Simone is the 20-year-old leader of "the Girls," a supportive family of teen mothers in the Florida Panhandle town of Padua Beach. Highly resilient and fiercely protective, she works to shield her children and her peers from the small town's harsh judgments. Her life becomes more complicated when she discovers she is pregnant for a second time, prompting her to evaluate her options and her independence.

Adela is a 16-year-old former competitive swimmer from an affluent Indiana suburb. Exiled to Florida by her strict parents due to an unplanned pregnancy, she initially views Padua Beach and its residents with condescension and fear. As she manages her changing physical state and sudden isolation, she slowly finds herself drawn into the orbit of the local teen mothers she initially judges.

Emory is a highly driven high school student and new mother trying to balance her academic goals with caring for her infant son. Living with grandparents who offer no practical help and frequent criticism, she relies heavily on her peers for parenting advice. She harbors dreams of attending a prestigious college to study biology, an ambition that sometimes isolates her from the other young mothers.

Chris, known mostly to the teen mothers as "Tooth," is a 27-year-old local resident who avoids responsibility. He prefers spending time with his friends in a rented house over fulfilling his duties as a parent to Simone's children. While his unreliability frustrates those who depend on him, he possesses a superficial charm that makes him appealing to new arrivals in Padua Beach.

Noni is Adela's paternal grandmother and a long-time resident of the Florida Panhandle. She possesses a deep knowledge of herbal remedies and local traditions, maintaining a self-sufficient lifestyle that sharply contrasts with Adela's wealthy upbringing. She offers a rare, non-judgmental sanctuary for her granddaughter in the chaos of an unplanned pregnancy.

Jayden is Simone's younger brother and a devoted young father doing his best to care for his son, Kai. He actively wants to build a cohesive family unit and takes his parental responsibilities seriously. He often finds himself caught between his desire to be present for Emory and the hostile, racist environment of her grandparents' home.

Crystal is a core member of the community of teen mothers in Padua Beach. She relies on the group's mutual support to raise her young daughter in a judgmental town. She brings generational knowledge to the group, sharing her family's history with herbal remedies during times of crisis.

Luck is Simone's four-and-a-half-year-old twin daughter. Raised in the communal environment of her mother's peer group, she spends her days playing around the red pickup truck and the dune lake, shielded from the town's prejudices by her mother's fierce dedication.

Lion is Simone's four-and-a-half-year-old twin son. He grows up in an unconventional but highly nurturing environment, finding comfort and safety within the close-knit circle of young mothers his mother has assembled.

Kai is the infant son of Emory and Jayden. His arrival sparks significant tension in Emory's household due to her grandparents' prejudices, but he remains deeply loved by both his young parents.

Mrs. Simmons is the dean of students at the high school in Padua Beach. She enforces the school's administrative rules and initially attempts to push Emory into a separate program designed for teen parents.

Pawpaw is Emory's grandfather and guardian. He harbors deep-seated racist attitudes toward his granddaughter's boyfriend and creates a hostile, entirely unsupportive environment for the young mother and her child.

Grammy is Emory's grandmother, who raised her after Emory's mother left. She weaponizes her disapproval of Emory's life choices, offering harsh criticism instead of practical guidance for the new mother.

April is a member of the tight-knit community of teen mothers in Padua Beach. She participates in the group's mutual aid efforts and communal gatherings around the dune lake, offering solidarity to her peers.

Jamilah is part of the core group of teen mothers, offering solidarity and shared experience to the other young women working to survive in the Florida Panhandle.

Tori is one of the young mothers who finds sanctuary and practical support within Simone's circle, relying on the group to counter the town's heavy social stigma.

Simone and Jayden's mother is a resident of Padua Beach who completely estranged herself from her daughter after Simone became pregnant at age sixteen. She provides a clear example of the conditional love and abandonment the teen mothers face.

Simone's father turned his back on his daughter when she became pregnant as a teenager, fully cutting ties with her and the twins while continuing to raise his son.

Adela's father is a strict, wealthy man from Indianapolis who prioritizes a specific image of success. He sends his pregnant daughter away to Florida to hide her condition and ensure the baby is placed for adoption.

Adela's mother lives in an affluent Indiana suburb and supports the decision to exile her pregnant daughter to avoid social embarrassment in their community.

David is a teenager from Indianapolis who fathered Adela's child. Rather than taking responsibility, he publicly denies his paternity and leaves Adela to face her parents' wrath alone.

Lindsay is a high school student from Adela's affluent hometown in Indiana. She serves as Adela's remaining link to her former life, though their conversation reveals how quickly local gossip spreads.

Lucille Calder is a local girl whose confession of her own pregnancy to Simone sparked the creation of the supportive network that eventually became a formal found family.

Cece is Crystal's young daughter, raised within the supportive network of the teen mothers. Her behavioral issues at a local playground prompt the other mothers to aggressively defend her right to exist in public spaces.

Sylvia was Emory's first childhood friend. Their early, tentative exploration of intimacy resulted in Emory receiving severe punishment from her grandmother, leaving a lasting mark on Emory's understanding of herself.

Ron is Emory's older cousin. He used his pet corn snake to coerce a young Emory into inappropriate contact, an event that deeply traumatized her and continues to haunt her memories.

Mrs. Carol is an older volunteer at Jayden's church. She stands out by offering Emory genuine warmth and a friendly greeting, providing a brief respite from the judgment Emory usually faces in public.

Vanessa is a newer addition to the found family of teen mothers. Her presence indicates that the support network Simone built continues to grow and accept new members over time.