Sally, Ella’s mother, serves as the deuteragonist—or the character second in significance to the protagonist—of the novel. She is a round, dynamic character whose true nature is gradually revealed, challenging Ella’s long-held perceptions of her. When the story begins, she is presented as a vulnerable figure, injured and in need of care. However, it quickly becomes clear that her defining traits are immense resilience, quiet strength, and a profound, enduring love for her daughter. For two decades, Sally has borne the weight of Ella’s misplaced anger while simultaneously navigating grief, financial hardship, and loneliness. The secret library that she carefully curates for her daughter acts as the central symbol of Using Literature to Communicate Feelings. Inscribing each book allows her to pass on the wisdom, apologies, and love she cannot communicate directly.

The secrets that Sally keeps from Ella create dramatic tension and raise the stakes of their journey toward reconciliation. Sally hides the truth about her husband Neil’s serial infidelity and reckless spending to protect Ella’s idealized image of him, evidencing her instinct to prioritize her daughter over everything else. Similarly, she conceals her dementia diagnosis for fear of being a “burden” to her daughter. As she tells Ella, “You were only here for a short time, I didn't want to ruin it with more bad news, and I didn't want you to have to worry about me when you went back […] I’m sorry, love. I didn’t want to put you through this” (243). Across her arc, Sally eventually realizes that these secrets, though born from a protective instinct, perpetuate the misunderstanding that separates her from Ella.

Sally’s kindness and capacity for connection are evident in the strong community bonds she has forged in Greenwich. The love and respect of friends like Jakub, Hannah, Nathan, and even the initially prickly Pru reveal a woman who is deeply embedded in and valued by her community, a stark contrast to the isolated figure Ella has imagined. This network demonstrates her selflessness and her belief in the importance of human connection.

As the novel progresses, Sally’s memory lapses become more frequent, creating a sense of urgency that drives the plot toward the climax. It’s this vulnerability that ultimately forces the truth into the open, allowing for a painful but liberating reconciliation with Ella. In the novel’s conclusion, Sally reclaims her own narrative, explaining the complexities of her marriage and her friendship with Andrew. Her ability to forgive both her late husband and her daughter showcases her remarkable capacity for grace. Sally’s journey is one of quiet endurance culminating in a moment of mutual forgiveness, reaffirming her unwavering love as her defining characteristic.

Neil is the novel’s posthumous antagonist—a character whose influence permeates the story despite his absence. Initially, he exists only in Ella’s idealized memory as a charismatic, admirable, and wronged husband and father. This false perception is the primary obstacle to Ella’s reconciliation with Sally, making him a central, albeit unseen, source of conflict. Storey portrays Neil as a character with a complex and contradictory nature, but he remains static in the narrative as his true self is uncovered through the memories and revelations of others rather than through the development of his arc. He embodies the destructive consequences of selfishness and deceit, contributing to the story’s motif of secrets and lies.

As Sally reveals the truth, Neil’s heroic image is systematically dismantled. He is exposed as a serial philanderer who maintained multiple mistresses, a financially reckless man who gambled away the family’s security on “high-risk, high-yield investments” (195), and a controlling husband who managed the finances to fund his secret life while keeping Sally in the dark. As Ella discovers the truth, his behavior toward her is reframed—what she saw as high expectations is revealed as a demanding and critical nature, pushing her to succeed for his own vicarious satisfaction. His character provides a stark contrast to both Sally and Andrew. While Sally is selfless and community oriented, Neil was profoundly selfish and materialistic. While Andrew represents a faithful and honest love, Neil’s love was conditional and ultimately secondary to his own desires. The revelation of his true character is the climax of Ella’s emotional journey, liberating her from the false narrative that has defined her adult life and allowing her to see her mother’s actions in a new, compassionate light.

Charlie, Ella’s husband, is a minor character who acts as a moral compass for Ella and a catalyst for the novel’s events. He is a flat, static character, consistently portrayed as patient, emotionally intelligent, and supportive. His gentle but firm reasoning persuades Ella to return to London in the first place, countering her work-based excuses by asking her to do the right thing by her mother. Throughout Ella’s stay, he provides a stable and understanding presence from afar, caring for their daughter, Willow, and encouraging Ella’s journey of self-discovery.

Charlie models healthy, communicative partnership, which highlights the brokenness in Ella’s relationship with Sally and, by extension, the distance in her own marriage. His willingness to discuss feelings and his steady affection contrast with the secrets and unresolved tensions that define the Harrison family. His suggestion that he and Ella read the same books as Sally provides a bridge for their own reconnection, demonstrating his commitment to helping them repair their relationship.