Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness and death.



Maggie is the protagonist and primary point-of-view character in the novel. In the present, she is 40 years old and dying of melanoma cancer that metastasized into her vital organs. As a successful photographer, she’s traveled all over the world and owns a gallery with a fellow artist in New York City. She tells the story of the only person she has ever loved, with the narrative flashing back to 1995 as she recounts the story to her new gallery assistant, Mark.

In the present day of the story, Maggie lives a largely isolated life. She’s estranged from her family, primarily because of their decision to send her to Ocracoke during her pregnancy as a teen and the lack of support that they showed her. She struggles to tell them about her new diagnosis now that her cancer is terminal. She has lived a largely transitory life, spending months each year traveling and taking photographs. She’s remained single, never fully recovering from the loss of Bryce. In the final months of her life, Maggie develops a deep, personal connection with Mark.