Nadia is a seventeen-year-old high school senior living in Oceanside, California. Grieving her mother's recent suicide, she rebels against the quiet isolation of her home by pursuing a relationship with the pastor's twenty-one-year-old son. She works at the church office during the summer to pay for damages to her father's truck. She studies hard to attend the University of Michigan, hoping to permanently leave her military hometown behind.

Luke is the twenty-one-year-old son of Upper Room Chapel's pastor. A severe leg injury ended his college football scholarship, leaving him with a permanent limp and a job waiting tables at Fat Charlie's Seafood Shack. He struggles with feelings of failure and often avoids difficult responsibilities, particularly concerning his accidental pregnancy with Nadia. He eventually joins a semi-pro football team to regain a sense of purpose.

Aubrey is a quiet young woman who recently moved to Oceanside to live with her sister. She finds a surrogate family at Upper Room Chapel, adopting its religious structures as a source of safety after fleeing an abusive household. She wears a purity ring and forms a fast friendship with Nadia based on their shared experience of growing up without maternal support. She eventually begins visiting Luke during his medical recovery.

The Mothers operate as a collective group of elderly women at Upper Room Chapel. They serve as the community's watchful eyes and ears, keeping track of scandals, offering prayers, and judging the younger generation. Their shared history in Oceanside gives them a sense of moral authority over the congregation, functioning as a chorus that documents the community's collective memory.

Latrice is the First Lady of Upper Room Chapel and Luke's mother. She possesses distinctive heterochromatic eyes and uses her sharp intuition to manage the church's social dynamics. She is fiercely protective of her family's reputation and willing to manipulate situations behind the scenes to maintain their standing in the community.

Robert is Nadia's stoic father and a Marine. Following his wife's sudden death, he retreats into silence and channels his grief into acts of service for the church community. He frequently uses his pickup truck to haul donations and supplies. He finds it difficult to bridge the emotional distance between himself and his daughter.

John is the pastor of Upper Room Chapel. He presents a public image of moral authority but often defers to his wife regarding difficult family matters. He prioritizes the stability and reputation of his church over confronting uncomfortable truths about his own household.

Elise is Nadia's late mother. Her recent death by suicide casts a long shadow over her family and the broader church community. She leaves behind unanswered questions and a prayer book that becomes an important object for her daughter.

Monique, often called "Mo," is Aubrey's older sister. She provides a safe home for Aubrey away from their mother's abusive boyfriend. She lives with her partner, Kasey, and offers a stable, supportive environment for her younger sister.

Kasey is Monique's partner. She shares a home with Monique and Aubrey, contributing to the warm and connected household dynamic that Nadia envies during a Fourth of July celebration.

Mother Betty is a vocal member of the church's elderly women. She is highly involved in the day-to-day affairs of Upper Room Chapel and is quick to listen to and spread information regarding the congregation's private lives.

Cici is a stripper who briefly encounters Nadia during a moment of crisis. She provides Nadia with a portion of the funds needed for a medical procedure, showing unexpected kindness to a stranger.

Shadi is an intellectual student who becomes involved with Nadia during her time away from Oceanside. He is passionate about social justice and provides Nadia with a connection to a world completely separate from her past.

Russell is a Marine stationed in Southern California. He encounters the young women during a beach gathering, representing the transient military population that defines the edges of Oceanside.

Cherry is the wife of a semi-pro football player. She acts as a maternal confidante to Luke, offering him comfort and a place to talk about his past regrets, though their platonic connection causes friction.

Finch is a teammate of Luke's on a local football squad. He is protective of his marriage and quick to react aggressively when he believes his relationship is being threatened by his teammate.