Violet Markey
Violet is one of two central characters in the novel. A former cheerleader, popular girl, and girlfriend of the star baseball player, Violet used to run a successful lifestyle website with her sister Eleanor. Violet is an aspiring writer who has always dreamed of attending NYU. Everything changes when Eleanor dies in a tragic car accident: Violet shuts down, quitting writing and receding from her social life. She refuses to get in a car, and is still given leeway by all her teachers almost a year later because of "extenuating circumstances," which start to haunt her.
As a survivor, Violet struggles to make sense of her sister's absence and of her own identity as the surviving Markey sister. Her despair reaches an apex when she considers jumping off the school bell tower—it's there where she meets Theodore Finch, who helps her to safety. As Violet slowly allows Finch into her life, first as a friend and then as a boyfriend, she makes steps toward her old self: getting in a car, opening up about her emotions, and eventually starting a new website. She goes by Violet except when Finch calls her by the nickname he gave her, Ultraviolet Remarkey-able. By the end of the novel, Violet has recuperated her relationship with her parents, insisting that they must continue talking about Eleanor even if it's uncomfortable, and has been truly changed by her relationship with Finch, who taught her to see the beauty in the world.
Theodore Finch
Theodore Finch, "Finch" to everyone but his family, is the other central character in the book. In the words of Violet, Finch was a “Bartlett legend," known as a rebel, an outcast, and a freak. Finch has a carefree attitude, often skipping school and getting into fights with classmates, and goes through different phases of identity performance, i.e. British Finch or Punk Finch. Throughout the novel, Finch battles bipolar disorder, though it is not diagnosed until later in the book, and he reacts negatively to the information, not wanting to be labeled. His illness manifests in depressive and manic episodes, which he refers to as the "asleep" and the "awake." Other than Violet, Finch has two friends, Charlie Donahue and Brenda Shank-Kravitz, but they aren't aware of the extent of his difficulties. Finch's home life is challenging, with an absent mother and an abusive father who left to start another family. He is the middle child between two sisters, whom he loves.
When Finch meets Violet at the bell tower, he becomes fixated on her, unable to get his mind off her both as a friend wanting to help her and as a future boyfriend wanting to get to know her. The closer they get, the more he falls in love with her, and Violet becomes Finch’s lifeline to staying awake. He runs every day, barely sleeps, and on one occasion joins a suicide support group. He is unsure of who he is, not very comfortable in his own skin. But what he does know is that he likes the version of himself when he’s with Violet. Aside from his illness, Finch is a creative, talented person. He writes, makes music, and sees the beauty in things which people don’t generally appreciate. Ultimately, he loses the battle with his illness and kills himself, but his final actions ensure that Violet knows how much he loves her.
Eleanor Markey
Eleanor was Violet’s elder sister who died in a car accident a year before the novel takes place. Though we don't encounter her in the book, her presence is all over: Violet adored her sister, and reckoning with her loss is the main challenging facing Violet. She remembers Eleanor in everything, especially when she writes, as the sisters had created a popular website together. Violet describes her as a funny, intelligent person who took risks and made everything fun. She was Violet's best friend.
Amanda Monk
Amanda was Violet’s close friend from before the accident. She is the head cheerleader and queen bee of their school. After the accident, Amanda and Violet drift apart. Amanda is one of the loudest voices calling Finch a freak, so it comes as a shock when he encounters her at a suicide support group, learning that Amanda has struggled with an eating disorder and has tried to kill herself. She is terrified of people knowing the truth and makes Finch swear not to tell anyone. By the end of the novel, Amanda and Violet reconcile.
Ryan Cross
Ryan is Bartlett High’s star baseball player and Violet’s ex-boyfriend. After the accident, they took a break because Violet needed space and Ryan wasn't equipped to deal with the emotional intensity of caring for a grieving girlfriend. He is kind, though, and he loves Violet—though in a simpler, less complex way than Finch. At points in the book, they get back together, or Ryan expresses his continued interest in her, but Violet chooses Finch. Ryan and Violet always remain friends.
Mr. Embry
Mr. Embry is Finch’s school guidance counselor, seemingly the only adult who really cares for Finch and is aware of his illness. He is the first person to tell Finch that he suspects he has bipolar disorder, and Mr. Embry tries, in vain, to empower Finch to seek help. They meet every week, and when Finch dies, Mr. Embry understands it's no one's fault, but does feel at least partially to blame for not being able to save him.
Mr. and Mrs. Markey
Violet's parents are strong and kind, though Violet is frustrated by the pressure they put on her to act like everything is fine in the wake of Eleanor's death. They encourage Violet to get back to living, but sometimes fall short of the compassion she needs. At first, her parents are grateful that Finch is getting Violet out of the house and out of her shell, but then after an incident at school they change their mind and decide he's trouble, banning Violet from seeing him. When she opens up to them about his struggles with depression and suicidal ideation, and the reality of his neglectful home life, Mr. and Mrs. Markey try to help.
Gabe Romero (Roamer)
Roamer is Finch's former friend turned mortal enemy. As one of the main people ostracizing Finch, Roamer often get in violent fights with Finch during school. Roamer is friends with Amanda Monk and Ryan Cross.
Mrs. Finch
Finch's mother works two jobs and is never home; when she is, it barely makes a difference, as she spends her time on the couch and does very little parenting. She knows next to nothing about what's going on in her children's lives, and has a lot of resentment for her ex-husband.
Mr. Finch
Finch's father, a former professional hockey player, is an abusive narcissist who left his wife and kids to start a new family. Now married to a meek woman named Rosemarie, and stepfather to Josh Raymond, Mr. Finch has "black moods" where his anger turns physical, often with Finch as the victim. He is suspected to have bipolar disorder as well. Finch finds nothing at all about his father redeemable; he and his sister only see him when they're forced to go over for their routine dinners. When Mr. Finch identifies his son's dead body, and when he cries at the funeral, Violet is enraged by his hypocrisy.
Kate Finch
Finch's older sister and resident matriarch of the family, Kate fills in the role left behind in their mother's absence. After their father left, Kate stayed home to help out rather than going off to college. When Finch's school calls the house, Kate pretends to be their mom and excuses him from school. When their father is turning violent, Kate tries to defuse the situation, or hurries them out of the house. Finch disapproves of her boyfriend, on whom Kate often bases her life plans.
Decca Finch
Decca is Finch's eight-year-old sister, who is moody and upset about her neglectful parents. She has complex feelings toward their step-brother, Josh Raymond, since he is around her age. Finch looks out for Decca and tries to lend her the emotional support their mother doesn't provide, and hopes she can see that there are good things in life to be found.
