Oluwafunke is a young girl born to a Black Nigerian father and a white British mother. After a sudden family tragedy uproots her life, she moves to her maternal family's estate in Somerset, England. Facing a cold and heavily prejudiced environment, she tries to assimilate by using her middle name, Kate, and adopting English customs. She possesses high intelligence and resourcefulness, using academic achievement as a way to secure her independence and build a future.

Liv is Funke's cousin and a resident of The Ring estate. She rebels against her mother's rigid expectations, dreaming instead of independence and a modeling career in London. She acts as a protective guide for Funke in England, though her reliance on family wealth and occasional naive decisions complicate her desire for self-sufficiency.

Margot is Liv's mother and a deeply bitter woman who resents her estranged sister, Lizzie. She projects this lifelong anger onto Funke, constantly treating her niece with disdain and thinly veiled racism. She prioritizes her social standing and financial inheritance above family harmony, using manipulation to maintain control.

The matriarch of the Stone family. Although she previously cut ties with her daughter Lizzie over a biracial marriage, she takes responsibility for Funke following the accident. She provides financial stability and a physical home for her granddaughters, demonstrating a willingness to correct her past mistakes as she ages.

Funke's mother, who built a life in Lagos after being disowned by her British family. She works as an art teacher and is known for her vibrant, eccentric style. She quietly uses her resources to support local service workers and community members, leaving behind a lasting legacy of kindness.

Funke's father. A once-flamboyant Nigerian man who is entirely shattered by the loss of his wife and son. Unable to cope with his grief, he withdraws emotionally and relies on alcohol, which leads to the decision to send Funke to England.

Liv's older brother. He mirrors his mother's sense of entitlement and prejudice, frequently making Funke feel unwelcome. He acts recklessly and avoids taking responsibility for his mistakes, allowing others to face the consequences of his actions.

A wealthy expatriate living in Lagos and Lizzie's closest friend. She steps in to organize Funke's transition to England when Babatunde becomes unable to care for his daughter.

Funke's childhood friend from Lagos. Coming from a wealthy family, she maintains a loyal connection to Funke across continents and provides a vital link to Nigerian culture when Funke returns to Lagos.

A childhood friend of the Stone siblings. He develops early romantic feelings for Funke, though she views him platonically. He eventually becomes a pediatrician and acts as a voice of reason and support for Liv during her personal struggles.

An accountant and business owner in London who traces his roots back to Lagos. He introduces Liv to his family and culture, forcing her to confront the realities of racial prejudice that her family previously exhibited toward Funke.

A relative of the Benson and Soyega families. He is a gay man living in Nigeria who forms a social arrangement with Funke to hide his sexuality from societal pressures, offering her genuine emotional support in return.

A medical student in Lagos who develops a relationship with Funke. He is reliable and helpful, though he grows impatient with Funke's hesitancy to establish clear boundaries in their romantic life.

Funke's younger brother. He is a beloved member of the Oyenuga family whose sudden death in a car accident deeply shatters his father and sets the events of the novel in motion.

A man who presents himself as a professional modeling scout in London. He uses flattery and the promise of a lucrative career to trap ambitious young women in compromising situations for financial gain.

The patriarch of the Stone family whose wealth sustains The Ring. He allows Funke to assist him with work, though his estate and the details of his will become a significant point of contention for the family after his death.

The legal representative for the Stone family estate. He manages the inheritance and acts as an objective third party when family disputes over property and money arise.

Kunle's mother, an academic in Nigeria who holds very high standards for her children's partners. She questions Liv extensively about her lack of a university degree.

A Nigerian medical professional who is one of Lizzie's close friends. She provides crucial emergency care for Funke and represents the positive impact Lizzie had on the local community.

Babatunde's mother who lives in a village outside Lagos. She holds rigid traditional beliefs and disciplines Funke harshly for displaying joy during the family's mourning period.

Babatunde's second wife. She cares for the household and does her best to make Funke feel comfortable, despite Funke's initial resistance to her father's new life.