John is a star junior defenseman on Briar University's elite hockey team who outwardly projects the carefree, promiscuous lifestyle of a popular athlete. In private, he relies on excessive drinking and casual encounters to distract himself from a sense of dread regarding his post-graduation familial obligations. His loyalty to his family conflicts heavily with his athletic potential, trapping him in a cycle of avoidance.

Grace is an 18-year-old freshman at Briar University who experiences social anxiety and tends to ramble nervously around attractive men. Raised with a cautious approach to life by her father, she feels stifled by her safe routines and her domineering best friend. She seeks to experience life more fully, pushing herself to establish personal boundaries and agency.

Garrett is the captain of the Briar University hockey team and Logan's best friend. He provides a steady, grounded presence in the hockey house and actively supports Logan's athletic career. He maintains a committed relationship that serves as an aspirational model for his teammates.

Hannah is Garrett's girlfriend and a constant presence at the hockey house. She values stable, committed relationships and possesses sharp interpersonal intuition. She directly confronts awkward situations and helps clarify the emotional motivations of the people around her.

Dean is a wealthy, hedonistic hockey player who shares a house with Logan, Garrett, and Tucker. He actively pursues the perks of campus popularity and provides comedic commentary on his friends' romantic lives. His arrogant exterior serves as a protective measure following a past traumatic experience with a stalker.

Ramona is Grace's childhood best friend and freshman roommate who maintains a confident, sexually liberated social image. She dictates the pair's social engagements, subtly undermining Grace to maintain her own sense of superiority. Her aggressive bravado masks deep-seated insecurities and a desperate need for male validation.

Tucker is one of Logan's three roommates and a fellow hockey player. He operates as the pragmatic, observant voice of reason within the house. He cuts through denial with blunt honesty, holding his friends accountable for their reckless decisions.

Ward is Logan and Jeff's father, who owns an auto repair shop in Munsen. Following a severe car accident, he developed chronic pain and a worsening addiction to alcohol. His struggles force his sons to sacrifice their personal ambitions to manage his care and the family business.

Jeff is Logan's older brother who temporarily abandoned his own college education to manage their father's auto repair business. He expects Logan to honor a pact to take over the shop after graduation. He looks forward to traveling with his fiancée once his younger brother assumes the familial burden.

Mr. Ivers is a molecular biology professor at Briar University and Grace's father. He maintains an amicable relationship with his ex-wife and raised Grace with a cautious, protective outlook. He provides a stable, comforting parental presence that contrasts sharply with other family dynamics in the story.

Josie is Grace's mother, an artist who moved to France following an amicable divorce. She possesses a vibrant, eccentric personality, occasionally embarrassing her daughter with public displays of affection. She encourages Grace to face conflicts rather than running away from them.

Daisy is Grace's sophomore-year roommate, recognizable by her pink-streaked hair and combat boots. She works at the campus radio station and actively helps Grace secure an extracurricular position. She provides a supportive, drama-free friendship that aids Grace's independence.

Morris is the manager of the Briar University campus radio station. He is a devoted gamer who occasionally flirts with Grace. He respects interpersonal boundaries and steps back gracefully when confronted with competing romantic interests.

Piper is a Briar University student known for pursuing hockey players and circulating campus rumors. She holds a grudge against Logan for rejecting her advances and utilizes social media to publicly mock Grace.

Coach Jensen is the head coach of the Briar University hockey team. He recognizes Logan's exceptional defensive talent and actively attempts to connect him with professional development opportunities, unaware of the full extent of Logan's familial obligations.

Jean is Logan's mother, who divorced Ward and remarried a man named David. She remains a loving presence in Logan's life, though she is somewhat removed from the daily struggles of the auto repair shop in Munsen.

Kylie is Jeff's fiancée. She stands by him as he manages the difficult day-to-day operations of his father's auto repair shop, looking forward to their planned future travels.