventures and raising his family in Vermont. He maintains an incredibly close, affectionate bond with his son.

Key Relationships

Father of Shane Lindley

Husband of April Lindley

Father of Maryanne Lindley

April is the mayor of Heartsong, Vermont, making history as the first Black woman to hold the office. She balances a polished, corporate exterior with a warm, deeply maternal approach to her family life.

Key Relationships

Mother of Shane Lindley

Wife of Ryan Lindley

Mother of Maryanne Lindley

Maryanne is Shane's ten-year-old sister. She is highly intelligent, talkative, and fascinated by science experiments. She enjoys a playful and devoted relationship with her older brother.

Key Relationships

Younger Sister of Shane Lindley

Daughter of Ryan Lindley

Daughter of April Lindley

Niall lives in the apartment directly beneath Diana. He presents as an aloof and easily irritated tenant who frequently lobbies for strict noise ordinances. He pays intense attention to the sounds in the building.

Key Relationships

Neighbor of Diana Dixon

Neighbor of Shane Lindley

Will is a hockey player at Briar University and one of Shane's close friends. He struggles with his intimate life and occasionally seeks a quiet place to sleep on Diana's couch to avoid the lively environment of his own apartment.

Key Relationships

Friend of Shane Lindley

Friend of Diana Dixon

Roommate of Beckett Dunne

Beckett is Will's roommate and friend. He lives a highly active social life and frequently hosts guests in their shared apartment before leaving for a month-long trip to Boston.

Key Relationships

Roommate of Will Larsen

Crystal is a member of Diana's cheerleading squad. She pursues Shane for a casual encounter but reacts with hostility when he decides he is not interested in continuing the arrangement.

Key Relationships

Brief Romantic Interest of Shane Lindley

Teammate of Diana Dixon

Tyreek is a college basketball player studying kinesiology. He dates Lynsey and accompanies her to tour the Briar University campus, inadvertently sparking tension when he meets Shane.

Key Relationships

Boyfriend of Lynsey

Acquaintance of Diana Dixon

Kenji is a college student who initially partners with Diana for the National Upper Amateur Ballroom Championships. He drops out of the competition after receiving a major job offer.

Key Relationships

Former Dance Partner of Diana Dixon

Priya is a neighbor at Meadow Hill who actively participates in the building's gossip network and group chat. She owns a cat that occasionally escapes into the hallway.

Key Relationships

Neighbor of Diana Dixon

Neighbor of Shane Lindley

Coach Jensen is the head coach of the Briar University hockey team. He pays close attention to his players' performance and takes an active interest in their extracurricular activities.

Key Relationships

Coach of Shane Lindley

Blake is a college freshman who runs in the same social circles as Gigi and Diana. She spends a weekend hanging out with Diana and Shane, surprising them with her natural talent on the golf course.

Key Relationships

Friend of Gigi Graham

Friend of Diana Dixon

Viktor is a competitive dancer who uses social media to taunt his rivals. He and his partner aim to dominate the upcoming National Upper Amateur Ballroom Championships.

Key Relationships

Dance Partner of Martinique

Rival of Diana Dixon

Martinique is Viktor's dance partner. Together, they form an arrogant but skilled duo determined to win the ballroom championship by any means necessary.

Key Relationships

Dance Partner of Viktor

Rival of Diana Dixon