Henry is a librarian living in Chicago who has Chrono Displacement, a genetic condition causing him to involuntarily travel through time. He copes with the unpredictability of his condition by consuming alcohol and listening to punk music. Disappearing without his clothes forces him to constantly adapt to dangerous situations in various timelines. He slowly learns to piece together a life with Clare across different eras.

Clare is an art student who has grown up anticipating visits from an older version of Henry since she was six years old. She lives in a state of waiting, designing her life around his unpredictable arrivals at her family's property in Michigan. Patient and determined, she actively works to merge her past experiences with the present-day Henry she meets in Chicago.

Richard is a highly accomplished violinist and Henry's father. Following the sudden death of his wife in an automobile accident, he develops a severe drinking problem and withdraws into grief. This trauma heavily strains his relationship with his son, though he occasionally displays moments of warmth.

Alba is the daughter of Henry and Clare. She inherits her father's Chrono Displacement condition, giving her the ability to travel through time as well. Her existence offers a sense of hope and connection for her family members.

Annette is Henry's mother and a talented singer. Her sudden death in a car crash deeply traumatizes both her husband and her young son, leaving a lasting impact on their lives.

Lucille is Clare's mother, a woman who writes poetry and copes with bipolar disorder. She experiences high anxiety during family gatherings and strongly disapproves of her son's circumstances regarding his fiancé.

Phillip is Clare's father. He presides over the Abshire household in Michigan and projects an intimidating demeanor when Henry first meets the family.

Mark is Clare's brother. His relationship with his pregnant fiancé creates significant tension within the Abshire family household during the holidays.

Alicia is Clare's sister. She is observant and notes discrepancies about Henry's familiarity with the layout of their house.

Charisse is a close friend of Clare. She provides emotional support and often acts as a stabilizing presence during emergencies, helping Clare through difficult medical situations.

Gomez is Charisse's partner and a friend to Clare. He eventually becomes an important confidant for Henry after witnessing the bizarre reality of Henry's time traveling.

Ingrid is Henry's ex-girlfriend. She harbors deep animosity toward him following their breakup and struggles with severe mental health issues.

Dr. Kendrick is a genetic scientist who studies Henry's Chrono Displacement. He is highly analytical and works methodically to understand the biological mechanisms behind time travel, experimenting on lab mice to replicate the condition.

Kimy is Richard DeTamble's landlord and a close family friend. She acts as a maternal figure to Henry and attempts to support Richard through his personal difficulties.

Roberto is Henry's boss at the Newberry Library. He is frequently confounded by Henry's unexplained absences and strange predicaments on the job.

Matt is Henry's coworker at the Newberry Library. He struggles to process the bizarre events surrounding Henry's sudden disappearances and strange arrivals.

Ben is a chemist and friend of Henry. He specializes in creating unapproved pharmaceutical remedies, which Henry utilizes to self-medicate and attempt to control his condition.

Jason is a football player who assaulted Clare during her adolescence, leaving a permanent scar.

Sharon is Mark's fiancé. Her pregnancy before marriage is a significant source of contention for Clare's mother during the holidays.

Mia is a bartender who knows Henry. She tries to offer him companionship and an invitation to her family party during a solitary holiday.

Celia is a friend of Ingrid who creates a highly uncomfortable social situation for Clare by taking her belongings and forcing an interaction.

Ruth is one of the housekeepers at the Abshire family home who dismisses Clare's childhood stories about a time-traveling man in the meadow.

Etta works as a housekeeper at the sprawling Abshire family estate in Michigan, helping manage the property for Phillip and Lucille.

Nell is another housekeeper employed by the Abshire family to help manage their property and assist during large family gatherings.

Laura is a friend of Clare from Michigan who throws a social gathering where Clare introduces Henry to her extended friend circle.

Helen is an acquaintance who presses Clare for an explanation regarding her unusual dynamic with Henry, failing to comprehend the truth when told.

Larson is a medical technician who works directly with Dr. Kendrick to monitor Henry's physical state during laboratory observations.

Vaughan is a record store owner who diligently tracks down a specific, rare recording of Henry's mother singing.

Nick is a friend of Gomez who finds himself on the receiving end of a brutal, unprovoked physical assault from a future version of Henry.