Rachel is a 21-year-old student at University College Cork. She works at O'Connor Books to pay her tuition after her dentist father loses his savings in the 2008 recession. Standing 5'11" but telling people she is six feet tall out of insecurity, she hides behind a self-imposed "Girl Who Works in Bookshop" persona. Her adult self, writing from London in 2021, frames the story as a reflection on her youthful mistakes, codependent friendships, and early romances.

James is Rachel's charismatic coworker at O'Connor Books. Raised by a mother who relocated frequently to avoid an abusive partner, he uses humor and bold claims to mask his working-class background and deep insecurities. Though he initially insists he is heterosexual, he is actively exploring his identity. He dreams of leaving Cork for a bigger life and writes television scripts in his spare time.

Carey is a 29-year-old Northern Irish man who works at a bread stall. Diagnosed with lupus as a child, he was pampered by his family and struggles to maintain a reliable schedule or communicate consistently. He is shorter than Rachel, muscular, and charming, but his tendency to disappear frustrates her. In the 2021 framing timeline, he is married to Rachel and expecting their child.

Dr. Byrne is a 38-year-old professor of Victorian literature at University College Cork. Standing 6'5" with a broad build, he fits the classic image of an imposing academic and enjoys arguing both sides of an issue in class. He recently wrote a book called *The Kensington Diet* about the historical Irish famine. Despite his popularity and intellectual confidence, he harbors deep insecurities and keeps parts of his personal life rigidly compartmentalized.

Deenie is an editor at a publishing house and the daughter of a well-known poet. She is small, stylishly dressed in 1970s patterns, and has shiny black hair. She actively promotes her husband's academic career and offers Rachel practical advice and an internship in the publishing industry. She quietly manages personal struggles, including difficulty conceiving a child.

Jonathan is Rachel's college boyfriend at the start of the story. They bond over a shared resentment of attending their local university in Cork and spend their time mocking popular trends. He is quickly sidelined and breaks up with Rachel when she begins spending all her time with James Devlin.

Ben is the manager of the struggling independent bookstore in Cork. He tries to keep the business afloat during the economic recession, occasionally cutting employees' hours or attempting promotional events like in-store book signings to drive sales.

Nicola is James Devlin's mother. She breeds Burmese cats and is happily married to a farmer. She spent years moving her children from place to place to escape her abusive ex-partner and wants nothing more than stability and happiness for her son.

Chris is Rachel's high school-aged brother. He struggles with the gloomy atmosphere in their home following their father's financial ruin, occasionally showing up intoxicated at Rachel's Shandon Street cottage to escape the domestic tension.

Rachel's father is a dentist whose comfortable middle-class life is upended by the 2008 economic crash. Unable to pay Rachel's university fees, he sinks into a severe depression that strains his relationship with his children and alters the family dynamic.

Rachel's mother experiences the sudden loss of the family's financial stability alongside her husband. She holds strict, traditional views on social issues and intervenes directly in Rachel's life when she feels it is necessary, such as bullying the university administrators into letting Rachel attend graduation.

Sabrina is an employee at O'Connor Books. James initially mistakes Rachel for her during a shift. She eventually emigrates to New York, finding success away from the constrained Irish economy and reflecting the broader trend of young Irish people seeking opportunities abroad.

Kevin is one of Rachel's brothers. During a family holiday gathering, he openly shares details about his sexual orientation with Rachel, finding immediate support from his sister.