Cecelia Horner is the main character and first-person narrator of the novel. In the Prologue, she is 26 years old and recently broke off her engagement with a man named Collin. While on her drive back to Triple Falls in the prologue, she is remembering the time she spent in the town seven years prior. These memories become the main body of the novel, in which Cecelia is 19 years old. 

Cecelia has a close relationship with her mother and a strained relationship with her father, Roman Horner. Nevertheless, when her mother’s mental health becomes tenuous and she moves in with her boyfriend, Cecelia goes to Triple Falls to live with and work for Roman at his company Horner Technologies, hoping that learning his business for the year will inspire him to relinquish her inheritance so that Cecelia can support her mom. Throughout her time in Triple Falls, Cecelia rarely sees Roman. When they share meals, Cecelia tries to connect with him, but he does not reciprocate. Over time, she realizes that she doesn’t respect Roman and may never be able to repair their relationship.

Cecelia is a strong-willed, determined character. In high school, she saw herself as a responsible, orderly young woman who needed to do well in school and behave so she could care for her mom.