Simon Kelleher
Simon Kelleher was an outsider at his high school and even though he used to make fun of the way his classmates acted, he secretly wanted to be accepted and be a part of the group. He owned a gossip app called About That where he posted gossip about his classmates, often revealing things that made the classes chaotic.
Simon was depressed and suicidal. He hated his own life, the people around him, and what he saw in his future. He sympathized with school shooters and knew that he, too, wanted to take down those he hated the most when he died. He was utterly cruel, as he thought school bombing was an easy way out, not letting his peers suffer enough. Instead, he decided to frame the students he hated for his murder, hoping to ruin their lives forever.
Bronwyn Rojas
Bronwyn Rojas is the character that was labeled as "the brain” by Simon. She is an overachiever with big dreams and a bright future. She is the biracial daughter of an Irish mother and a Colombian, immigrant father who expect her to attend Yale. However, she cheated her way though chemistry, which Simon is aware of. Over the course of the novel, she grows closer to Nate. She loves strongly and follows her heart wherever it leads her, protecting those she cares for the most.
Nate Macauley
Nate Macauley is the character that was labeled as "the criminal” by Simon. He is a handsome drug dealer. He sells weed, which got him on probation, although he has a lot more to him than that. At home, his mother abandoned him, and his father is an alcoholic. Needing quick money, selling drugs was his only choice. Bronwyn helps him become the best version of himself. He is imprisoned for Simon's murder, and his harsh treatment by the criminal justice system temporarily confirms his worst fears about himself. However, he ultimately sees he is worthy of Bronwyn.
Cooper Clay
Cooper Clay is the character that was labeled as "the jock” by Simon. He is a popular baseball player, and a star athlete with a bright future. He is gay and has a boyfriend, Kris, but doesn’t want anyone to know about his true situation. Midway through the novel, he dumps his beautiful girlfriend, Keeley, and comes out despite his fears of his Southern father's response. He realizes that he needs to be open and honest about his life in order to be the best version of himself.
Adelaide "Addy" Prentiss
Addy Prentiss is the character labeled as 'the princess' by Simon. She is the character who develops the most over the course of the novel. in the start of the book, she's an emotionally wrecked person who relies completely on her boyfriend, Jake Riordan. As the book goes on, she begins to find herself and her strength. Jake might have hated her because she cheated, but when their relationship ends, she realizes she doesn't need a boyfriend to be happy. Rather, she needs to discover her own passions and interests.
Jake Riordan
Jake is a popular athlete, and Cooper considers him his best friend. He is also Addy’s boyfriend. However, Jake has a dark side. He is incredibly controlling of Addy. When he finds out she cheated, he conspires with Simon to get revenge. When Addy finds out, he physically attacks her. Ultimately, he is imprisoned for his role in Simon’s death and for the framing of his classmates.
Ashton Prentiss
Addy’s older sister married young, and as the events of the novel begin, she is in the process of separating from her husband. She seeks to support Addy, helping her see she doesn’t need a man to be happy.
Maeve Rojas
Bronwyn’s younger sister suffered from leukemia throughout her childhood. As a cancer-free teen, she is an adept hacker, and fiercely seeks to defend her sister.
TJ Forrester
TJ is a friendly new kid at school slowly entering Jake and Addy’s popular friends group. He and Addy slept together over the summer before the novel's events transpire.
Keeley
Cooper's girlfriend is the most beautiful girl at school. Simon had a crush on her. She hooked up with Nate just as she began dating Cooper. This was part of Simon's motivation for framing Nate.
Aiden Wu
Simon outed Aiden for cross-dressing.
Eli Kleinfelter
Eli is a pro-bono lawyer for Until Proven who takes on Nate's case. He believes the police have failed to look at other suspects. He begins dating Ashton.
Ellen Macauley / Nate's mother
Ellen is a former junkie who returns to Bayview as the events of the novel begin. Now sober, she is able to support Nate.
Mr. Avery
Mr. Avery is a science teacher at Bayview High. He oversees the detention during which Simon dies. Famous for his hatred of technology, he is not considered a suspect in Simon's death.
Janae
A goth girl, Janae was Simon's only friend. She is distraught after his death, and frequently cries in the bathroom. When Addy reaches out, they become friends, and she ultimately reveals the truth about Simon.
Ms. Calloway / Addy's mother
Addy and Ashton's mother believes that women need men to take care of them. This has not worked out well for her: she has been married twice, and is on her way to marrying a much younger man. She is judgemental towards her daughter, implying that Addy is not good enough for Jake.
Mikhail Powers
Mikhail Powers hosts a sensationalist news show, Mikhail Powers Investigates. He points fingers at the Bayview Four, bringing the teens unwanted national attention. Later, he accuses the police of unfair treatment.
Luis
Cooper's good friend sticks by his side even when he learns Cooper is gay. He helps track down the driver of the red Camaro that crashed in the school parking lot.
Leah Jackson
Leah was a star student and friend of Bronwyn's before Simon's gossip brought her down. He posted about her sex life, and she attempted suicide.
Kris
Cooper's boyfriend Kris is a handsome German college student and underwear model. He puts forth the theory that Simon killed himself and later becomes adored by the media.
Detectives Wheeler, Mendoa, and Chang and Officer Budapest
These four law enforcement officials question the teens about Simon's murder.
Officer Lopez
Nate's probation officer warns him that he will be stereotyped and blamed for Simon's murder. While the police in the novel are generally portrayed as unfair and narrow-minded, Lopez is sympathetic to her young charge.
